2011 is off to a fast paced start with us entering March already this week. The December break enjoyed just two months ago seems light years away now as we catapult towards the end of the first quarter of the year. As a working woman, wife and mother, I find myself living in survival mode – getting up each morning determined to complete my list of tasks for the day as efficiently and effectively as possible.

On most days I am highly efficient but I am increasingly becoming aware that there is a severe lack of joy, fun and peace in this daily schedule. The freedom of being young and in love and the awe of having a new child have now been eclipsed by the mundane run of the mill day to day responsibilities that we all have and there is little time for a good laugh, a special moment shared with family and a crazy new idea to be pursued.

The other night while I was washing my five year old daughter's hair she asked me "mom, what is wrong?" To which I replied "nothing my love, why do you ask?" Her answer was "because you have a cross face and I wondered if you were cross about something." This made me realise that I just might be going through most of the day with a cross face for no solid reason other than I am too busy and preoccupied to appreciate the blessings around me.

The other day my husband suggested we stop past the nursery to pick up some little plants for the home and garden – a favourite pastime in my family. He said he specifically was looking for some ‘peace in the home' – a small ground cover that looks lovely in a pot. I stopped to think that it was a bit ironic to go out and buy ‘peace in the home' if we don't have the real thing there already.

I am challenged to get my joy back and instil some fun, peaceful, special moments back into our everyday – Monday to Friday schedule. Here are some of my ideas.

1. Don't sweat the small stuff – if it is not life threatening then don't react as though it is;
2. Put on a fun song and dance around the house with your family;
3. Play games together – they say the family that plays and prays together - stays together;
4. Stop what you are doing, bend down to their level and really listen when your children are talking to you;
5. Form fun family traditions like movie nights or hot-dog Fridays that are relaxed times that you all enjoy;
6. Be flexible enough to change the plans and not get stressed out about it;
7. Take all opportunities to laugh (such as telling jokes, watching funny movies and spending time with amusing friends) as it releases feel good hormones that reduce stress and increase your overall wellness.

Overall, let's take the time to increase the joy levels at home because in years to come our families and children will not remember all the times dinner was late or the house wasn't perfectly tidy, but they will remember the overall sense of joy and happiness they felt being with you in their home environment