Life is filled with simple pleasures. Unfortunately, we often get so caught up in our problems, and to-do lists that we completely forget to embrace the simple pleasures in life.
For a happier, healthier life it pays to notice and enjoy both the big and small pleasures that are all around us.
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Let’s dive into 21 ways to embrace the simple pleasures in life.
1. Pay attention to the little things
There are so many wonderful little things in life that we completely miss. When I say pay attention to the little things, I don’t mean stressing about every little thing. That’s the exact opposite of what I’m talking about here!
Paying attention to the little things means finding joy in our day-to-day lives. It means finding joy in everyday small moments.
Related post – How to Have a Big Life When Your Life Feels Small
2. Celebrate the big stuff
While we want to enjoy the little things, it’s always a lot of fun celebrating the big moments as well. 🙂
These celebrations don’t have to be complicated or expensive. It’s more about having the people we love around us when we celebrate rather than how fancy the celebration is.
3. Appreciate the beauty in life
Beauty is everywhere but so often we miss it. We are too busy trying to make everything perfect that we fail to see the beauty right in front of us.
Seeing beauty is such a simple pleasure in life, regardless of whether it’s a pretty flower (even if it’s a weed) or a beautiful sunset.
I recently discovered the books of Fiona Ferris. Two of Fiona’s books that I am currently reading that are inspiring me are –
- Loving Your Epic Small Life: Thriving in Your Own Style, Being Happy at Home, and the Art of Exquisite Self-Care by Fiona Ferris
- The Peaceful Life: Slowing Down, Choosing Happiness, Nurturing Your Feminine Self, and Finding Sanctuary in Your Home by Fiona Ferris
4. Be compassionate to yourself and other people
Be kind to people. While you’re at it, be kind to yourself.
Kindness and compassion help us embrace the simple things in life.
When we are being unkind or mean to ourselves we miss the joy and pleasure in our lives. We are so busy tormenting ourselves and beating ourselves up for our supposed failures and weaknesses that we don’t see the joy right in front of us.
Be kind. Show people compassion.
Related post – 10 Ways to Cultivate Kindness in Your Life and Other People’s
5. Spend your money where your happiness is
We all have bills to pay but we also get to spend our money on what makes us happy.
By spending your money where your happiness is, it means that you are spending your money on things that matter to you. It means that you are spending money on things that bring you joy and make you happy.
Remember that happiness isn’t about just buying things. It’s about enjoying experiences and moments. Even the small seemingly unremarkable moments.
Don’t try to buy happiness but spend your money on what makes you happy.
Related post – 10 Inspiring Ways to Do More of What Makes You Happy
6. Spend quality time with people you care about
We hang out with people all of the time. But the real question is, is it quality time?
Are you spending time on your mobile when you are supposed to be spending time with loved ones or are you passively sitting in front of the television, not communicating or connecting at all?
To help embrace the simple pleasures in life you need to focus on the quality of the time you are spending with the people you care about. Make your time with them meaningful and supportive, instead of having superficial, hollow interactions.
Related post – 12 Key Characteristics of a True Friend
7. Prioritize the important people in your life
We often say that family and friends are the most important part of our lives, yet we fail to make them a priority.
It helps to take a look at your priorities and values. Are they aligned with what you say is important to you? If you want to embrace the simple pleasures in life, it helps to deal with any conflicting values you might be dealing with.
When you truly prioritize what is important to you, enjoying the simple pleasures will be easier.
Related post – How Your Top 5 Priorities Can Change Your Life
8. Simplify what you need to be happy in life
What do you need to be happy in life?
It is the perfect partner, the fancy house, the expensive car, the high-paying job, etc etc.
Do you truly need those things to be happy or are you making your happiness much more complicated than it needs to be?
Our happiness usually involves a lot less commercialism than we think. It’s love and friendship and connection that makes the biggest impact on our lives.
Simplify your shopping list and strengthen your relationships for a happier, simpler life.
Related post – 7 Ways to Simplify Your Life
9. Embrace minimalism
This doesn’t mean that you need to throw out your possessions (that would be a huge waste after all).
What might be helpful is some strategic decluttering as well as being aware of the new purchases that you bring into your home and into your life. When you are strategic and intentional about your purchases you save time, money, and space.
And who doesn’t want more of that? 🙂
Books that can help you on your minimalism journey –
- The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker
- Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
- Love People, Use Things: Because The Opposite Never Works by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
- Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning the Never Ending Battle With Stuff by Dana K. White
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
10. Enjoy a good book
Reading is a simple pleasure in life.
Regardless of whether it’s reading a bestselling fiction novel or diving into an inspiring non-fiction book, reading can transport us to another time and place.
Reading can be relaxing, pleasurable, inspiring, thrilling, and educational.
11. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee
Don’t you just love that first sip of tea? I love the way it feels so soothing, especially on a cold winter’s day.
For you, it might be coffee or a fruit smoothie.
Whatever you are drinking, slow down and enjoy it. Make it a relaxing, calming ritual, not something you just down on the run.
12. Get your creative on
A simple pleasure in life is getting your creative on!
Whether it’s writing, painting, acting, singing, dancing, photography, or anything else that takes your fancy. 🙂
Expressing your creativity is good for the soul. It is a glorious simple pleasure (even when it’s hard).
Want to get your creative on? CreativeLive has an excellent range of online courses for you to enjoy!
Interested in writing? Have a look at Writing Your Story by Joyce Maynard.
Interested in photography? Check out Fundamentals of Photography by John Greengo.
13. Surround yourself with music that you love
Music can bring us such joy and entertainment.
A single song can provoke a touching memory and have us remembering things long forgotten. Music can have us smiling at memories and dancing with joy.
Music is a simple pleasure that many of us can easily enjoy.
14. Cherish your pets
A great way to enjoy quality time and enjoy the simple pleasures in life is by spending time with our pets.
Our pets have a wonderful way of calming our moods and helping us live in the moment. They make us laugh, keep us entertained, offer us companionship, and provide unconditional love (which fills our hearts with so much love and joy).
Related post – How a Scrawny Stray Cat Changed My Life For the Better
15. Enjoy time on your own
Regardless of whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, it helps if you enjoy your own company.
One of the simple pleasures in life is enjoying the time you spend on your own. You get to do whatever you want, without anyone telling you what to do. You get to set your own agenda and do your own thing.
Life gets easier and simpler when you can enjoy spending time on your own.
Related posts –
- 12 Ways to Enjoy Your Own Company and Make the Most of Your Time Alone
- How to Eat Alone and Actually Enjoy It
16. Live in the moment
When you are ruminating about the past or stressing about the future you are not living in the moment. Living in the moment means keeping your focus on the present.
Put it this way. If you are cleaning the house, put some music on and enjoy the process. If you are spending time with your cat or dog, really be there in that moment with them, totally focused on your pet and the love you feel for them.
If you are spending time with your kids, put down the electronic devices and actually spend quality time with them. Be in the moment, totally focused on you and your children’s needs.
Related post – The One Thing You Can Do Right Now to Feel Happier and Less Stressed
17. Be grateful for your home
Do you have a huge list of projects that you want to complete on your home? To enjoy the simple pleasures in life, it helps to be happy with your home as it is right now.
Yes, there are always tasks to be done, some enjoyable, some not so much. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t enjoy and appreciate our homes right now.
Don’t wait for your house to be ‘perfect’ until you appreciate it. Be grateful for what you already have.
Related post – 12 Inspiring Ways to Focus On The Good in Life
18. Appreciate your health
Our health is one of those things we often take for granted. Until we get sick or something goes wrong, then it’s suddenly all we can think about. Our health is something that can get complicated and scary very quickly.
Our health has a huge impact on all areas of our lives. If we aren’t healthy our work life suffers, we struggle in our relationships, our finances can be affected and our social life may become non-existent.
Not to mention how being sick can affect us emotionally.
Our health is one of the most precious gifts in life. Nurture yourself. Appreciate your health.
19. Spend time in nature
Being out in nature is a simple pleasure. Whether it’s hiking in the woods, swimming in the ocean, or even sitting in your local park, nature can calm, soothe, and help us stay grounded.
It’s important to remember that nature doesn’t have to be getting out of the city. Your local park or botanical gardens can satisfy your nature fix.
Personally, I love the sound of the wind in the trees. There is a beautiful large tree in my neighborhood that sounds amazing with the wind moving through it. When I can’t get near a park, this beautiful old tree helps fill my connection to nature.
20. Embrace silence
Not everything in our lives needs to be filled with noise. Not every moment needs to be filled with busy, busy, busy.
Not every moment needs to involve us having a mobile or an electronic device in our hands!
When you embrace silence and really enjoy it, you embrace a simple pleasure in life.
21. Rest and relax
Not every moment has to be spent doing something. Human bodies need time to relax, rest, recuperate, and recharge.
Take time to really relax. No racing mind, no constant distractions, no working through your to-do list.
Just rest and relax.
Related post – How to Lighten Up – 25 Tips for More Fun, Play and Relaxation
Enjoy the simple pleasures in life
There are so many simple pleasures in life to enjoy. We need to ensure that we grab onto those precious moments and opportunities and make the most of them. Enjoy the small joys and the big wins. Enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
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