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Ten Small Ways To Be Happy

August 16, 2017 by Joy the Baker 74 Comments

We all need a little spark of a reminder sometimes.  A little confetti in the air.  A little whipped cream on top.  A little something-something.  Here are ten small and simple ways to be happy in any given day.  When all else fails- champagne for breakfast and doughnuts for dessert.  

1  •  Do a chore that you’ve been putting off and immediately TREAT YOURSELF.  Maybe a door needs replacing or a floor needs deep cleaning or all the laundry needs putting away.  If this is the case, your house is exactly like my house and let’s take care of business and treat ourselves to watermelon and margaritas and chocolate bars. (amen amen amen)  

2  •  Give yourself a pep talk.  It could start as simple as this and then evolve into watching some of the best clips from The Office, here… before you remind yourself that you’re great and everything is going to be damn fine because you’re going to make it so.  

3  •  Exercise until you’re out of breath and exhausted. This might take you seven minutes or thirty seven- but get to the third or fourth time your mind is trying to talk yourself out of doing what you’re doing before you stop because these bodies are stronger than our brains would have us think.  

4  •  Don’t hold on too tight anything.  See: mistakes, victories, loves, not-loves, insecurities, surety.  Go easy and keep it loose.  Yoga helps.  Yoga breathing helps, if you’re not down with the triangle poses and down dogs.  

5  •  Have a sandwich for dinner.  Making a good sandwich for yourself is a meditation and a belly-satisfaction.  You might consider this: The Best BLT Sandwich.  

6  •  Use a new soap in the shower.  It’s incredible how a new fragrance can liven the mind.

7  •  I dream it / I work hard/ I grind till I own it.  Don’t forget your inherent slaying in just doing your dang thing everyday, OK!? 

8  •  Write down why you’re grateful for a few folks in your life- call and tell them what you think without any expectations.  It feels good to make people feel good and very often we don’t say the things we mean to say to one another. Our girl Tracy taught us how to make a gratitude journal just last week. 

9  •  Remember that Sheryl Crow had it super right when she said ‘everyday is a winding road‘ and that was even before she met Lance Armstrong so really she must know a lot. 

10  •  Try banana bread.  The smell alone will help, plus you made something from scratch, plus you’re not wasting old, well-intentioned bananas.  

You’re a precious gem and thank goodness we’re in this together.  

Enjoy this day, ok?

xo Joy

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  1. Dottie

    August 27, 2018 at 6:08 pm

    Love everyone’s suggestions! Love your suggestions Joy. You bring us joy (of course) and always a smile. Thanks.

    Reply
  2. Terry

    March 21, 2018 at 8:31 am

    I would add champagne at any time of the day, same could be said for donuts!

    Reply
  3. Freya

    November 17, 2017 at 7:32 am

    Couldn’t agree more about banana bread! There’s something so comforting about it – it’s often a go-to recipe to make when I’m stressed!

    Reply
  4. dr martin huang

    September 18, 2017 at 9:04 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! with such small effort we can be happy too!

    Reply
  5. Kristin

    September 15, 2017 at 3:55 am

    this is perfect – thanks joy <3

    Reply
  6. singapore forum

    August 27, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Thanks for sharing this! this help me alot, as i trying to stay positive in life.

    Reply
  7. jeannette

    August 21, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    i appreciate you for reminding me that happiness can be something simple and small. love you, mean it. xo – j

    Reply
  8. Alice

    August 21, 2017 at 1:54 am

    Thank you!!! I really needed this Today!

    Reply
  9. Beth

    August 20, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    I really needed to see this today. Thank you so so so much.

    Reply
  10. Blair Jimison

    August 19, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    You are amazing. Thank you for the love and inspo. amen. amen. amen.

    Reply
  11. Shams

    August 19, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    I never post on blogs but I really needed this post this week. I truly enjoy your blog/IG because it’s so real and I hope you continue to keep it this way. Thanks for being so real.

    Reply
  12. MARY H HIRSCH

    August 19, 2017 at 8:05 am

    J – I had just finished putting together my Post for the week when I read yours. Since we were on the same train track, I did some editing and included your ‘confetti, whipped cream and something-something’ remark. It was perfect. Love your blog. https://www.lightsonbrightnobrakes.com/aboard-tweaks-happy/

    Reply
  13. marisa

    August 19, 2017 at 7:40 am

    beautifully said …you are a gem!

    Reply
  14. Catherine McCord

    August 18, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    Read this one twice just to make sure it all sunk in! xo

    Reply
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