In The Magic of Starting Small, I made the point that it is your days that define your life. In this article, I want to challenge the common perception that it is only possible to enjoy your leisure time. In particular, this article is targeted at the professional stuck in the 9 to 5 grind who longs for the weekend and, in the process, has given up on trying to find pleasure in the ordinary experiences we have every day.
1. Appreciate Beauty. Each day we come across beauty in a number of shapes and forms. It’s a shame, then, that many people have become so accustomed to this beauty that it largely goes unappreciated. I suggest looking again at the people, plants, gadgets, and buildings (to name but a few examples) around you and taking a moment to appreciate what makes them so special.
2. Connect With Nature. Nature is an amazing healer for the stresses and strains of modern life. Eating lunch in the park, attending to a vegetable garden in your backyard, or watching the sunset are just a few simple ideas for how you can enjoy the outdoors on a daily basis.
3. Laugh. E. E. Cummings once said “the most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” How very true. Never be too busy to laugh, or too serious to smile. Instead, surround yourself with fun people and don’t get caught up in your own sense of importance.
4. Have Simple Pleasures. A good cup of coffee when I first wake. Time spent playing with my 8 month old son. Cooking a nice meal in the evening. These may not seem terribly exciting, but they are some of the simple pleasures I enjoy in life. If you slow down for just a moment and take the time to appreciate these ordinary events, life becomes instantly more enjoyable.
5. Connect With People. In so many ways, it is our relationships with people that give us the most happiness in life. Perhaps, then, the best way to enjoy your work more is not to get a raise or a promotion, but rather to build rewarding relationships with your co-workers.
6. Learn. There is a strong link between learning and happiness. Given this, there is no excuse not to be stimulating your brain and learning something new each day. My favorite way to find time for learning is to make the most of the commute to and from work. Audiobooks and podcasts are great for this purpose.
7. Rethink Your Mornings and Evenings. Are the mornings a mad rush for you to get out the door? Do you switch off the TV at night and go straight to bed? I have personally experienced the profound benefits of establishing a routine in the morning and evening. For example, in the morning you may choose to wake an hour earlier and spend the time working on yourself, whether it be reading, writing or exercising. In the evening, consider spending some time just before bed reviewing your day or in meditation.
8. Celebrate Your Successes. During a normal day we are sure to have some minor successes. Perhaps you have successfully dealt with a difficult customer, made a sale, or received a nice compliment for your work. These aren’t events worth throwing a party for, but why not take a moment to celebrate your success? Share the experience with someone else, reward yourself with a nice lunch, or just give yourself a mental pat on the back.
Peter writes about how to enjoy life at The Change Blog. If you enjoyed this article, you may wish to download his free e-book, A Year of Change.
Image by Robby Edwards
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Great article, this is starting to become my favorite non-trading blog.
Bubs,
I couldn’t agree more about the article. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the site recently.
Hi all of my friends I am glad to tell you enjoyingment plays prime role in everyone’s life. According to my opinion, everyone can access enjoyment by doing everything in entertaining manner.
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anilk
I think it’s a great article too! I’m a bit biased though
. Glad to hear people are enjoying it.
LOVE the point about the morning and evenings…this is a great way to become more effective. Nice work Peter (and John)!
Glad you liked it Todd. I agree on that point as well — finding time for thought and solitude at the beginning and end of the day has made a huge impact in terms of peace of mind. The credit is all Peter’s — I didn’t change a word.
Nice article, Peter… I really liked it. Getting rid of the internal pressure to rush is a key component of happiness.
I’d say #9 is “Do what you love.” Whatever it is, small or big, if you love what you do you’re sure to enjoy life.
Ravi: you have identified what is perhaps the best way to enjoy life every day: do what you love. I did not include it in this list, though, as I wanted to make simple suggestions that people can immediately start doing. For some people “doing what they love” comes naturally, but for many (like myself) it is something that does not come so easily and therefore is something to be worked towards in the medium/ long term.
[…] Daily life tagged happiness, mind, psychology at 11:19 am by LeisureGuy Pick the Brain today has a list of ways to enjoy life (see below). The only problem is that it’s not explained how to do some of the things. For […]
These 8 tips are things I do instinctually. Glad to see I’m on the right road. They work.
[…] another boring day at your job can be enjoyable…..”read more | digg […]
Great ideas. I especially like the “enjoy simple pleasures” - we all have them, I think we just don’t realize it. Recognizing and focusing on them can make a big difference.
(Shameless plug) For anyone who’s interested, I have a site that’s entirely dedicated to ways we can simplify life and enjoy the little things we often overlook. Stop by and let me know what you think: http://www.LivSimpl.com.
laughter can keep the doctor away. 100% proven. It is the key factor behind success.
Mmmmmmmmm, simple pleasures…
A build up of small joys every day - and at the weekend - are what drive me forward. Sunshine, laughter, reading a newspaper with a cold beer, making my own sausages and, above all, the sheer absurdity of life.
A story that always makes me smile whenever I tell it goes like this…
I was in my favourite bar, reading the newspaper and enjoying a beer in the afternoon, when in walked a morris dancer (for non UK readers, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_dance). In costume, with bells jingling.
He ordered a beer and sat down. Then another entered and did the same.
One by one about forty of them came into the bar and ordered a beer, accompanied by the sound of bells on their clothes. With so many of these guys in an enclosed space, their bells and laughter were overwhelming.
Then they left, one by one, each jingling gently.
Haha, nice despcription. Thst sounds like an enjoyable scene.
I definitely agree with the sentiment behind this article, but I’m a little concerned that too much adherence to this philosophy will breed stagnation. I look around at the world and see a planet filled with a lack of forward motion. Your philosophy strikes me as a case of “accepting your lot in life and learning to enjoy it.”
I could be mistaken.
However, I’d like to repeat that I agree with the sentiment here–I think it’s important to do all of the above–but without a mechanism for encouraging more than this, I’m afraid we as a people will stop progressing. We’re practically at a standstill as it is.
[…] 8 Simple Ways to Enjoy Life Every Day | PickTheBrain (tags: happiness life personalgrowth) […]
The article reminds me of one of the quote I like ” Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort.”
Nice list. I find tweaking negs to positives works quite well for my enjoyment here.
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great ideas, my experiences with item 1 is I watched sunset whenever I was at home for around 2 years when I lived in an apartment facing south west and took a picture for it. felt peaceful and blessing every time.
[…] How are you today? If you asked 10 persons you met, more often than not you will receive grouses and complaints than a big smile and gratitude and appreciation for being well and alive today. I came across this blog which share on 8 ways to enjoy life Every Day […]
Great article! I really enjoyed it!
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[…] 8 Simple Ways to Enjoy Life Every Day | PickTheBrain […]
Each of these ways is so true. I believe the power of laughter to help you enjoy life is often overlooked, possibly because it is misused in that people make fun of others. Yet you are so right to point out that laughter is a key way to enjoy life.
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How about dishing out everlasting, brutal vengeance on your enemies? That’s got to be one of the best things in life.
[…] my article 8 Simple Ways to Enjoy Life Every Day, I suggested that rethinking your evenings is a great way to get more from life. With this in mind, […]
[…] how about “How to Enjoy Life” from Peter at PickTheBrain? He suggest that we all appreciate nature and more, laugh more, have […]
Hi, I totally agree with the points about laughing and connecting with friends. I found a really friendly new social networking site. www.alljoinon.com
The people on it are so welcoming and I have actually found it so easy to make friends, which leds to lots of laughing and online banter. I now feel loads happier
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[…] way will you begin your day […]
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[…] another boring day at your job can be enjoyable…..read more | digg […]
I agree, live life to the full, enjoy the music of the world around you and love, dance, party. one life, live it.
DAMN! if everyone know how to enjoy life in positive way like this. there aint no fighting and arguing no more! lets LOVE one another…ayt? PEACE
be positive in life & look forward believing in yourself and others - for yesterday is only a memory of the past.