43+ Simple Pleasures for Cultivating Happiness in Daily Life

Simple pleasures are the little, commonplace things that make us happy and pleased. They could be as straightforward as having a cup of tea in the morning, taking a walk in outdoors, or spending time with close friends and family.

Simple pleasures can provide us a feeling of grounding and serve as a reminder of what is actually important in life in our fast-paced and increasingly complex environment.

We may create a deeper sense of gratitude and contentment in our daily lives by taking the time to appreciate these fleeting moments of joy.

Let us reflect on some of these activities that can make your day full of happiness and joy.

What Are Simple Pleasures?

The little, commonplace things that make us happy and pleased are simple pleasures. They come in various shapes and sizes and might differ from person to person.

While some people would like a lively conversation with friends, others might enjoy a peaceful morning spent reading a book. While some people might enjoy a warm cup of tea, others would prefer a cold drink of lemonade.

They may serve as a gentle reminder to savor the beauty of the world around us.

Examples of Simple Pleasures in Life

That first cup of steaming coffee

Never have your morning’s coffee in a hurry- it’s a crime. Wake up early, make yourself a hot cup, sit by the window while reading a book or listening to a song, and savor the warmth of the drink. Utilize the time to plan things you want to do for the day.

Coffee will not only provide you with energy, but it will also help you to think clearly. Also, try different flavors and beans- experiment with your beverage.

Taking a long walk in the garden

Are you having a bad day? You are probably exhausted from all the work pressure in your office. Spare some time. Put on some comfy clothes and go for a walk in your garden or a nearby park.

The lush greenery is soothing to the body, mind, and soul. Especially if you walk barefoot, the soft grass against your feet will make you feel more connected to nature and refresh your mind.

Related: Self-Care Ideas For Happiness

Look while you drive.

You are driving the car, driving to the office, or returning home. Switch off your phone and turn off the music.

Look through your window outside. Concentrate on your surroundings- the roads, the people, the shops, the trees, etc.

As you look, you will realize that your world is so beautiful. Amidst all the chaos on the roads, search for the things that make you happy- a man selling balloons or children playing in the rain.

Feel the wind

You are free today, there is a beautiful wind outside, and it is about to rain. Shout down your phone and laptop, and go outside and take a stroll while you feel the cool, soft wind hit your face and carry you away.

This is a way to make yourself feel all the more connected and lively. The touch of Nature against you will always make you happy and grateful for the gift of life you are blessed with.

Read, read, and read some more

Your busy schedule probably leaves you with almost no time for yourself, and you don’t even remember the last time you spent some time reading your favorite book.

Well, make time for that. Before you go to sleep, spare an hour and curl up in bed with a good book.

Always remember, books are probably the best companions you can ever expect. A quote, an incident, or a book’s character can deeply impact your life.

Watch a sunrise

Do not just lay around in your bed for the whole day on a holiday or weekend. Wake up early and go watch the beautiful sunrise. Nature is always our best refuge.

Nothing is more beautiful and mesmerizing than seeing a refreshing sunrise in the sky early in the morning.

When you start your day with one of nature’s most beautiful aspects, it makes you feel happy and stay positive for the entire day.

Spend time connecting to water

Do you have a beach within a short distance from your house? You are lucky enough. Even if you don’t have it, look for a lake or river. Take some time from your schedule to stroll near the water.

The coolness of the river and the beautiful view are soothing to the mind and will calm you down. You can also go for a quick swim if you want to, or sit down while dipping your feet.

Meditate, gather your thoughts

In this modern regular rat race of life, we have no time to sit down for a while and gather our thoughts. This makes our life messy and unorganized. The only solution to this is meditation.

Just focus on your ideas and meditate while sitting in one place for at least half an hour. This will help you discover yourself and establish a closer connection with the world around you.

Take a good, long shower

You are usually in a hurry before leaving for your office and do not give enough time to shower. In that case, you are missing out on all the good stuff.

On Sundays, take a long shower- and an extra-long one. Heat the water a bit more than you usually do.

Relax as the hot water runs through your body and washes away all the extra stress and worries about work deadlines you have in mind.

Embrace your loved ones

Do you spend time with the people you live within the same house? Do you know if they are going through some problems?

Talk to them, and hug them when you think they need it. This will not just be a relief to them, it will also lift your mood.

Being with your close ones will always make you happy and keep you connected. Have dinner together, watch a movie at night, or maybe share a cup of coffee.

Dance your heart out

Your busy schedule probably leaves you no time to party with your friends. No worries. Have your little dance party at home.

Make room wherever you want to, decorate with colorful lights, turn on some party music and let everything loose for a while.

Forget about office deadlines, client meetings, and business deals, and lose yourself in the magic of music.

Have your family members join you too and party together. Let everything around you fade away!

Laugh like there’s no tomorrow

Do you remember the last time you almost rolled out on the floor laughing at a joke your friend cracked or watching a funny scene in a movie? Please invite your friends over on weekends and spend some time with them.

Have a gala time so your mind is diverted from all the work pressure. Also, if you want to be alone, you can always put on your favorite cartoon or TV show or podcast that always makes you laugh.

Talk to your best friend over the phone

Your phone calls are probably limited to formal calls to your boss, colleagues, or sub-employees.

One day, call up an old school/college buddy or best friend and talk your heart out before bed. With the modern concept of texting, people usually try to avoid calling.

This is a wrong concept. When you can’t meet someone, you can only call them and hear their voice. This somewhat reduces the distance between two people.

Get yourself a massage

You have not had the time to pamper yourself for a long time now. You don’t even remember the last time you got a massage, or perhaps you never did. Well, it’s time you get one.

Look for the best massage parlors near you and choose one. Take a massage and relax all the sore muscles in your body.

Let all the tension flow away and when you come back from that salon, you are much more de-stressed and happy.

Have your favorite dessert.

Who doesn’t love dessert? All of us do. Give your dessert all the time and attention it deserves. Take your favorite flavor of ice cream, and notch things up a bit by adding some root beer to it.

Sit down with a book or put on some music, look out your window, sit in the garden, and indulge in this heavenly affair. Always trust ice cream if it is about what makes you happy when you feel low.

Spend some romantic time with your partner

Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? Or, are you married to someone? In that case, always remember to spend time with your significant other. The key to a healthy relationship is giving time to each other.

Take them out for a date or trip on weekends, or go for a stroll, hand in hand, when it is raining outside.

This will boost your relationship, making you happier and giving you time to understand each other better.

Sing in the shower

You may not always have the scope to take an extra-long shower. So, use the time you spend in the washroom wisely.

While in the shower, relax your mind and sing aloud whatever you like. Who cares what other people think?

What matters is that it makes you happy. Also, put on that favorite artist’s music that always calms you and gets rid of the early morning stress about how the entire day is going to be.

Set up a workout routine.

Do not exercise because you must; do it when you love it. Choose the type of exercises that suit you and chalk out a plan.

If you don’t prefer going to a gym, go for a walk every morning and evening, run in the nearby park or your lawn- spend some time outside the walls and doors of your house.

Exercises and yoga are beneficial to your body and very useful for your mental peace.

Clean up your room

For absolute cleanliness freaks, cleaning their rooms or arranging their bookshelves or wardrobes is like total therapy.

You can try this out. It keeps you engaged and helps keep your stuff organized, and a tidy room will always make you happy.

You will probably find a long-lost thing you’ve been searching for or make space for more stuff. This is going to be a complete stressbuster for you.

Have that chunk of chocolate

Once in a while, give up your strict diet plan and go for some delicious dark chocolate. As we all know, this one tastes quite bitter compared to other types of chocolate- but who knows, maybe you would end up stocking your fridge with loads of chocolate bars.

Savor the delicacy, and slowly note how it melts in your mouth and feels against your tongue. Many people consider dark chocolate to be a strong stress buster. Consider trying it out.

Eat something junk

You can love pizzas and french fries but can’t usually have them because they will mess with your diet.

Well, everyone’s allowed one cheat day. If you are feeling low, grab your favorite pizza or a bucket of french fries with the perfect seasonings and enjoy it while watching the game.

Look up in your kitchen to see what spices you can add to the food to make it taste even better.

Spend time with your kids

If you are a parent and don’t get to spend much time with your kids during the working days, spare your weekends for them.

Talk to them, hear stories about their school and friends, make their favorite food, and make them laugh.

Their smile is something that will make you happy and make you understand what matters in life.

Take them to the park in the evening, play with them, and buy them toys and chocolates- whatever makes them happy!

Related: Things To Be Grateful For

Make and bake

Were you the best cook back in your college hostel? But obviously, you do not get the scope of cooking that lasagna or baking that chocolate cake everybody loves to have.

Bring back that charm of yours. Cook for yourself or your family members; make a beautiful cake for your little kid.

Food is a great way to keep yourself and others happy. Trust it to bring a huge smile to your face when you taste what you have cooked.

Take a short trip

You do not always need to go to a foreign country or the mountains for a vacation. You can always take a short break in between work and sneak out for a short trip on the weekend.

Pack your bags and hike in any natural space within a short distance from your home.

Traveling calms down the mind and lets you relax for a while. A closer connection to Nature will make you happy and content.

Lying under the stars

Nature is filled with beautiful elements. Have you ever looked up at a clear night sky on a cool evening? If not, then do it. Take a mattress, lay on the ground, and stare at the sky.

Spot the familiar constellations and lose yourself in the magic of Nature. Spending time this way will make you understand what matters most in life. You may reflect on a favorite memory that may make you smile.

Make a sandcastle

Do you have a beach house or live very close to a beach? Take your kids out and make a sandcastle with them.

Make them feel the texture of the sand against their skin. Provide them with stuff to make the largest sandcastle with several layers.

Once completed, the mere sight of the structure against the backdrop of the beach view will make your heart flutter with happiness, and you can share that joy with your kids.

Get a beer

If you are legally allowed to drink, occasionally catching up with your friends for a quick drink is okay.

Spot your favorite brewery, call friends, and drink a few beers. In this way, you relax and spend quality time with your friends simultaneously.

Talk to them, share a few jokes, and come home all joyfully. You will be able to work with more concentration later on.

Go to a movie theatre

Nowadays, we have access to movies and web series at home. But there’s no point in always sitting at home.

If you feel like watching a movie, look at what movie theaters near you are open, pick a movie, and go watch it on the big screen.

You can take your partner on a movie date, catch up with friends, and watch the movie. Whatever makes you happy- step out of the house and do it!

Appreciate your workout efforts

Have you constantly tried to lose weight or make yourself fitter? In that case, when you finish your daily exercise or workout at the gym, pause and reflect for some time now.

Feel that rush of endomorphin in your body at the end of it and appreciate your body for the gradual progress it is going through. This will help you to stay motivated and when you achieve your target, it will make you happy.

Cuddle and show some love

It’s a romantic weekend. It’s about to rain outside and the weather is simply outstanding. Well, show some romance.

Curl up in bed with your loved one and watch a movie or have coffee together.

This way, you get to spend quality time with your partner, making them understand your love for them, and strengthening your bond. Always remember intimacy is the most important thing in a relationship. Thus, show some love!

Related: Gratitude Makes You Happier

Conclusion

In summary, simple pleasures are sometimes forgotten in our fast-paced and busy life. To be pleased and joyful, one must take the time to notice and savour these little moments. As you can see, you don’t need to do a lot of complex arrangements to make yourself feel happy every day. Even the tiniest thing in your life, a slight change in your regular schedule can greatly impact your life and make you happy in a way you can never imagine. Just find what makes you happy!

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Faqs About Simple Pleasure

How can I find simple pleasures in my life?

Start by focusing on the little pleasures in life, such as a favourite perfume, breathtaking scenery, or a comforting hug. Make time for these activities frequently, and attempt to include them into your daily schedule.

Do simple pleasures have to be free?

No, simple pleasures do not need to be free, nor do they need to be expensive. A beloved book or a cup of coffee from the neighbourhood cafe are two examples of simple pleasures that could entail a minor outlay. Finding items that are both affordable and enjoyable to you is the key.

Can simple pleasures be shared with others?

Many simple pleasures can be enjoyed with family, friends, or coworkers. Examples include preparing a meal together, going for a walk in the park, or engaging in a common hobby. These experiences can be shared to strengthen bonds and make both parties happier.

Can simple pleasures help with insomnia or sleep problems?

Including enjoyable things into your daily routine can help you sleep better and feel less stressed, which will help you sleep better overall.

Can simple pleasures help with creativity and productivity?

Certainly, by giving the mind a vacation and encouraging relaxation, taking the time to enjoy the little things can increase creativity and productivity. Returning to work or creative endeavors might help relax the mind and increase focus.