Appreciation Day

Appreciation Day

Relationships and connection are so important to us and there is now more and more research that points to the fact that relationships have a huge impact on our overall health, lifespan and of course our happiness. 
 
So we all know that this is an important pillar of our lives and therefore this is something that we should be scheduling just as we would any other important meeting/task to ensure that we are progressing in the right direction with our relationships. 
 
I have a tip I wanted to share with you that I have developed and has brought me great success, something I call "Appreciation Day".  I plan a full day (every quarter) where I dedicate it to a family member or close friend to show them how much I appreciate them (Actions speak louder than words ) Based on their personality and likes I create an agenda to spend time with them with the simple goal to make them feel good.  See below an example of when I did for a girlfriend:
 
Appreciation day! 

• Bring flowers
• Out for long brunch…. And mimosas 
• Scheduled and mani & pedi for the both of us
• Movie date - rom com

 
We had a great day, we both had a lot of fun and she really appreciated the gesture.  This increased my happiness, it feels really good to give back and strengthened our relationship.  I do these for my partner, my son, etc.  You will be surprised how much this adds to your happiness factor.
 
On a budget?  You don't need to spend a ton of money, you could make your special person a meal (or breakfast in bed or picnic), do mani/pedi's at home….(with a mimosa) and watch Netflix (or insert other activity here) it is just the point that you have dedicated a day to this person and put some thought into it. 
 
I have also implemented a monthly care package into my calendar. I send a post card or letter (handwritten notes are not out of style, these days they show even more thought) or I put together a little package of goodies and send it to 1 person a month (chocolates, magnets, pictures, etc) I live abroad and it is important to me to keep connections with my family and friends from afar but would also have the same effect even if your recipients live close as an unexpected surprise. 

​Above and beyond the extra special time that you put in place it is important that you consistently making time for those that are most important to you to keep connected and stay in touch.  I use my bullet journal to track this and ensure I am making the progress I want to for my most important relationships.
 
We get so busy with the day to day that sometimes we lose sight of making the time to develop and invest in our relationships so put it in your calendar and hold yourself to it.  Trust me you will not be sorry!  Your relationships and well-being will thank you and all for a minimal investment of time and effort. 
 
Please watch/read the below collection of resources to give an understanding of the importance of your relationships and provide you some extra motivation to put in your calendar:

•  The health benefits of strong relationships
•  5 Benefits of healthy relationships

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​Please let me know in the comments if you implemented "Appreciation Day" and what your agenda was, or what else you do to strengthen your most important relationships. 

Design your Life - Be Authentic. Be You. Be Sharp. 

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​Sources: 

• Harvard's Women's Health Watch. "The health benefits of strong relationships".  Updated August 6, 2019. 
  • https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships
• ​​Northwestern Medicine. "5 Benefits of Healthy Relationships". 
  • https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/5-benefits-of-healthy-relationships
• Subscribe to TEDx Talks on YouTube ~ https://youtu.be/hmJyWreER7A​