The joy of little things in life cannot, and shouldn’t be undermined. A small activity can change the course of your day, and make you smile in ways that one hundred percent count.
Here are 35 tiny activities that can make you really happy.
Why Are The Little Things In Life Important?
Undoubtedly, big achievements lead to immense contentment and joy.
They are the reasons a lot of us work so hard. But often while running after great success, we forget to seek happiness in our everyday lives.
Little things can bring immense joy for one basic reason, which is, that they are…well, little.
And that makes them super accessible.
You don’t need a lot of money, or hours of time to do something that brings you small packets of happiness (like licking an ice cream cone or taking a shower after a long day at work).
The wise man seeks little joys, knowing that life is long and his quota of great joys is limited.
-William Feather
This post is all about the little things in life that can make you happy.
Let’s dive in!
35 Little Things In Life That Can Make You Happy
1. A Cup Of Tea
Tea is a natural calming gift from nature, that humans have perfected over time using their own recipes.
Everyone should have a go-to tea recipe that they can enjoy in solace, or with their best friend while gossiping about everything in the world.
P.S: Biscuits and cakes with tea are heavenly combinations that you absolutely have to try.
They’re tiny sweet things, that leave a lasting happy impression on both your tongue and your pretty mind.
2. Watching The Sunrise
So many times, you must have woken at the crack of dawn, then proceeded with your day without saying say hello to the rising sun.
Your morning is the starting point of your day, and how you choose to spend it sets the tone for the rest of your day.
The best way to kickstart your routine is to greet the sun and soak all of its goodness and bright vibes.
Sun is the energy source of every living being on this planet, so of course, it has the power to shift your focus to brighter light (literally.)
I make it a point to catch the sunrise at least twice weekly and believe me when I say it, there are hard times when a day that I start this way goes wrong.
Related Post: 9 Healthy Morning Routine Ideas To Start Your Day Right
3. An Episode Of Your Favorite Sitcom
Sitcoms have been created for a simple purpose – making you laugh, or just wring a soft smile from your lips.
Even if you’re not a laugh-out-loud kind of person, a good comedy fills your heart with happiness, because that’s just what it’s supposed to do.
You might have at least one sitcom close to your heart.
In moments when you’re looking to find small joys, it’s a fantastic idea to hit play on a random episode.
Not that anyone’s asking, but still, here are my favorite sitcoms:
- How I Met Your Mother
- F.R.I.E.N.D.S
- Modern Family
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine
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4. Smelling A Flower
Do you ever get to see flowers on your way out of your house?
Maybe a neighbor has a garden, or there are some plants on the roadside you can walk up to?
Next time you see one, stop for a few seconds and take a long whiff.
Mother nature will be kind enough to fill your senses with some unique fragrance, and you’ll move on feeling lighter and happier.
It’s also a great idea to have a flowering plant at your home in a sunlit spot.
This way, you can make a ritual to connect with your favorite blossoms during their water time.
My favorite flower in the whole wide world is Jasmine. Beautiful fragrance, and is just as beautiful to look at. 🌼
5. A Single Scoop Of Your Favorite Ice-Cream
Who doesn’t love ice cream? (Aliens, that’s who.)
A little scoop of your all-time favorite ice cream can be immensely fulfilling. Take slow bites, drag out the experience, and cherish every moment of it.
What would I pick, you ask? Black currant, forever!
Bookmark For Later: 21 Ways To Lift Your Mood When You’re Feeling Low
6. Swinging In The Park
For me, connecting to any good memory from my childhood makes me super happy, and I’m sure it’s the same for you.
We all used to love swinging as kids, but who’s to say we still can’t do it?
So, looking to find joy through something small?
Head out to a park, and swing yourself like you used to do as a five-year-old. I hope it makes you as happy as it makes me. 🙂
7. A Heartfelt Conversation With A Friend
Edmund burke says, ‘Good company, lively conversation, and the endearments of friendship fill the mind with great pleasure.‘
I couldn’t agree more.
Speaking your heart out to a trusted friend can bring you great joy, and it might be worth your while to make it a weekly habit.
Conversations are pretty normal nowadays, especially with the advancement of technology.
But if you set the tone of a conversation to make it gratifying, in the end, that’s what it’ll give you – gratification.
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8. Painting Your Nails
Painting nails is no less than art these days.
Even for the less skilled lot of you (like me, who is a pro at making a mess), it can be a way to connect with an artistic side that you didn’t even know existed!
Paint your nails at least once a week, and always go for colors that speak to your mood.
This will hardly take 10 minutes, but afterward, whenever you glance at your nails, you’ll feel pretty and happy.
And ultimately, isn’t that what we call little joys through little acts?
My current favorite color is a shade of pink, just like the theme of my blog. Absolutely love it.
9. A Rain Shower
It’s amazing to enjoy a good rain through your window, with a steaming mug of coffee in hand.
But for a change, you should consider stepping under the pouring skies with your arms spread wide.
You could close your eyes with a big smile, feel the water sluicing on your skin, or dance your heart out like nobody’s watching.
Trust me, it will be one of the best highlights of your year.
10. Watching Your Pet Sleep
Pets are bundles of joy, no doubt there.
And while sleeping, they turn into these calm little things with contagious warm vibes.
I have a Pomeranian, who’s an active ball of energy all day, and always has me up and running around the house with him.
But when he sleeps, he’s a sight to behold for my tired mind. I mean, it’s seriously impossible to not feel content watching him sleep.
Long story short, watching your pet sleep is a perfect way to find that smile you’ve been missing all day.
11. Using A Daily Affirmation
Nobody can uplift you quite like yourself. Using daily affirmation is one of the proven ways to keep yourself blissful.
I like to wake up and pick an affirmation first thing in the morning.
Throughout the day, when I feel myself slugging through the motions rather than being alive, I repeat my motto for the day in my head. It works like magic and instantly fills me with positive vibes.
Here are some feel-good daily affirmations to inspire you:
- I choose happiness in every moment.
- I am alive, and I am grateful for it.
- My life is what I want it to be, and what I want is very much achievable.
- I pick strength today.
Related Posts:
- 121 Positive Affirmations For Mental Strength
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12. Telling Yourself ‘I Love You’
You don’t even realize it, but your soul craves to be acknowledged the same way you treat the people you care about.
Keep in mind that the first person in your life you prioritize should be YOU.
By doing so, you pay attention to your inner self and also create more space for other people in your life.
Love grows with nourishment, and isn’t something you’re going to run out of if you give some of it to yourself. 🙂
Writing ‘I love you‘ in your journal, or speaking it out loud while looking in the mirror, is a beautiful step toward self-fulfillment.
You’d be surprised what a great amount of joy such a basic act can bring to your heart.
Related: 10 Self-Love Habits Every Woman Needs For A Strong Life
PS: If a morning affirmation prepares you to face your day with a smile, a 1-minute self-love session is a perfect way to start your night.
13. Drawing A Smilie Face
You must be familiar with the infamous smiling emoji.
People use it all the time in chats. In fact, even I love dropping smiling faces throughout my blog posts, without hesitation.
Nothing brings truer joy than creating something which actually depicts joy.
If you’re looking to find happiness in small places, draw a smiling face somewhere random. Could be on your hand, a piece of paper, or a whiteboard.
You could even blow up a balloon and give it eyes and a smiling mouth. 😀
Speaking of which…
14. A Cute Balloon
Next up on my list of little things in life that can make you happy, is a cute little balloon.
Balloons are true symbolism of celebration, and rightfully so. You can’t pass a blown-up balloon without giving it a backward glance.
If I had to pick a color for a balloon, I think I’d go for yellow. It makes me so happy. What would you pick?
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15. Drawing Stars On Your Wrist
I saw a movie in which the female protagonist had a tattoo of three stars on her wrist.
I don’t know what it was about it, but it made me feel magical on her behalf.
Since then, I find myself picking a blue marker on my low days, and drawing stars on my wrist.
A little thing, with a powerful reminder, that we are magical, and we have joy hiding within us.
Just have to tap into it and channel it to every fiber of our being. I hope the stars do the same for you!
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16. Curling On The Bed With A Book
Books are otherworldly objects that can change your thoughts in just one page.
You get to dive into a different world, written by a different person.
Wrapping yourself in a blanket with a book is such a classic way of finding bliss.
I love doing this on the weekends, and I think this might just be my favorite thing on this list.
17. A Happy Song
Music is therapy, we all know that. And I love just how accessible it is around the globe.
It can bind people into one, and make them feel unique at the same time.
My favorite songs are the ones that make my heart thrum with joy.
If you don’t have a happy song playlist, I suggest you do so now.
The happiness that floats through musical notes is highly contagious, and you won’t mind it rubbing off on you a bit.
Here’s the first song you can add to your Happy Playlist:
18. Dancing In The Moonlight
When I was in college, my roommate and I would go to the rooftop and dance to songs plugged into our ears.
It’s still one of the best memories from my past. I feel happy thinking about it to this day.
Looking back, it was such a little thing we were doing.
Wringing our arms around, doing a version of a dance we used to call The Zombie Dance, but the joy was boundless.
So, please, plug in some music, and dance beneath the moonlight at least once this year. You’ll find yourself going back time and again.
Check Out: 7 Types Of Self-Care You Need For A Better Life
19. Taking A Nap In The Grass
If there’s a grassy spot around your house, you might want to visit it on a Sunday morning.
Laying down with your head facing the sky would feel refreshing. Take a nap, and notice the difference in your sleep experience.
Your bed won’t give you the same satisfaction as sleeping on the earth would.
It’s a raw way of connecting to nature, and something worth doing at least once a month.
20. Doodling
Drawing doodles might sound like a childish idea, but that’s what is so great about it.
I said so already but will repeat it again. Anything that takes you back to the happy kid version of yourself, is always good.
Doodle your heart out on a blank page, and if you find yourself enjoying it, buy yourself a notebook dedicated to your daily doodles.
A Fun Post: 21 Ways To Fill Your Empty Notebooks
21. Lighting A Scented Candle
Light equals joy, and a scented candle is an appealing source of brightness that also gives you a heavenly fragrance.
You can combine this activity with a tea-drinking session. A book and a scented candle also make up a splendid pair for a soothing night in.
Pick your favorite scent, and make lighting a candle your weekly ritual.
22. Walking Barefoot In The Sand
Did you know that sand is a natural exfoliant? It can remove dead skin cells on your soles and also soften them.
Body benefits aside, this activity in itself is very soothing.
The calming sound of the waves combined with the feeling of the sand on your soles is a small way to give yourself happiness.
So the next time you go to the beach, walk barefoot on the shore. The cold water will feel ticklish, and the sand beneath your feet will help you relax.
23. Planting A Tree
Being around trees is good for your mental well-being. Just imagine how great an experience it will be to actually plant one.
You’ll be giving life to something that’s going to sustain the lives of many in the future.
Also, you’ll get to dig your fingers in the soil. And in doing so, you’ll be in direct contact with the healing powers of the earth.
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. – Nelson Henderson
24. A 5-Minute Stretching Workout
5 minutes of stretching can alleviate your mood quickly. It’s said to release endorphins, which are basically your feel-good hormones.
Plus, you get to move your body, which is always a good thing.
Related Post: 101 Quick 5-Minute Self-Care Activities For A Refreshing Time
Here’s one you can try right now:
25. Sky Gazing
On a clear bright morning, sky gazing can be a pleasurable activity to partake in.
Our eyes are drawn to soothing colors, and anything from nature appeases every one of our senses like nothing else.
Sky gazing is said to help humans put their emotions in perspective.
Also, it comes with a strange but welcoming sense of belonging to this world, where everyone is joined under the vastness of the sky.
If you’re a night lover like myself, a star-filled sky is just as beautiful to look at. So, you can indulge in this activity often for little bursts of joy.
26. Making A Paper Boat
Once again, we’re back to connecting with our child versions and going a little artistic.
I hope you know how to make a paper boat. If not, learn now. Go to someone and ask them to teach you.
Make use of a piece of paper lying on your desk, and create a boat. And the next time it rains, row it in a puddle outside your house.
Watching a little thing that you created, making its way through the water against the raindrops, can be really empowering.
I mean, if an ordinary boat can do something so amazing, just how boundless the perseverance of humans must be, right?
27. Hugging Someone Randomly
A hug is a warm way of conveying your love and care for someone, and there should really be no limits to how many times you can hug someone in a lifetime.
Ever tried throwing yourself at a friend or a family member, and engulfing them in your arms?
If not, do it!
The other person will find it to be a nice surprise, and both of you can laugh a the randomness of this.
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28. Checking Off Your Daily To-Do List
I always recommend everyone have a daily to-do list.
It’s a productive habit and can prove to be beneficial for anyone who loves keeping a tight schedule.
Writing your goals for the day (small or big) is a sure-way street to accomplishing them.
And checking off tasks one by one as you complete them, can be immensely satisfying.
In my opinion, any kind of satisfaction is a joy in itself.
29. Eating A Cupcake
Got a sweet tooth?
Then I bet you love cupcakes as well. They’re a blessing to everyone who loves food and can be a true joy to the taste buds.
The next time you eat a cupcake, I want you to engage all your senses.
Make the process slow, and practice food gratitude while eating it. Just a little advice that might make you squeeze in more joy from a little cupcake.
Again, random information that nobody asked for, but still… the blueberry flavor is MY go-to cupcake. Yours is…?
You might want to check out: Unique Ways To Practice Mindful Eating
30. Jogging With A Family Member
Jogging alone might seem like a strenuous task. It’s good for your health, sure, but doing it every day can get a bit mundane.
But going for occasional jogs with a family member is the opposite of being boring.
You’ll be huffing, but still won’t want to stop talking with them, because you know, that’s how this works.
You’ll be a happy soul, and your body will definitely thank you for your efforts later on.
Related: 5 Amazing Benefits Of Morning Exercise That You Need For Good Health
31. Cooking For Someone
I always say cooking is an extremely rewarding skill to have. It’s a healthy habit to cook at least one meal for yourself a day and enjoy it after a long day.
But cooking for someone else is rewarding on another level.
Throughout the cooking process, your heart will be filled with joy and excitement.
You won’t be able to wait for the person to try it, and you know, shower you with praises.
Even if you’re not a top-notch level chef (like me), you can surely step into the kitchen once in a while and engage all your senses in preparing a meal for a loved one.
You could also request someone with exceptional kitchen skills to cook for you. Might even be more joyous, considering you’ll be the one being fed.
32. Visiting Your Favorite Cafe
This is an absolute must. You work hard in this life, just for existing, you do. And you deserve to have some quiet time.
The best place to get this would be your favorite cafe. Take a book with you, or carry your laptop if you have work to catch up on.
If you don’t have a favorite cafe, explore the ones around you until you find the one that vibes with you.
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33. Penning A Lovely Note To A Friend
It doesn’t take much to write a note to a friend.
All you need is a pen, paper, and the right moment when you’re feeling grateful to have a friend. Writing a mail works just as fine.
Express your emotions freely. Tell them how much you love them, and how thankful you are for their presence in your life.
This is a good way to practice gratitude and smile when you hear back from your friend.
Don’t forget. The more you give, the more you get.
P.S.: On a friend’s birthday, always write them a note. It adds a personal touch and will make them cherish you more.
34. A DIY Face Mask
This list would be incomplete without a skincare task.
We often seek out things that taste good, seem good, and smell good. But your touching sense is used just as often as a way to feel joy.
I am mentioning DIY face masks, because they are really good for the skin, and should be incorporated into your skincare routine.
35. Journaling
One page of journaling a day can change the course of your life. It really can.
But since we’re talking about finding little joys in this post, journaling can do that too.
You can be hilarious in your entries, or choose to be bland. You can draw, you can scribble. Nobody would know, so you can be as free as you want.
And free expression is a joy that everyone deserves to do on a daily basis.
So say yes to journaling, and enjoy the process from the core of your heart.
Some Prompts To Get You Started:
Little Things In Life Can Bring The Greatest Joy
It’s just a matter of taking one small step and giving yourself the chance to smile.
Keep your senses engaged while doing every little joyous thing, and you’ll give yourself a ton of chances to smile throughout the year.
Alrighty, peeps. That was all for today’s post. Now I want to hear from you.
Please leave a comment telling me about: Your go-to tea, your favorite sitcom, a flower you love, and at least one little thing that makes you happy.
Can’t wait to read what you all have to share.
Liked the post? Pin now to read again later. 🙂
Very good post. I certainly appreciate this site. Continue the good work!
Thank you for the lovely comment. A pleasure to have you here.
Your list is amazing!!!! I love it. You did so well. I love rain showers, that’s my thing. Daily affirmations and just telling myself that I love myself. Always a good one. Thank you
xx Mig
Hey, Mig! Rain is a lovely blessing from nature, and I just feel so excited meeting women who appreciate it at.
Affirmations are the definite path toward self-love. Happy to know you love making use of them.
Thank you for your lovely comment.
You made my day xx
I love this list. One of the little things in life that makes me happy is flowers. My favorite are irises. They don’t bloom for long, but when they do, they are spectacular. The short bloom makes them all the more special.
Thank you, Anita. And what a lovely choice. I love the color of iris flowers; so royally beautiful. Where I am from, jasmines are easy to spot these days, and I am loving their random appearances.
This is a great list. Reminds me to do a mask this evening as it brings me comfort. Thank you!
Glad to know you found it helpful, Danielle.
Sunrise, sunsets, and full moons are always so impressive to me!
Nature really is beautiful, isn’t it?
Thank you for commenting 😀
Just found your website and what a great first article to read! I love how it’s small things and you don’t have to do anything big to make yourself happy. Great advice and I look forward to reading more articles!
Hi, there, Julie!
You summed up the message of the post pretty well. We don’t have to depend on big causes to make us happy. It’s the tiniest things in life that can bring immense joy.
Take your comment, for example. It lit up the biggest smile on my face, and thank you so much for that.
Love that you took the time to drop a comment. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Hi Akansha, you are awesome. I really enjoyed reading your blog. This one and others too. I haven’t seen someone write like you did. I like Journaling.
Hello! Glad to know you enjoy journaling. I kick off most of my me-time sessions by creating a short entry in my journal. It’s a great hobby, and I just can’t imagine my life without it. And thank you so much for your kind words. It feels amazing to be appreciated for my blogs and am grateful to have readers like you.