You’ve heard the phrases ‘Go big or go home’ or ‘The bigger the better’. But are these really true? Is a bigger bank balance really the key to being happy? Or a huge house full of things?
Personally I’m making it my mission to enjoy the simple things in life these days.
The truth is, the world doesn’t owe us anything. We have to make our own way in life and appreciate all that we do get while realising what’s really important: time with family and friends, a sense of community, health & wellness.
After all, (and without sounding grim) it could all be taken away tomorrow.
In today’s society, it’s difficult to find the time and energy to enjoy the little things.
Everywhere you turn, there is a demand for your attention; your attention that needs to be focused on your job, on your children, on your family…where does this leave time for yourself?
We need to remember that there’s more to life than running around like a headless chicken! We should enjoy the little things in life too!
In this post, I’ll discuss how important it is to take time for ourselves, even if our lives seem hectic or stressful.
Read also: 21 Simple Living Tips To Reduce Everyday Stress
The things that are important in life are often the ones that we take for granted.
We can’t work all the time without breaks – we need to find time for our friends, family and passions.
We need to have moments to switch off.
It’s not always possible to go on holiday or switch off from our inbox, but we can still find ways of taking a break by finding some time for ourselves.
Now, your simple pleasures may be completely different to mine.
One of mine, for example, is that most mornings I sit out on my balcony swinging chair to have my breakfast. I love watching the cars go by, or if I’m early enough watching the sunrise.
If you’re unsure what your simple things are, why not take some tips from these 15 ways to enjoy the simple things in life right now?
- #1 Do a puzzle
- #2 Have a coffee all by yourself
- #3 Walk barefoot in the sand or grass
- #4 Take a bath
- #5 Smile at a stranger
- #6 Throw some music on and dance!
- #7 Go for a swim
- #8 Watch the sunset or sunrise
- #9 Read a book
- #10 Have a lie in
- #11 Take a day off work
- #12 Change your bedsheets
- #13 Have a laugh
- #14 Do some yoga or exercise
- #15 Drive in the countryside
- Final thoughts
#1 Do a puzzle
Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to relax and contemplate.
While they can be challenging – you’ll need some time and patience to complete them – the satisfaction of finishing them is worth it!
Or if puzzle solving isn’t really your thing then maybe colouring or crossword puzzles would suit better? They also provide that sense of accomplishment at completing something whilst being therapeutic as well.
My favourite colouring book is my Disney Villain one (yes I’m a grown woman!).
#2 Have a coffee all by yourself
That’s right. All. By. Yourself. With no little people asking you questions (or big people for that matter). Somewhere comfortable you can just enjoy it with peace and have the time for yourself.
The perfect way to enjoy a coffee is with no distractions.
A lot of people find it difficult to sit in silence and contemplate life for even five minutes, but the benefits are immense: from reducing stress levels to increasing mindfulness & creativity – this time out could do wonders
#3 Walk barefoot in the sand or grass
Just the feeling of the sand or grass through your toes is enough to relax the body and calm it down.
It’s a simple thing, but so beautiful!
I’m very lucky to live near a lot beaches and I just love the feeling of walking on dry sand.
#4 Take a bath
This is a luxury that we can all afford, no matter how busy our lives may be.
I love to have long baths with bubbles and candles – it’s like having your own spa!
It doesn’t need to take up too much time either; bath salts will help you feel relaxed in just ten minutes or so.
Even if you can only take five minutes without distractions or interruptions – this is still enough to release tension from your muscles and help clear your mind.
#5 Smile at a stranger
Have you ever done it? I’m sure you have. Even it wasn’t just for no reason. But I bet they smiled back too?
I love to do this when I’m out in the world. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little child or an old lady, all smiles are appreciated.
Maybe you could try smiling at someone for no other reason than to make their day brighter!
It really is as easy as that. If they didn’t smile back then maybe they were having one of those days (no worries, just keep going!) but more often than not you should get a good response from them.
#6 Throw some music on and dance!
I absolutely LOVE dancing around my home as if nobody’s watching!
I’m not even kidding when I say it gives me such a boost of energy and positivity, especially if the music is upbeat.
It may sound crazy but who cares? It’s your time and you can do what you want!
If all the family are there, get them involved too. Trust me, it feels great!
#7 Go for a swim
Swimming is really therapeutic and while it might not be one of those simple things you can enjoy every day, it’s worth scheduling in some swimming time into your week as it will really do you good.
It’s such a good way to work out and the feeling afterwards is amazing!
#8 Watch the sunset or sunrise
Is there anything more beautiful than watching a spectacular sunset or sunrise?
I’m lucky enough to live in a country which has great weather most of the time and with clear skies this is a great way to enjoy these incredible moments.
Sunrises are such a calming thing; they just put me into a state of serenity straightaway. It’s really worth taking a short time out of your day to enjoy this one of life’s little pleasures.
#9 Read a book
This might seem like an obviously choice, to take a little time out to read a paragraph or so of your favourite book.
But reading a book can provide some light relief from busy life for a little while and is a great way to enjoy some time out.
You could even couple reading a book with taking a bath or enjoying your morning coffee!
If you’re not much of a reader, try listening to audiobooks instead – they can be really helpful when we need some time out from distractions or just something different for our brains!
#10 Have a lie in
Once a week, treat yourself to staying in bed a little later one morning.
I’m not talking about sleeping all day, but just taking a little time out from reality to read or have breakfast in bed or do something else you enjoy.
This is such an underrated life pleasure and it’s so worth doing!
If you’re lucky enough to have the luxury of being able to stay in bed for longer during winter mornings then this is even better. Is there anything better than laying in bed, all cosy and warm, hearing the rain or wind outside?
#11 Take a day off work
Often we only take days off work when we have appointments, or have maintenance coming to our homes, or going on holiday. This is all well and good but sometimes it means that we go back to work without feeling rested.
But it’s definitely one of life’s little pleasures to take a day off work to do pretty much nothing! Especially if everyone else in your household is at work or school. You can truly do whatever you like for the day!
#12 Change your bedsheets
This, coupled with a bath is my favourite thing to do on a weekend evening! The crisp new sheets feel sooo good and I swear I have a better nights’ sleep after changing the bedsheets.
While it might feel like a bit of a chore to begin with, I promise you’ll feel so much better for having made that effort!
Add some essential oil sleep spray to your pillows for an extra hit of relaxation!
#13 Have a laugh
Put on a comedy or meet up with that one friend you know will have you falling off your chair in laughter. Laughing is one of the best things we can do for ourselves to enjoy our time and it’s so easy!
It doesn’t even have to be a big thing. Sometimes just going on Facebook, scrolling through your phone or reading something funny online will make you laugh and feel better instantly.
Laughter really is contagious too – if someone else laughs around you then often this makes us crack up as well! And who knows, maybe they’ll start laughing because of you? It might not sound like much but laughter has such power.
It really is the best medicine!
#14 Do some yoga or exercise
This might sound like a cliché, but it’s so true. Exercise is one of life’s little pleasures and there are lots of different ways to do this. Take some time out for yourself each day by doing yoga or going on a run – the feeling afterwards will be amazing!
Physical exercise releases endorphins which make us feel great. It can also help with mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression due to regulating your hormones (which in turn makes you more mindful).
It really does wonders for your body and mind.
Another good reason to take time out for yourself? You’ll probably sleep better at night too! And who doesn’t need that?
#15 Drive in the countryside
If you’re lucky enough to live in a part of the country that has countryside, then take some time out by getting in the car and driving. You’ll get away from any distractions or stresses, enjoy your favourite music on the radio, be able to stop for a picnic if you like – it’s just about taking some time out!
Driving in the countryside is one of my favourite ways to enjoy the simple things in life.
Anytime I go back home, rather than driving the main roads, I always choose to drive the back country roads just for this reason. Even if I have nowhere specific to go!
Final thoughts
Take a moment to enjoy the simple things in life, and you’ll be able to appreciate more of what’s around you. These small moments will make your world seem bigger and brighter!
Sometimes, this might be taking a coffee by yourself or reading your favourite book while curled up on the couch with a blanket. Other times, you may need to reward yourself after completing something at work – like going out for lunch with friends.
And other times it could just be finding five minutes where you can switch off from everything else and recharge before diving back into the chaos again.
We spend hours at our desk but little time on ourselves- we should all take more breaks from life and enjoy the simple things in life…they might be small pleasures, but they make up for everything else.
What are some of your simple pleasures you enjoy? Let me know in the comments below!
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Minimalism For Beginners: 10 Tips To Kickstart Your Minimalist Life
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