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
Carol Maurer
This is full of hope and faith for the best world we can make…Thank you, makes me smile.
Rachel Ligairi
The don’t hold to tight to anything!! The very sagest of advice.
Also, reading this list itself was one of my happy things today.
Sandra
Thank you for writing this post, Joy! Currently live in LA and am considering a bday trip in Sept to your current city just b/c of your posts.
Paige
I love this. Thank you so much for the reminder and positivity ?
Sina
Thank you, Joy! This ist wonderful – already made a BLT sandwich, baking Banana Bread is next. And yoga breathing – definitely.
Rebeca
Yes to all of this! Another one that’s making me happy lately: massage my body with a niiice oil after showering. It only takes a few minutes but the payoff is huge (at least for me).
Heather Christothoulou
Thank you Joy for this little piece of brightness in such a dark time. May I add 1) spending time with your animal (if you have one) and 2) the idea that touching earth helps? Like walk in the grass barefoot or garden with your bare hands- it’s proven to recharge you and draw away emotional toxins. Also,3) WINE.
joythebaker
You’re absolutely right about everything!
Nadene Trofholz
Thanks you for sharing as I needed this today, well everyday! I like what Meg said, we need a reminder to enjoy life and be grateful everyday. I love your cookbooks, just sitting and reading them is a pleasure even if I don’t bake anything. I am also grateful that all your recipes are not only delicious but I can actually read the ingredients with these tired eyes and don’t have to get out the magnifying glass, thank you for that! Have a great day one and all!
M
Thank you, Joy. I’m in the middle of a difficult season in life, and this came on a morning that I desperately needed it. Love and hugs.
tracy
YOU MAKE ME HAPPY!!!!
Kendra
This is so good. I recently bought some new handmade soap at the farmer’s market and it is literally a breath of fresh air every morning. Love you Joy!
Leslie
Thank you, Joy!
Pat Barford
Totally yes!
Vaughan Greene
Great ideas! Thanks. Might I add something I just did that makes me happy? I hung a Hummingbird feeder near my balcony. Such amazing creatures to watch and so entertaining too. Helps me to de-stress and maybe I am helping them also.
Best to you and all you do.
Chris
How lovely. I live in Australia and for some reason watching hummingbirds is way up there on my bucket-list. I envy you!
Judi
Love this! I have a space in my Reminders app on my phone that says “Break the Glass” and any time I see a quote or idea that gives me a lift, I jot it down there. Here’s one I like from Jenny Slate: “Within something really small can be something that is complete and that doesn’t need to be sized up in any way. I love little beating hearts. I love that they beat just as strongly as big ones. I am fascinated by things that could be crushed but continue to keep on going because I feel like that as well.”