Flannel Fridays (Don’t forget to have fun!)

If the last year has taught us anything, it’s to find joy in our daily activities. This means appreciating the little things that make up our existence, because, at the end of the day, those are the things that define us. And if we aren’t happy living our day-to-day lives, then what are we searching for?

Finding joy on a daily basis also translates into our running lives. Why do we exercise? Why do we lace up our shoes or put on our bike kits and get out the door? If it’s not for the right reasons it can get old and mundane pretty quickly.

One way I’ve tried to make sure I enjoy what I do is to take my seriousness down a notch. Enter Flannel Fridays. The whole idea behind this is to get out and enjoy movement without taking myself too seriously. To do this, I simply wear a flannel shirt for my run or bike ride to remind myself that this is for fun, and to enjoy it. You’d be surprised what a simple gesture like wearing flannel for your workout can do. It doesn’t have to be something you wear, but it helps to have a physical reminder.

How do you bring a feeling of joy into your daily routine? If you’ve never thought about it, now is a great time to start. Life is too short to take yourself too seriously. Find some lightness by showing up with a smile or taking a moment to enjoy the sunset, or the breeze, or the sounds of nature. And, it doesn’t hurt to throw on a flannel to go play outside. It’s hard not to smile!