11 Simple Things You Can Do Today to Enjoy Life More

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“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.” ~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Life can be pretty stressful and chaotic at times. Many of us live our lives on autopilot. With all that’s going on around us, sometimes we even forget to laugh.

We are always rushing, stressing, or focusing on the next big move, next big thing. Sometimes we can’t even say how our days and nights are spent.

We spend one-third of our life sleeping, one-third studying and working, and one-third complaining about what happened or worrying about what may happen next. We don’t know how to slow down, take little breaks whenever needed, and enjoy the simple things – things that don’t cost us much money but can make us come alive!

To enjoy life more, we need to intentionally slow down, and take time to do and enjoy the simple things that we otherwise don’t notice or don’t find time for. Seize the moments, enjoy the journey, and travel well.

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Simple, easy things you can do right now to enjoy your life more:

“In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” ~ Gordon B. Hinckley.

1. Read a book

This one is my favorite because reading a good book has tremendous benefits. It calms your mind, distracts you from your worries and struggles, allows your mind to travel to different places in your imagination, changes your perspectives, improves your outlook on life, and increases your knowledge.

Getting lost in a good book is an amazing way to disconnect from technology and the world. Reading a book while enjoying a cup of your favorite drink at the end of the day is the perfect way to unwind and relax!

Today, start reading a book that you have been meaning to read for a while now but couldn’t manage time to do. You don’t have to finish the entire book in one day. If you’re short of time, read just one chapter each night before going to bed or in the early morning while enjoying your coffee. It’s a simple pleasure, but a long-lasting one.

2. Cook your favorite dish

Cooking your own food and preparing your favorite dish can be truly healing and uplifting. When you do so with love, it can greatly reduce your stress. Cooking your favorite dish just for yourself – the way you like – is not selfish. Rather, it’s a form of self-care. Eating your favorite healthy food can improve your mood, boost your spirit, and make you happy.

Buy the ingredients that you need to cook your favorite dish if you already don’t have those in stock. Keep it simple, have fun while cooking, take in the aroma, and finally take time to enjoy every bite of it without rushing.

3. Spend some quality time with your loved ones

People nowadays keep so much busy with their work and other obligations that they don’t find enough time to spend and connect with their loved ones. Their relationships suffer silently, and as a result they suffer, too.

One of the best things you can do today to enjoy life more is spend time with the people that give you joy and happiness, and add value to your life. Laughing, interacting, and just sharing ideas and passions with one another is a great way to start living life to the fullest. You’ll enjoy life more when you share your life with other positive and like-minded people, especially those you love and care about.

You don’t have to hang out in huge crowds to get the benefits of being with other people. Your family (your spouse, kids, parents, or siblings) is all the stressbuster you need. And the best part is that they are always there for you. All you have to do is disconnect from the world and spend some quality time with them to feel better. Share your concerns with them, play a game together, laugh together, cuddle your kids, and just feel happy.

Several studies have revealed that time spent with family and friends makes a big difference to how happy we feel, generally.

4. Be in touch with nature

Going for a walk outside is a great way to disconnect from everything that happened during the day. It allows you to enjoy the nature as well if you’re walking in a beautiful neighborhood, park, or in the wood. Looking at greenery can destress your eyes after looking at a screen for hours a day.

Time outdoors may also reduce your levels of the stress hormone cortisol, says clinical exercise physiologist Paul Innerd, Ph.D., of the University of Sunderland in the U.K. When you’re in motion, it boosts your mood, sharpens your thinking, and makes you feel calmer and more relaxed. This can help you reframe your perspective so you can return in a new state of mind and feel happier.

5. Enjoy a cup of tea while watching the sunrise or sunset

I’m a huge nature lover, and from my own experience I can tell you that Mother Nature can make us feel good, anytime! Today, take something ‘not so important’ off from your to-do list, make some space in your schedule, and sit outside on your porch and enjoy the beauty of the sunrise or sunset.

If you enjoy tea as much as I do, make yourself a hot cup of tea and take sips while enjoying the sunset. There is something so comforting and refreshing about enjoying a hot drink in the evening.

According to the CalmClinic.com, a site devoted to holistic approaches to anxiety-reduction, certain teas are a great tool for stress management. They recommended teas like chamomile, lemon, peppermint, kava, and passionflower, but emphasized on the importance of choosing one without caffeine as that may disturb your sleep routine.

We should intentionally slow down at times, and take time to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful, simple things in life to feed our minds and souls.

6. Plan your future vacation

The most exciting part about a vacation or a trip is the planning part. I simply love planning my future trips and vacations! Even looking for the potential vacation rentals gives me so much joy and excitement!

As opposed to actually going for a vacation, it seems that planning a vacation or just a break from work or your routine life can increase our happiness. A new study finds booking a pleasure trip generates happiness, and can alleviate stress and feeling of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simply booking a trip or looking at images of the place you are planning to take a trip to can bring you JOY.

97% of survey respondents report that having a trip planned makes them happier. 82% say a booked trip makes them “moderately” or “significantly” happier. 71% reported feeling greater levels of energy knowing they had a trip planned in the next six months.

These findings come at a time when studies have shown that Americans are experiencing the lowest
levels of happiness in 50 years.

Personally, I use VRBO for all my vacation rentals. They have made my trips so much easier and more enjoyable. My experience with them has always been nothing less than excellent, and I highly recommend using their service while planning your future vacations. They have millions of beautiful houses worldwide for various price points and accommodations. But make sure to check the reviews and rating before you rent any vacation home through them, for your safety and satisfaction.

7. Pray/meditate

When you’re constantly rushing, it’s hard for you to slow down and practice mindfulness. Prayer and mediation are mindful activities where you need to engage with your thoughts. People who believe in prayers, know that prayer can reduce our stress level and actually uplift our mood.

Meditation is an ancient practice. It’s more than 2500 years old. It has lasted all these years because it works. It helps you be more mindful and present. There are some research backing the idea that prayer and meditation can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain.

Dr. Loretta G. Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and the author of “The Science of Positivity” and “Habits of a Happy Brain,” explains that when we pray, we can activate neural pathways we developed when young to release hormones such as oxytocin.

“Oxytocin is known for its role in maternal labor and lactation, but it also [enables] social trust and attachment, giving us a good feeling despite living in a world of threat,” says Dr. Breuning. “It’s the idea of ‘I can count on something to protect me.’ So when a situation comes up and you’re out of ideas and you are helpless, feeling much like you did when you were a baby, prayer can provide some other source of hope.”

8. Take a peaceful nap

Have you ever tried taking power naps? It may sound pretty simple thing to do, but this is one of those simple things that make you feel so much better right away.

It surely works wonders. Nap for about 15 to 20 minutes or even longer when you feel tired today. You’ll wake up refreshed and rejuvenated.

Especially after a long, tiring day, allow yourself to take a nap. It will relax your mind and reduce the physical and mental exhaustion that you have to deal with on a daily basis. Your body and mind – both will thank you for the rest.

9. Help someone in need or do something nice for others

Helping others or doing something nice for someone without any expectations is a tried and proven way to increase your own happiness. You don’t have to go out of your way to experience such happiness. You can show simple act of kindness to someone in need or to someone you care about.

Helping others in need allows you to become a part of someone else’s life in a way that you normally wouldn’t be able to be. To see another person smile or their life change for the better because of you is one of the most healing, humbling, and rewarding experiences you’ll ever have.

There is some evidence to suggest that when you help others, it can promote physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness.

10. Think about a few things you’re grateful for

In today’s world, many people constantly focus on what’s going wrong in their lives instead of what’s going right. Instead of thinking about what you don’t have or what is causing you pain, take a 10 minutes break today to count all your blessings that you might be taking for granted, and practice gratitude.

Genuine gratitude makes what you have enough and more. Enjoy the simple things – the little pleasures in your life. The feeling of abundance will boost your happiness, and you’ll end your day with a good, positive feeling.

There are many ways to practice gratitude. You can keep a journal of things you’re grateful for, share at least three good things that happen each day with your family or a friend, and do nice things to show appreciations and gratitude to others when they help you.

Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression. (Source)

11. Create a serene, peaceful environment

When you live in a cluttered, messy, and chaotic environment, you don’t get to enjoy your life much. Rather, you experience more stress and overwhelm.

Today, take just 10-15 minutes to do a quick decluttering session and get rid of some visual distractions so you can create a more neat and peaceful environment for you to relax.

Decluttering has a profound impact on our mental and emotional well-being. If you don’t know where to start, use this helpful list to guide you through.

You can also read: A Calm and Peaceful Home: How to Create One of Your Own

Hope you’ll take time to do some of these simple things today to increase your level of happiness and enjoy life more. Remember you can only be happy if you want to be happy. It’s a conscious choice you make. So, choose to be happy today.