Anticipation is Good for Us
The importance of having things to look forward to
I appreciate that some shows don’t release all at once. Instead of dropping an entire season upfront, they release episodes week by week. It gives me something to look forward to. Right now, I’m watching Paradise, which comes out on Tuesdays, and Dexter, which airs on Fridays. I’m also listening to How to Destroy Everything, which releases new episodes on Tuesdays, and The Lazy Genius, which has fresh episodes on Mondays. By the time the weekend arrives, I’m excited—not just because I don’t have to work, but because I finally get to catch up on everything.
I have a friend who keeps a list in her planner of things she’s looking forward to doing throughout the week. It’s such a great idea. We could do the same—maybe keep a list in our phone, dedicate a special notebook for it, or even stick Post-it notes on the wall if that works for us. The important thing is to have something to be excited about. And it doesn’t have to be limited to a single week. We can create a list of things we’re looking forward to that month or even that quarter—whatever makes the most sense for our lives.
Joy is created when we anticipate something. Daily life can feel heavy, filled with obligations and sometimes bad news. It is important to have something waiting for us at the end of it all. And if we realize we don’t have anything to look forward to, that’s a sign—it’s time to create something.
Maybe that means planning to:
Take a day trip to a place you’ve been meaning to visit
Browse your favorite section at a bookstore
Try the new coffee shop in your neighborhood
Go for a walk in the park
Set a date to connect with someone you care about
Catch up on your favorite TV shows and podcasts over the weekend
Reread a book you once loved
These little pockets of joy are what keep us going.
Sometimes, what we’re looking forward to might seem more practical—or even mundane—like an upcoming paycheck or the departure of houseguests. Other times, it’s something we’ve gained a newfound appreciation for. Maybe we’re recovering from surgery and can’t wait to go for a walk again. I remember being nine months pregnant, kicking myself for not appreciating the simple act of tying my shoes. I couldn’t believe I’d been lacing them up all that time without the proper gratitude.
Not having something to look forward to can make us want to quit. We tell ourselves we’re going to tackle that pile of junk mail, but then we see the mountain of envelopes and give up before we even begin. Maybe we need to focus on how satisfying it will be to have a clutter-free countertop or just three pieces of mail left to sort. Washing my hair isn’t my favorite task, but I love how I’m able to style it once it’s cleaned. Sometimes, the outcome itself is what we need to look forward to.
We could create experiences and small joys that make us eager to get out of bed in the morning. There’s nothing like waking up knowing that the audiobook I’ve been waiting for has finally uploaded. On those days, I wake up before my alarm even goes off. I just found out that one of my favorite authors, Wally Lamb, has a new book coming out in May, and if I could fast-forward life to get there, believe me, I would.
It feels good to know you’re going to feel good. We need to hold onto that feeling—the anticipation of happiness. Think of a child the night before Christmas or their birthday. As adults, we need to appreciate that, create it, and tap into it.
Journal Prompt
What are you looking forward to?
A Few Things That Caught My Attention This Week
I Am The Cage, by Allison Sweet Grant. I am really looking forward to reading this book. It’s next up in my Audible queue. You can find it on Bookshop.
Myleik Teele just launched a new travel newsletter, and trust me, her recommendations are top-notch. A few years ago, she tipped me off to some great things to do in Las Vegas including a stunning rock sculpture garden in the middle of the desert. Don’t miss out—check out her newsletter here.
What I Learned About Burnout (And Why Rest Isn’t Enough) on the Permission to CEO podcast. You can listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream podcasts.
So You Reached Your Goal. Now What?, by Talya Minsberg in The New York Times.
I'm looking forward to sending my boys off to uni at the same time, and being able to read read my good books on the weekend again:)
I always look forward to your "A Few Things That Caught My Attention", there is always something there that adds some knowledge to my life:) thank you!!
This is such a beautiful reminder that anticipation itself is a kind of joy. It turns small, everyday moments into something special—a new episode, a quiet walk, even a freshly cleared countertop.
I love the idea of keeping a “looking forward to” list. It shifts my focus from what’s weighing me down to what’s lifting me up, even if it’s something as simple as my favorite coffee or the next chapter of a book. And the best part? If there’s nothing on the list, I can create something to look forward to. Because life feels so much lighter when there’s a spark waiting for me, no matter how small.