Today’s crazy world can cause stress, fear, anger, and even hopelessness. On a daily basis, the media bombards us with news of terrorism, corrupt politicians, gun violence, and global warming. It’s enough to make you throw your arms up in despair.
While there’s not a lot we can do to eliminate all of life’s bigger issues, there IS a lot we can do to improve the state of our own happiness.
Below are 16 simple pleasures that you can implement into your daily life. They cover four areas: body, mind, relationships, and food. And the best part is they’re all FREE or the price of a small meal!
Body
1. Practice Yoga
There’s nothing like the feeling of stretching your body. It just feels great!
Yoga is one of the best exercises you can do, because it stretches and strengthens your entire body. You’ll bend, twist, and rotate all of your joints.
It also helps with balance, alignment, concentration, posture, focus, and breathe. Here are the benefits of just one of the most popular poses - Downward Dog.
2. Walk / Jog
You don’t have to train for a marathon to get the benefits of moving your body outside. Walking or running short distances have been found to be just as beneficial as running longer distances.
When you go for a walk outside, you get your body moving, your blood pumping, and your muscles and bones working. It’s great for your cardiovascular health, your lungs, and the endorphins you generate may bring on a “runner’s high.”
3. Swim
Swimming is a wonderful way to get exercise. It's refreshing, you're outside, and you work your heart, lungs, and every muscle group. Since you’re floating in water, it’s easier on your joints than running.
And if you need more proof, here are 10 additional reasons swimming is great.
4. Get naked
Whether you’re just sleeping in the buff or you’re going au naturel on a nude beach, taking off your clothes feels liberating!
It’s a simple way to reduce your inhibitions, feel better about your body, and be adventurous.
For inspiration, check out one of our most popular blog posts, 9 Fun Things to Do Naked (Besides Sex).
Mind
5. Meditate / Pray
One of the very best ways to reduce stress, get focused, and improve happiness is through a daily meditation practice. Meditation calms the mind, focuses your thoughts, and rejuvenates the spirit.
To get a sense of how meditation can change you, take a look at these before and after shots from a 30-day meditation retreat.
Note: For many people, a daily prayer practice can have the same benefits of a meditation practice.
6. Read
Whether you’re reading fiction, non-fiction, a biography, or an essay, reading is a great way to expand your mind and imagination.
It can boost brain power, make you more empathetic, help you relax, and fight Alzheimer’s Disease.
For inspiration, check out the NY Times Bestseller List, Amazon’s top eBook list, or the social network geared toward books called GoodReads.
7. Sleep In
Getting a good night’s sleep is absolutely vital to your mental and physical well-being. It improves memory, thinking, focus, and even your sex life.
Everyone is always in such a hurry to get up and start their day. At least once a week, don’t set your alarm, and let your body sleep until it’s ready to wake naturally.
8. Get outside into nature
Americans spend almost their entire lives indoors. They go straight from home, to the car, to the office, and then back to home.
You need to get outside in order to get sunshine, Vitamin D, and fresh air. Try to get up and get outside at least once in the morning and once in the afternoon. If you can get into nature, that’s even better (a park, hiking trail, body of water, etc).
Your heart, lungs, mind, and body will thank you!
Relationships
9. Touch / Cuddle
The power of touch is very real. It’s such a great feeling to wake up and spend time each morning cuddling with your partner.
From the article The Healing Power of Touch:
“When we experience friendly, affectionate touch, our bodies release oxytocin, which is sometimes called the love hormone. Oxytocin's effects include lowering blood pressure, decreasing the stress-related hormone cortisol and increasing pain tolerance.”
Make sure you hug, touch, and cuddle with your loved ones. It feels great and is good for both of you!
10. Make whoopee!
It’s no secret that having sex is wonderful and will boost your happiness. It combines being naked, touching someone you love, being in a meditative state, and moving your entire body.
It uses all your senses - sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. It invigorates, releases tension, and makes everything melt away.
Making love is probably the easiest and more satisfying way to boost your happiness known to mankind!
11. Dinner with friends
It’s very important to maintain and nourish your social relationships. While it’s fun to connect with friends on social media, it’s even better to meet up in person.
A great way to boost your happiness is to get together with some friends over a nice meal. You can also get the same benefits by going out for a drink or a cup of coffee. The key is to have that time to chat, laugh, and catch up.
12. Pet a pet
No matter what’s happening the world, your pet is always there for you. They love you unconditionally and are guaranteed to make you feel better.
Pets can help reduce stress, ward off allergies, and improve social interactions.
If you don't have your own pet, you can go to a cat cafe or volunteer at an animal shelter.
Food
13. Eat a healthy snack / meal
Eating healthy not only will help you stay fit and live longer, but it’ll also make you feel better.
Studies have shown healthy foods can increase serotonin (a natural antidepressant), boost your mood with dopamine, and reduce stress by moderating your body’s cortisol levels.
14. Enjoy some comfort food
While eating healthy is great, it’s also nice to eat some delicious comfort food from time to time. How can you be down when you’re gnoshing on piece of pizza or enjoying an ice cream cone?
Check out Experiencify’s Comfort Food section for information on all the best comfort food restaurants in the country.
15. Wine / Spirits
Although you don’t want to overdo your alcohol intake, the occasional glass of wine, bottle of beer, or fancy cocktail can help lift your spirits.
And there may even be some health benefits when done in moderation. Food & Wine list 8 health benefits of drinking wine.
16. Coffee
If you’re a coffee drinker, you know how happy your morning cup of joe makes you. There’s nothing like the smell of the beans, the sound of the grinder, and feel of the warm cup in your hands.
It gives you that great little boost you need, makes you sharper, and its antioxidants offer a variety of health benefits (again, as long as you don’t overdo it!).
And if you don’t like coffee, then a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate may do the trick.
Enjoy Life
Life’s meant to be experienced and enjoyed! You don’t have to spend a ton of money to be happy.
A simple meal can be just as enjoyable as an expensive meal. A morning sleeping in and cuddling with your partner can feel just as good as a lavish spa day.
So get out there, talk a walk in the sunshine, hold your partner’s hand, pet your cat, and have some ice cream!
If you do some of these things every day you just might be one of those happy smiling people that you always envy 🙂