Being a child was one of the most free, simple, energetic and imaginative times of my life.
Before I became a teenager, I wasn’t worried as much about how people perceived me, paying bills and what my future would look like.
Of course, I still worried about embarrassing myself, fitting in and being “cool.” But that only seemed to intensify with age into the teenage and college years.
As we get older, we become more serious and less playful. We have more responsibilities and people who are depending on us.
We have less time to enjoy hobbies that used to excite us and consume things that used to make us happy.
So this is your sign to bring back some of your favorite traditions from your childhood. And if you, unfortunately, didn’t have a positive childhood, this is your sign to partake in activities that you wished you had experienced as a kid.
things to embrace from your childhood
dreaming big even if it’s unrealistic
I wanted to be an author or teacher when I was in elementary school. I thought it would be the perfect career, and I sometimes still fantasize about what my life would look like if I went down that route.
But I chose a different career path, and that’s okay. It’s okay to end up somewhere that differs from what you used to want.
What’s not okay is settling for a life that you’re not happy with, while dreaming every day about a life you once imagined for yourself.
No matter how old you are, you should keep dreaming big and wanting more for yourself, even if your dreams are a little unrealistic.
The kid version of yourself didn’t care how difficult it would be to become an astronaut, model, author, or even president. So relearn some of that whimsy and delusion because you never know where it will lead you.
letting yourself be silly
Joking, playing pranks and being silly is my love language.
I can’t stand when people are too serious or never joke around. There’s a time and place for everything, so I wouldn’t expect my coworkers to always want to be in a joking mood.
But I’m so much more comfortable and playful around my friends, family and people I’ve dated.
Think about how you weren’t always thinking about if a joke would be funny enough to tell before deciding to humor your friends.
Think about how you could dance around to your favorite songs at a sleepover, or even throw a solo dance party in your room.
Think about how fun it used to be to play games with your siblings, or play pranks on your parents.
Don’t lose the silly version of yourself. Your humor obviously looks different from when you were a kid, but don’t forget to let that silly side of you out every once in a while.
celebrating every birthday
Maybe it’s the fact that I love birthdays, but I really do think you should celebrate every birthday you have.
We tend to celebrate birthdays less as we get older, but I think older ages should be celebrated even more!
You’re only going to have so many birthdays in your life, so take advantage of each one.
Celebrate by getting yourself a cake, inviting your friends for a gathering, buying yourself a present, dressing up in an outfit that makes you feel beautiful and doing other things that make you feel special.
read more ideas here: self love ways to spend your birthday alone
enjoying your favorite childhood snacks and treats
The next time you’re in the grocery store, pick up some treats that you enjoyed as a kid.
I loved the Little Debbie cakes, ice cream cones with the chocolate filling at the bottom, Reese’s, Lay’s chips and a lot more.
Sometimes I’ll find myself picking up chips and candy, but I always miss out on those iconic treats I haven’t had in ages.
Stop always worrying about how many calories and sugar is in everything, and let yourself enjoy that treat.
You weren’t worried about the numbers when you were a kid (and I know metabolism slows down), but it’s a good reminder that you only have one life that should be enjoyed even at an older age.
getting excited over the little things
As children, we got so excited about getting McDonald’s on the way home for dinner instead of spaghetti.
We were thrilled when we got to hang out with a friend on the weekend. We gleamed when our favorite movie came on cable randomly.
Everything was so exciting, and we appreciated the small things way more. Maybe we’re so used to providing ourselves with whatever we want in the moment, or maybe we simply aren’t as excitable as we once were.
But this is your reminder to bring back that childlike excitement. Get excited the next time you plan a trip to the movies, and think about the fun snacks you’ll be able to pick out.
Dream about your next girls’ night and remember how lucky you are to be able to hang out with your friends.
Romanticize a trip to the beauty store or mall, and get excited about shopping like you used to do when you knew you only had $50 to spend.
making friends without overthinking every interaction
Kids make friends sooo easily. They go up to someone, have one conversation, and suddenly they’re besties.
They are automatically buddies with their classmates, and they usually don’t overthink awkward interactions they have.
Normalize inviting a coworker that you sometimes talk to out for happy hour, or spark up a conversation with someone in the coffee line.
Not every interaction has to turn into a hangout or friendship, but I do want to encourage more community and socializing.
We’re a socializing species, and children haven’t been socialized yet to be nervous about potential rejection or an awkward conversation.
So embrace your inner childhood, and stop overthinking about talking to new people or making new friends.
finding joy in spending time outdoors
I wish I spent more time outdoors! I love a good walk or hike, but wasn’t it so fun playing hopscotch and running around the playground.
I’m not saying go to your local playground and hang around! But I am saying if you’re not already doing so, find some creative ways to have fun outside.
That could be joining a run club, picking up tennis lessons, joining an adult community soccer team, etc. There’s so many opportunities to have fun in the sun, and I encourage you to find a new activity to try.
Embracing your childhood is all about doing and consuming more things you used to love, so dig deep into what you miss from being a kid!
