40 hour work weeks, 12 to 15 hour credit loads, and other adult responsibilities in between can be quiet exhaustive to anyone trying to live happily in this day and age. Throughout the trials and tribulations of these bouts of survival, how is it that we remind ourselves to do what we love and thrive?

It's difficult, but setting time aside for yourself to indulge in the things you love is something that is imperative to a healthy and happy lifestyle. Although it's cheesy, I've found that reminding yourself to pick up that hobby and play around with it for a couple of minutes a day or a few hours of the week to be a lifesaver.

For example, my personal muse of all of my stress, creativity, and other senses of emotional output is music. Messing around with my music, whether it be recording a full song or just humming some tunes, is something that keeps me sane. Not only do I find practicing these passions to be something that perfects that particular craft, but there are plenty of other benefits as well.

Reminding yourself to get into the groove of your hobby can drastically improve your mood. Not only are these things a fantastic stress reliever, but engaging in play and the things that you love are great sources of sparking creativity, which may further carry into other aspects of your life such as work, home, or school projects. Indulging in your passions gives you the opportunity to breathe new life into multiple aspects of your being without even being aware of it because cognitively, we're having fun when we engage with the things we love. Also, subconsciously we're setting ourselves up for success with the notion of having a fresh mind that's ready to expand and create new ideas or solutions that may not have been clear to us otherwise.

How does one make time to relish in the tasks that bring them great joy?

Something I've learned is that if you truly love something or someone, no matter how busy the day is, you will find time for that thing in your day. I and many others around me have found that dabbling in their hobbies before bed has been a great way for them to unwind from the stress of the day.

Indulging in these activities freely and without fear of judgment is something that has brought me so much peace into my days, and it's something I can't recommend enough to incorporate into a healthy routine for a happier state of being. Pick up that paintbrush, break out that guitar, dust off that journal--give yourself the space and boundary to bring a little extra joy into the day for yourself. Sometimes it will be frustrating if you're seeking perfection, and it will be a tiring task, no doubt. However, keep in mind that you pushed yourself to do something you love, which is an awesome victory to be celebrated.