The Lighten-the-Load Scavenger Hunt

A tiny experiment in feeling a little lighter this week.

If this season feels heavy, you're not imagining it. The emotional load - planning, remembering, anticipating, smoothing, carrying - quietly builds until everything feels like "a lot."

Earlier this week, I had one of those humbling moments. I was walking to the train for our office holiday celebration, filming a little clip because my dress was catching the wind just right… and then I spilled coffee straight down my outfit.

Standing in a train-station bathroom, scrubbing myself off, I realized how quickly I slip into taking myself - and everything I'm carrying - a bit too seriously. Always scanning for what's next instead of noticing what's right here.

The thing is, I do this constantly. My brain treats everything like it's urgent, even when it's not. And by the end of the day, I'm exhausted from problems I haven't even encountered yet. So I made something light for all of us. 

The Lighten-the-Load Scavenger Hunt ✨

Not a challenge. Not a checklist. Just five tiny things to notice this week. A little treasure hunt for lighter moments.

Here are your five:

1. Something that made you laugh (a half-laugh absolutely counts)
2. One thing you let go of (a task, a guilt, a thought spiral)
3. A moment you were quietly proud of yourself
4. One thing you asked for help with
5. One thing you didn't do on purpose

No rules. If you forget entirely, you still win. The whole point is softness.

I like to take a picture or jot something in my Notes app to remember the moment. This week, mine looked like this.

• Laughing at my dog’s little sigh when he cuddles with my husband

• Letting go of the guilt about not being home many days this week

• Feeling quietly proud that I let Tijn do the dishes while I sat and played with the kids (his response: I’m happy you’re just sitting)

• And purposely not checking my work email on the weekend

None of it was big. But each one made the week feel one percent lighter.

Why this works

When you're carrying a lot, your brain naturally scans for what's wrong or what needs doing next. It's protective, but exhausting. These tiny moments interrupt that pattern in a gentle, doable way. They bring you back to right now, where things are actually okay or at least more manageable than your brain is telling you.

It's not about pretending everything is easy. It's about noticing the small things that are already helping, even when life feels heavy.

Try noticing one today

Something small is enough. A brief laugh. A decision you made. A breath you actually took. A task you chose not to do. A moment of letting yourself be human.

Lightness hides in these little places. Sometimes we just need a reason to look for it. I hope this gives you one.

If a light moment finds you this week, share it and tag @makewavesmama so our community can notice them alongside you.