Though we often only remember our most significant milestones, simple pleasures make life worthwhile.
It’s the little things that make up the majority of your life. The tiny delights, everyday comforts, and serene moments combine for a satisfying life, but they pass us by if we don’t pay attention.
What Are Simple Pleasures?
Life’s little pleasures are the everyday things that create contentment, but we often take them for granted because they’re simple.
We often overlook the everyday joys in our quest for happiness, but life would be stale without them.
Life’s Simple Pleasures
Enjoy these 101 simple pleasures every day for a happy life full of contentment.
- The sunshine on your face
- The aroma of a fresh cup of coffee
- Your cat’s purr
- A cup of tea
- The sound of a thunderstorm
- Watching the squirrels chase each other around the park
- Crossing something off your to-do-list
- Freshly cleaned sheets
- Sleeping in
- Watching the Sunrise
- And sunset
- Peeling the sticker off your new electronics
- Getting lost in a great book
- Autumn Leaves
- Children’s Laughter
- A hot shower
- That first bite of your favorite food
- Watching a nostalgic movie
- Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day
- Looking through your photo album
- Chatting with an old friend
- A satisfying stretch
- Comfort food
- Extra money at the end of the month
- Hugging your family
- A clean room
- Watching the stars on a clear night
- Relaxing in a luxurious bubble bath
- Running through a sprinkler on a hot summer day
- Enjoying the fireworks
- A flower garden buzzing with life
- The first flower buds of spring
- A White Christmas
- Sledding
- Making snow angels
- A bouquet of fresh flowers
- Paying off a line of credit
- Watching your savings grow
- Playing your favorite game
- Engaging in an intellectually stimulating conversation
- Figuring out a problem
- Browsing a used bookstore
- Walking barefoot in the grass
- Birds singing in the spring
- Baby animal season at the zoo
- Coming home after a long day
- A walk in the park
- Your grandma’s best cooking
- Family time
- The possibilities of a new blank journal
- Dancing to your favorite song
- Laughing so hard you cry
- Seasonal decorations
- Scented candles
- Coming home to a dog that’s thrilled to see you
- Imagining shapes in clouds
- Practicing Gratitude
- Cooking a delicious meal that brings people together
- A collection of great memories
- Crunching ice under your boot in winter
- Kicking off your shoes
- A leisurely stroll
- Helping someone
- Getting a real letter in the mail
- Funny Memes
- Hearing your favorite song on the radio
- Mastering a new recipe
- New car smell
- A moment of peace
- The slight muscle ache after a challenging workout
- Running Water
- An Electric blanket in the winter
- AC in the summer
- That first bite of freshly picked fruit
- Your local library
- A cool glass of water
- Washing your face
- Dining outside
- Stickers
- Time for your favorite hobby
- People watching
- Indulging in a sweet treat
- Whipped cream topping
- Cracking open a cold one
- Being out in nature
- Skipping rocks
- Your favorite lounging spot
- A warm towel straight from the dryer
- Sinking into bed after a hard day
- A bonus day off
- Getting lost in your art
- Rocking Your Favorite Outfit
- Falling in love
- Finding the last piece of the puzzle
- Initiating a random act of kindness
- Learning something new
- Receiving a genuine compliment
- Relaxing in solitude
- Coloring
- When you thought it was Thursday but realize it was Friday
- Planning your future
- A satisfying ending
- Letting go
Whatever You Cherish
Everyone enjoys different things. One person may find great joy in reading a good book, while another may find it in a child’s delight.
No list of simple pleasures can include everything everyone enjoys, but it can give you an idea of the small things to look forward to each day.
Print out our cheat-sheet of simple pleasures, or use our template in Canva to create your own!
Simple Pleasures Let You Enjoy Life in the Moment
Simple pleasures are the small things that make life worth living. They allow you to savor every moment, no matter how mundane it might appear.
Our lives are collections of tiny moments, and by embracing the joy inherent in each, we can live happier lives.
How To Cherish the Little Things in Life
Reframing your mind to treasure the small moments takes effort. Here are three easy ways to start enjoying the little things more.
Mindfulness
Enjoy each moment by embracing mindfulness. Mindfulness helps us turn off our anxious minds and engage in the here and now. Stop constantly thinking about what you must do next and enjoy the present moment.
Immerse Yourself
It’s hard to think about other things when your mind is fully engaged where you are. To do that, immerse yourself in all of your senses. While you’re out for a walk, smell the roses on your path while listening to the insect’s light buzz and watching the squirrels dance. Feel the fresh breeze and sunshine on your face. Engage every sense to fully embrace the now.
Shift Your Mindset
We’re constantly searching for that great big moment of happiness – graduating, getting married, taking that trip, getting a promotion. We think that if we can achieve that, we’ll be happy.
Those big moments only make up a fraction of our lives. If you’re relying on them for happiness, you’ll be disappointed.
It takes a mindset shift to realize that the smaller joys bring the most happiness.
Simple Pleasures Make a Happy Life
Although we tend to remember the big moments when reflecting on our lives, we spend far more time on the little things.
Treasure them.
They make the mundane joyful, fill your life with contentment, and make the big wins even sweeter.