How I Find Joy in Ordinary Days

I’ve learned that the happiest moments in life are rarely the biggest ones. More often, they’re found in the quiet routines, familiar comforts, and simple moments we might otherwise overlook.

The older I get, the more I realize it’s the small things that shape our experiences and define our sense of happiness and fulfillment. While it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s important to take a step back and appreciate the simple pleasures that surround us each day. I think it’s natural to blow through our days without realizing there are moments of joy in each of them. I’ve recently started really paying attention to the things that bring me joy each day and how to even add more of it. I’m a work in progress, and I’ll be the first to admit that rushing through my days has become a habit that is very hard to break. However, I’m making myself get out and enjoy that evening walk, not rush through my morning coffee, to appreciate the rooster waking me up and to stop and look at what this life really is. Changing your day-to-day is hard, but here are a few ways I’m making myself pay attention to the small details that truly matter.

Start the Morning With Gratitude

I think it’s very important to take a moment each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for. Whether it’s a warm cup of coffee in the morning (I look so forward to my morning coffee), a kind word from a friend, or a beautiful sunset, acknowledging the blessings in your life can help shift your perspective and cultivate gratitude and contentment. I like to write in my journal every morning before the hustle and the bustle of the day gets underway. I find it very grounding and helps me keep things in perspective. I believe a lot of people think you have to write and write and write to get anything out of journaling. That’s simply not true, at least I don’t feel it is. There are so many different techniques, and I encourage you to find your own. A simple Google search: “different ways to journal,” will show you many ideas. For me, I simply use a page in my daily planner to write down the things I’m grateful for, and here is the thing…most days, it’s the same thing, and that’s ok. It just keeps it clear in your mind. I know many people who decorate their journals and use them more like scrapbooks. I do the same with my planner. Using my daily planner as a creative space (and not just a “to-do” list) helps me want to use it more. If you’d like to make your journal/planner more of a creative space, I highly recommend stickers, different color markers (make sure they don’t bleed through the page), colored pencils, washi tape, etc. I also cut words or pictures out of old magazines and just add things to the pages that bring me joy. Being creative can make us so happy, but again…we have to be willing to take the time to do it!

Find Your Own Simple Pleasures (Even Plan Them)

Slow down and take the time to savor the simple pleasures that bring you joy. Whether it’s enjoying a leisurely walk in nature, indulging in a piece of chocolate, or cuddling up with a good book, allow yourself to fully immerse in the experience and appreciate the moment. For me, one of my favorite simple pleasures is taking a walk with my dog. It brings me such joy. I love seeing him so happy, and I love being outside in nature. Another one is sitting on my porch with a good book. I’m always grateful and joyful when I’m in the barn with my horses. I find that in order to really find the joy in it…take a moment to acknowledge the joy! When I’m out walking my dog, I think to myself, “How lucky am I? I get to be out here with him, and he’s so happy…which makes me happy!”

Another one is that I like to plan “special days” after I finish a big project. For example, when Anne and I get an issue of Front Porch Life done and out to our subscribers, then I might plan what I call a “DIP DAY!” This is where I make my favorite dip and pick a show I’ve been waiting to watch, and that is all I have planned for the day. Knowing I have that on the calendar is very motivating, and then getting to actually enjoy a full day of splurging on my favorite dip and watching a show…pure JOY! Maybe it’s a Sunday dinner at home that you love, but you rarely make time for it. Plan it! Make it happen; it’s important.

Call the People You Think About

Make time for meaningful connections with family and friends. Whether it’s a phone call, a handwritten note, a text message, or a spontaneous visit, nurturing relationships and sharing moments of laughter and love can bring immense joy and fulfillment to your life. Last year, I made a commitment that if someone popped into my mind, I would pick up the phone and call them. It has made such a difference. I have spoken with one of my college professors several times over the past year. Reconnecting with that part of my life has been so good for my soul.

Find Beauty in Everyday Moments

I love having fresh-baked bread in the house. It always brings me joy to smell it baking or to enjoy a warm piece with butter. Also, fresh-cut flowers in the house always bring a smile to my face. Something as simple as freshly washed sheets or the kitchen table being cleaned off (mine piles up with mail) can make me happy. Maybe it’s opening the windows after a summer rain or simply sitting on the porch steps with a glass of sweet tea. None of these things are extravagant, but they bring a smile to my face, and that’s what’s important. Also, here’s the thing about all of these little acts….they can be done daily. If you KNOW what makes you happy and adds a smile to your day… map your week out so you can add them in. I know people who wash sheets on Monday, or maybe they bake bread every Thursday. This is a great way to sprinkle moments of joy throughout your week.

Embrace Simple Acts of Kindness

Practice random acts of kindness and generosity toward others. Whether it’s holding the door open for a stranger, offering a listening ear to a friend in need, or donating to a worthy cause, spreading kindness and positivity can not only brighten someone else’s day but also bring joy to your own. I always try to be a cheerleader for everyone. Trust me, I have my moments where I fail, but I make it a point to comment on people’s social media, send a quick text to compliment them, or give a phone call to offer a pat on the back. Anne and I are both runners, and anytime we pass another runner on the trail, we always speak. Many will speak back; some won’t, but I always try to spread cheer. In this day and age, I think it’s very important to take the time to let people know you care.

Engage in Playfulness

Embrace your inner child and indulge in moments of playfulness and spontaneity. Whether it’s dancing in the rain, building a blanket fort, or chasing fireflies at dusk, allow yourself to let go of inhibitions and experience the joy of being fully present in the moment. Remember, as kids, we would run through the sprinklers? That is pure playfulness! I’ll be the first to admit this one can be hard for me because I feel like I work a lot, but simply making our favorite brownies and watching a movie with my husband on a radom Tuesday or laughing with my mom at something silly is so important! 

Cultivate Mindfulness

Practice mindfulness and be present in the moment. Pay attention to the sights, sounds, and sensations around you, and allow yourself to fully experience the richness of each moment. Cultivating mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety and increase feelings of joy and contentment. This is one I really try to practice, and it can be difficult. Listen, in this world…it’s so easy to get stuck in what I call “fast forward.” This is where you’re constantly thinking about the next thing to do and not being in the present. I’m so bad about this, and honestly, I have struggled my entire life with it. My brain is constantly searching for what I have to do next. It can be exhausting. However, lately, I’ve really tried to change the way I look at things. When I go for a run, instead of thinking about all the things I need to do AFTER my run, I really try to focus on the things around me and be grateful to spend a morning out in nature, rather than on what my “to-do” list is afterward. Same when I’m cleaning stalls or riding my horse. It’s so easy to constantly be pushing yourself to what’s next in line, but it robs us of the here and now. It’s a practice like anything else, and I’m trying to be very mindful of it.

At the end of the day, finding joy throughout our days can be easy. The hard part is taking the time to recognize those moments. We’re all a work in progress, but being mindful of these things can really help. I still catch myself rushing through a day because I’m focused on the next deadline. Then Huxley wants to go outside, or the bread timer goes off, or the sun starts setting over the pasture, and I’m reminded that this is the life I’ve worked so hard for. Don’t let the days simply past by, that’s no way to live. Anytime you can acknowledge joyfulness… you’re adding to your life. Do you know what is great about simple pleasures? They are different for everyone, and the magic is finding yours.  Remember, none of these things cost money; they just require you to take the time to find them!  

Are You Reading Front Porch Life Magazine?

© Front Porch Life Magazine photos and text – All rights reserved. No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder

Sharing is caring!