It’s difficult to know where to start with things like how to bring more joy into your life because everyone is so different and what brings one person joy might sound like an absolutely nightmare to someone else. But as we’re all on a quest for a happier and more positive life, I think it’s important we try to narrow down some things that universally can make a difference to all.
With the world crumbling around us, environmentally and politically, granted, it can be very hard to maintain an ounce of joy some days. When everywhere we turn, there’s a negative news story, it can be very easy to want to curl up under your duvet and sleep the day away.
And we should do that – sometimes.
I certainly do. Sometimes when things get too much, all I want to do is nap. You don’t need to face the world when you’re unconscious, right?
I think it’s so important to have those coping mechanisms in place to help us self-soothe and go inward and put our mental health first.
But we can’t turn a blind eye to the world forever. We do need to get out there and you know, go to work. Feed our kids. Walk our dogs. So when the world is forcing us to show up, how can we bring more joy into our lives in those little, sustainable ways?
In this post, let’s look at 10 small, sustainable but effective ways of how to bring more joy into your life:
Take more photos
At the start of 2023, I began doing weekly wrap-up posts on my Instagram. I’d seen plenty of people do these and always thought they were a lovely idea but I never thought I’d have much to include in mine. My weeks seemed pretty dull and drab, compared to the people I followed online.
However, that was FAR from the case. As soon as I committed to doing these weekly wrap-ups, I was taking more photos and it’s been amazing to look back on these posts and see all the stuff I’ve done this year so far! Thanks for taking more photos, I’ve brought more joy into my own life by documenting the fun things I’ve been doing.
Express gratitude regularly
Expressing gratitude is one of the healthiest and easiest ways to find more joy in your life. The great thing is, it’s fairly effortless, inexpensive and you can do it any time and any where!
There are loads of different ways to express gratitude from starting a gratitude journal to simply thinking what something you’re grateful for as it’s happening. Find something that works for you and make it part of your daily routine.
Get outside in the elements
Being cooped up inside for too long isn’t good for us so if you want a completely free way of how to bring more joy into your life – look outside! If you have a garden, use it. If you have a balcony, use it. If you have windows, USE THEM!
Better yet, going for a walk (or a run or a bike ride) to get the blood pumping, the heart beating and those endorphins singing will boost your mood and easily bring more joy into your every day.
Listen to music – make playlists
Music is so powerful. It has the ability to make you smile, sing, dance, cry, scream. It can lift you up when you’re down, chill you out when you’re stressed or allow you to express negative emotions in a more healthy way.
But ultimately, music is good for the soul. So this is another easy and free way to bring more joy into your life. Make yourself some playlists of songs you love, happy songs, songs that make you feel like the main character in your own story.
Seek out good news stories
Bad news stories are everywhere. Not only do we need to curate the news we consume, we also need to actively seek out good news stories, so we’re not constantly only bombarded with the wrong in the world. There’s actually a lot of people doing a lot of good things out there – we just never see it.
I personally love this series from Leena Norms called “What If It All Goes Right?” where she talks about current good news stories and contemplates what if it all actually went right? We all need more good news, so it’s also worth cutting down your news intake usage.
Be kind to others
Being kind to others is never not going to make you happy – as well as that other person. There definitely needs to be more kindness in the world and that can start with you. Yes, you! It can start will all of us doing small acts of kindness whenever we can.
How to bring more joy into your life doesn’t always have to start and finish with you. Yes, reading a book might bring us joy but what if we read a book then donated it to charity? Or gave it to a friend?
Do something that brings you joy – not money
Hustle culture has been rife for years and it really peaked during the pandemic when people were out there telling us all to start a business during this time of turmoil, rather than giving ourselves and our loved ones care and support whilst the world went through a LITERAL PANDEMIC.
Jesus Christ.
Look, let’s not beat around the bush. Money is nice. I like money. I like making money. But not everything in your life needs to be monetized or done for the purpose of making money from it. Find a hobby or a passion that allows you to be free and creative without even having to think about money.
Stop caring what others think
Much easier said than done, I know. But sometimes when it comes to how to bring more joy into your life, it’s the inner work that really helps. The work that’s ongoing and won’t happen overnight.
One of the biggest lessons I learned in 2022 was that nobody really cares – and not in a malicious way. And it was an empowering lesson to learn. The quicker we all learn that, the better.
Bring a childlike wonder to your life
Children are full of joy, all the time, every day. They don’t care what people think (see above) and to them, everything is exciting and new. Whilst we might not be able to adopt that exact same outlook (I mean, once you’ve had one Starbucks, you’ve had them all, right?) we can learn from them.
We can start to be open to new experiences and also find joy in the old experiences too. Something you’ve done a thousand times, try and look at it from a fresh perspective. For this point, you might even want to start learning something new and opening up your mind to the wonder of a new topic.
Stop trying to rush through everything
How are you ever going to find joy in anything if you’re constantly trying to rush through your life?
Again, this is another one of those that are easier said than done, especially when we live in such a fast paced environment, which is always all about the next things. But instead, why don’t we try and slow down, live more intentionally and grasp each experience, each season of life as it comes?
Actively trying to bring more joy into your life isn’t always easy.
Especially when we have so many responsibilities, including children, jobs, finances, social lives, running a home and more.
You really do have to work for that joy sometimes and that’s okay to admit. I hope these 10 ideas give you something to consider when you want to know how to bring more joy into your life.
How do you bring more joy into your life when everything feels a bit bleak?
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These are all great tips. Everyone should read this and practice what you say. Thank you.
Thank you 🙂
These are great ideas on how to bring more joy into our lives! I completely agree there are so many bad news stories, so it is great to seek out good stories. I also agree it is good to do something you enjoy and not thinking about how you can monetize it!
Absolutely! We are absolutely bombarded with bad news, it’s no wonder we all feel a bit meh x
loved this post so much, Jenny! I’ve been trying to maintain more joy in my life and these were great reminders. 🫶🏻😊
Thank you 🙂 x
I love this! Especially the ‘seek good news’… I follow an account on IG for that exact purpose. It’s fab!
https://instagram.com/thehappynewspaper?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Oh wow that’s great!
I love this post! I’m always rushing through things and I have no idea why actually. I was playing in the rain a few days ago and the guy I’m dating thought I’d lost my mind, it’s the little things in life.
It really isn
I love how simple yet effective these ideas are! Sometimes I get discouraged because I believe that joy is only something rich people can afford, but that’s not true! Wonderful post!
I can totally understand that!
I love this post thanks! I am all about trying to.find ways to bring more joy at the moment. I’m listening to loads of podcasts about wellness and self care and finding ways to improve my wellbeing so this post is perfect. Some great tips I will be following.
Great idea! I think focusing on our well-being is a great way to bring more joy to our lives too x
I loved this post Jenny! in the month of June I’m really going to work on my gratitude journal and actually finding joy and gratitude in every day life. Thanks for the tips! This post came at the perfect time
Ah lovely! I hope that brings you more joy x
Love these ideas Jenny – thanks for sharing! I really want to try taking more photos as I use to love to that years ago. You’re totally right about hustle culture and the idea that everything we do needs to make money, which is not the point to life or enjoyable! 🙂
Yes absolutely!
Thanks for writing such a good list! For me, spending time amongst flowers of all kinds is the best therapy. I also love photographing them so I can get joy on days when I can’t get outside!
Oooh lovely! Can definitely understand how this gives you so much joy x
I love all these ideas on how to bring more joy into your life! Joy is so important! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you x
This is a really thorough list of things we can do to bring us job. I like cycling and walks in nature. Especially in spring when everything is green. Thanks for sharing!
Yes sounds lovely!
Great points Jenny! Taking more pictures, practicing gratitude, and just enjoying the present moment are perfect ways to find joy. Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely! 🙂
Very good post…lots of good ideas. Gratitude changes everything…so many things to be thankful for. Fresh air and sunshine make everything better! 🙂
Absolutely! Totally agree x
Great things to do, I listen to music but always forget to make a playlist. Thank you for sharing these things!
You’re welcome!
What a great post! I’m a picture taking fiend. I love exploring a new place (I try to opt for free for budgeting purposes) and then I get my photographer on. It’s a nice way to revisit memories and experience the joy all over again. Another way I bring joy into my life is to watch a familiar movie or series, something that brings me nostalgia and remind me of simpler times. Thank you for sharing!
Awh yeah for me that’s probably Disney movies!
I love the Idea of taking more photos, I take a lot of pictures for my blog but I like the sound of just taking pictures of everyday life! X
I’m definitely also trying to take more photos and I love the idea of playlists as music is something I don’t listen to that often, but when I do it can really improve my mood.
Lisa
https://www.lovefromlisa.com
Definitely increase your music listening!
Yesss every day life! Do it x
These are some great suggestions on ways you can bring joy into your life. The news can be so depressing as there is always so many negative and scary things happening in the world. I love being around my loved ones, being outdoors and music is a great mood booster. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren x
It really can. I think it’s important to stay up to date with things and not turn a blind eye but there’s always a limit isn’t there?
Expressing gratitude is something I need to do more often, I know that would defintely bring some joy into my life! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I definitely go through phases with it!
I love this! We are all in need of bringing a little more goodness in our life 💗
I’d love it if you could take a look at my latest post; https://marthamolly.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-early-bird-plymouth.html?m=1
Thank you x
I’ve got rubbish about taking photos the last couple of years, but before that I used to do project 365, and it was great to be able to look back and enjoy the little things
Awh that’s cool! I always try and take as many photos as I can x
That’s so interesting that you say about using a garden if you have one – you know what gardening geek I am and how my garden is my happy place! Also about taking photographs – I take garden photos all the time, partly so I can see what’s worked (or not) and partly so I can document the things I love. Fab post, Jenny, we can all do with more joy our lives, no matter where we find it.
Not necessarily for gardening, just to be outside, in the fresh air and the elements and the sun! I’m always happier when I’m outside! 🙂 xx
Some really good ideas here. I love going for a run when I can, as it always makes me feel happier. Seeking out good news stories is also a good call.
That’s so great that you’ve found that thing that brings you so much joy but is also SO good for you!
This post is great, Jenny! I usually hustle, rush and forget to take some pictures sometimes. I’m learning to take things slowly and be grateful. It may take a while but I’ll get there.
That’s great 🙂 It’s all a practice!
I needed this reminder; I love these ideas and will be putting them into action. Thank you for this!
I’ve started blocking all the news apps on my phone and I’m currently looking for a good news app where I can find happy, fun articles. I kept getting awful articles just popping up for me to see – things about the shambles of our local election, scare tactics and horror stories from other places. It was really spiking my anxiety!
Ugh I don’t blame you at all! Stay clear of the Facebook news tab as well!
Great post! It’s so important to find small ways to bring joy into your life 🙂 I particularly agree that not everything has to be for money. You can enjoy a task without needing an end achievement or payment. Thank you for sharing x
Yes absolutely! I think that’s SO important, especially as hustle culture is rife online x