50 Simple Pleasures to Make You Happy

Our overall happiness is created in life’s simple pleasures. Even a little moment of joy can change your mood and help with your worries.

To get you started, I made a lit of 50 simple pleasures to make you happy. But before I get to that I want to share why it’s so beneficial to enjoy simple pleasures. And I also talk about why you might not be enjoying these small moments of joy.

I feel so much gratitude for all the small, simple, but wonderful moments in my life. Just making this list has had me smiling all day long.

I feel genuinely happy and it’s all because I took the time to think about the kinds of things that give me a little pleasure now and then.

Give it a try yourself! And if you have something to share, please leave a comment so I can add it to the list.

Why Enjoying Simple Pleasure is So Important

While we often think our lives are missing grand adventures and over-the-top moments, in fact it is the small things, that cumulatively created our feelings of contentment, satisfaction, and happiness.

In our busy lives, taking time for simple things is often ignored, seen as expendable, or considered not-that-important.

This could not be further from the truth!

Think of it this way. life’s simple pleasures, those things that give us comfort ARE the building blocks of a great life.

These simple pleasures are not the icing on the cake, they are the basic ingredients of a good life. I believe they are as important to our good health as say, eating nutritious foods and exercising.

There is science behind this too. Making time to enjoy simple pleasures can activate the parts of the brain that help you feel better.

Finding the things that bring YOU pleasure can help in many areas:

• Reducing the effects of depression
• Creating a more positive outlook
• Helps with chronic stress
• Improves creativity
• Helps you think better

In my own life coaching practice and in my own life, I see this all the time. I make it a priority to fill my life with small things that bring a smile to my face.

Does enjoying simple pleasures solve all problems? No, but it sure makes navigating them easier. Because when we feel peaceful and calm, we have way more access to our logical problem-solving brain.

The longer I work with women, the more convinced I have become that becoming intentionally calm and peaceful, is the secret of a great life.

So, I want to let you in on that secret. Being peaceful and calm isn’t just about feeling good. This is high level helpful stuff. This helps you navigate all areas of your life better.

• Work and career
• Relationships
• Money
• Health and wellness
• Spirituality

Enjoying simple pleasures isn’t the only ingredient in creating calm and peace in your life but it is an excellent start.

And hey, we do most of what we do, simply because we want to feel better. And enjoying more simple pleasures can help you feel better more of the time.

What Are Simple Pleasures?

Simple pleasures are small things that you include in your life, ideally on a daily basis, that:

• Bring a smile to your face
• Relax you
• Are fun
• Easy to do
• Don’t cost a lot

Often, they are so simple, we tend to dismiss them as no big deal. Why in the world would we take time for these small things when we have so many other big important things to do?

Well, I believe that your life depends on it.

I believe that what brings us comfort, relaxation, and joy is just as important as making time to eat right and work out.

And ladies, a lot of you aren’t even making time for that!

In my practice, I talk to so many women that don’t think they even have time to eat lunch, plan what to eat, take walks, or read a book. They struggle to sit on the couch and watch TV with their spouse or to take any time for themselves.

So, let’s talk about that.

Why You Can’t Enjoy Simple Pleasures

Here’s the good news first. I’ve worked with busy women. Women with important jobs. Women who swear there is no time to take care of themselves.

I don’t have time

Women often seek me out for help to lose weight. But at the same time they tell me all the reasons they can’t do that.

They just want a plan they can follow and lose the weight. Well the internet and book stores are filled with that information.

The truth is that 95% of diets fail because they aren’t sustainable. In my practice I teach women how to eat for the rest of their lives eating foods they already are eating and like.

However, it takes time to change the unhealthy habits and integrate new ones. It takes time to rewire the brain.

And many of my clients tell me that time isn’t what they have.

So, I tell them, get back to me when you retire.

That usually gets their attention. And then we begin the work. What everyone I work with discovers is that they have more control of their time that they believe.

Most women have filled their time with so much bullshit that they don’t need to be responsible for. They take on other’s problems and responsibilities.

I feel lazy when I take time for myself

This one is big. So many women feel lazy if they take time to rest, relax, and recharge. Somewhere along the line they began to believe that they have to be productive every minute of the day.

I just can’t relax without…

Many women use food, alcohol, and scrolling on their phones to relax after a long day or to ease their worries. 

While these might work in the short-term, they usually create more problems later on. 

To transition to simple pleasures that include things you might think are being lazy, I often suggest ones that involve doing something.

Activities like trying a new recipe, walking the dog, working in your garden can provide the benefit of simple pleasures but also soothe the part of you that thinks you need to be doing something. 

As a bonus, you’ll not only enjoy yourself but you’ll feel like you are getting something done.

Simple Pleasure Ideas

Here is a list of common simple pleasures you can start adding to your daily life. Not everything on this list will be one of your favorite things and you may have favorite things that aren’t on this list.

I encourage you to get out a paper and pen and make a list. Be intentional about doing at least one thing on this list every day.

If you feel uncomfortable, know that that is normal. Oddly when we do things to comfort ourselves, it can take us way out of our comfort zone!

Just give yourself a couple of minutes to feel that discomfort. Let it be there and don’t try to chase it away. Being uncomfortable for taking time for yourself may feel weird at first.

That’s okay and normal. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It doesn’t mean you are lazy. And it doesn’t mean you are letting people down.

Here’s my list of life’s simple pleasures to get you started. They are organized by outside, inside, unexpected, and with others.

Outside things

Taking an easy walk

Going for a picnic

Listening to the waves by the ocean

Working in the garden

Going for a walk in the rain with boots and a raincoat

Getting eggs from the chickens in the morning

Smelling fall leaves or fresh cut grass

Picking vegetables in your garden

Playing in the snow or going sled riding

Places to go

Go to your favorite ice cream parlor

Taking an hour to meander around an antique store

Browse at a bookstore

Exploring new places

Sitting by the water

Unplanned surprises

Seeing a rainbow

Running into an old friend

Feel the air on the first crisp day of fall

Spotting wildlife on a walk or hike

Getting a great fortune in your fortune cookie

Inside simple pleasures

Getting in a good workout (or an easy fun one)

Sitting by a fire

Playing with your pet

Buying and arranging some fresh flowers

Reading a good book in your place of choice

Making a meal with your favorite music or podcast playing

Enjoying a cup of coffee in bed

Taking an afternoon nap

Checking everything off your to-do list

Lighting some scented candles or diffusing some essential oils

Blowing bubbles with the kids or dog

Soaking in a hot bath

Writing everything you are grateful for in your journal

Trying a new recipe

Listening to your favorite music

A fire in the fireplace on a cold evening

Eating a fresh baked cookie

Putting ornaments on the Christmas tree

Going to bed on fresh sheets

Hot showers

Comfy socks

Using soap or lotion that smells really good

Waking up without the alarm

Looking through old family pictures

Curling up with a good book

Walking through your clean house

Waking up to your clean kitchen

To do with others

Watching a movie at home with the family

Hanging out with the grandkids

Dancing in the kitchen with your sweetie

Playing board games

Giving compliments

Calling a friend or family member you enjoy

Catching up with an old friend

How Much Should You Enjoy Life’s Simple Pleasures?

I believe you can benefit from doing some of these things often or even daily. For example, my first coffee of the day is always in bed and it gets my day off to a great start. I never dread waking up because I know I had that treat ahead.

When we begin to look at adding moments of joy to our day as something that is healthy and good for us, we are motivated to do more of it.

And when you discover how good you can feel, you might just want to feel good more often.

Remember enjoying simple pleasures to feel happy is truly good for you!