Learning to Enjoy the Little Things - Practical Tips

When you master the art of appreciating life’s small, joyful moments, your days become brighter. Here’s how you can improve at enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. — Robert Brault​

There’s So Much to Be Grateful For

It often happens when I’m relaxed and calm. For example, I might be lying in bed and suddenly realize – and this may sound silly – how nice the clean sheets feel against my skin. Or when I’m walking outside toward the park, and it suddenly hits me how beautiful the clouds are or how unique a flower can be.

The small, pleasant things add sparkle to life. And the more often you learn to appreciate them, the more radiant your day will become.

But it doesn’t always come naturally. When I’m stressed or deep in thought, sheets, clouds, and even trains feel ordinary. I only find joy in the big achievements, like completing my to-do list.

These aren’t the days when I shine. They’re days with few moments I can look back on with warmth.

How Regular Tomato Soup Becomes Heavenly

Typically, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to a basic serving of tomato soup. I take some in a bowl, enjoy it while watching YouTube, and think it’s good, but not outstanding.

However, sometimes it’s entirely different. For example, when I’m fasting for a day, eating nothing for 24 hours, from dinner to dinner. When the time finally comes to prepare the soup, it turns into an intense experience.

I enjoy working with the ingredients. I surround myself with the smell of onions, garlic, and tomatoes cooking in the pan. While the soup cooks, my stomach rumbles with excitement.

And when I finally sit down to eat, it tastes like the best soup I’ve ever had. That same simple tomato soup, which I usually devour without a second thought, transforms into an experience I savor deeply.

You Can Choose to Enjoy the Small Things More Often

Life is full of little things, and no one will blame you if you miss them. You can’t spend every moment of every day enjoying the small joys in life.

But on the other hand, no one will blame you if you take a little more time to notice and appreciate certain things with a bit more attention.

Your ability to enjoy small, everyday moments plays a part in how vibrant and happy you feel throughout your day. The better you get at savoring life, the more fulfillment, joy, and gratitude you’ll experience daily.

And that’s worth the effort.

How Can You Get Better at This?

It starts with realizing that you can begin whenever you want, even if you’ve been lost in your thoughts all day. You can hit pause at any moment and start enjoying the small things around you.

As you go, you’ll notice that some things are always with you, like your body and your breathing. Many mindfulness practices teach you to observe the sensations in your body. This can help you enjoy pleasant feelings, like the touch of clean sheets against your skin.

Yoga has taught me to appreciate how good it feels to be present in my body. When I calm myself, I find joy in simple breathing and movement.

But there’s more. The smell of coffee, the soothing background noise outside, pleasant music, the scent of fresh autumn air, a cup of tea on the couch, a good meal.

Looking around your living room and noticing trinkets that bring back happy memories. Taking a shower in a clean bathroom. Chatting with a good friend, walking in the forest, a lovely romantic moment, or receiving a thoughtful gift.

Focusing on a task with full attention, admiring the design of a building, people-watching in the park, quietly observing a bird on the windowsill, enjoying your dog as he naps, absorbing the atmosphere at a party, or simply appreciating raindrops on the window or your face.

If you look, you’ll find it. All around you.

Perfect happiness is a beautiful sunset, the giggle of a grandchild, the first snowfall. It’s the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events. Joy comes in sips, not gulps. — Sharon Draper

What Enjoying the Little Things Does for You

When you learn to enjoy the little things daily, you’ll find yourself feeling happier. It will feel as if life begins to flow more smoothly as you’ve stepped into a gentle, warm current that carries you to a pleasant place.

And while you’re drifting along, someone hands you a cocktail. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Enjoying the small things helps you see the beauty all around. It gives you more reasons to feel grateful and content. This sense of appreciation helps reduce stress and anxiety because you realize your life is pretty good as it is. There’s not much that needs to change for you to feel content.

After all, you’re already content with a warm bowl of soup and a cozy blanket over your feet.

Give it a try. Calm yourself and take a look around. What do you see? What do you feel? What do you find beautiful and enjoyable?

Slow down and experience your life with more awareness. Because if you can learn to enjoy the feel of clean sheets against your skin, nothing is stopping you from shining every single day. 😊

When was the last time you truly noticed the beauty of a flower or the comfort of fresh sheets?

The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things. — Henry Ward Beecher

Personalized Guidance Available

Are you ready to sharpen your focus and achieve your goals with the power of simplicity? Schedule a personal consultation now. Discover how targeted guidance and strategies can accelerate your progress and enhance your success.

Take Action

Let this be when you focus fully on what truly matters. Book a Consultation and turn your clear vision into reality. Be focused. Be successful.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

If you found this article insightful and wish to master digital interactions and personal growth, subscribe to the Letter to Boost Your Mondays.

Catch My Daily Posts on Medium!

Explore daily articles on Medium, where I delve into personal growth, lifestyle design, and productivity. Each piece is crafted to inspire and provoke thought, blending practical advice with personal insights. Keep in touch with my latest reflections and join by following me at Medium