Make Time to Enjoy Simple Pleasures

Do you feel like your life is filled with errands, tasks, and responsibilities? I know, sometimes I feel it, too. If we aren’t careful to strike a balance, we can quickly begin to feel overwhelmed, tired, or even burnt out. That is why I want to step into your day and encourage you to make time to enjoy simple pleasures.

A simple pleasure is an activity or experience that brings joy and contentment without being elaborate or expensive. Simple pleasures are often personal and vary from person to person. If you do a Pinterest search on life’s simple pleasures, you’ll quickly find there are three that top the charts: Reading, Nature, and Relationships! Here’s how you can begin enjoying life’s simple pleasures today!

Incorporate reading

According to a study from the University of Sussex in 2009, reading reduces stress levels! Isn’t that amazing? Not only can it reduce stress, but it can reduce stress up to 68%. Reading can be a more effective form of relaxation than even taking walks, drinking tea, or playing games.

So I questioned, because I have an enquiring mind, “why is that?” Turns out that reading lowers your heart rate and eases muscle tension. Reading reduces your stress level by lowing your heart rate! I think that’s amazing.

But wait! There’s more! This study also found that reading improves brain health, especially as we age. In fact, one study found that reading decreases your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease. How? Well, reading boosts concentration levels by requiring sustained attention and active use of the brain. Therefore, it exercises your brain, reducing the chance of atrophy and decreases the chance of developing Alzheimer’s! Okay! I’m here for it!

Find your favorite genre

What I found astounding, was there was no link between which genre you enjoy reading and this decreased chance of developing Alzheimer’s, reducing stress, or lowering heart rate. I mean, I would think reading something scientific, or historical, or non-fiction would have more to do with all of these things, but no! Any reading has these amazing benefits.

What if you’re not an avid reader? What if you don’t enjoy reading? Well, that’s equally good news! Studies show that even as little as 10 minutes per day spent reading can have these amazing benefits!

Ask for recommendations

If you are an avid reader, chances are, you probably have a stack (or two) of books you’re currently working through. But if you aren’t why not ask your friends or family for recommendations? If they have shared interests or hobbies, odds are, you may also connect with a reading genre.

In case you’d like some ideas, here are a few of my all time favorites. As an amazon affiliate, I may receive a small commission from items purchased through our links, at no additional cost to you.

Enjoy time outdoors

There are so many benefits to spending time outdoors. If you are looking for ways to enjoy simple pleasures, definitely make the opportunity to spend time outdoors. It has been shown that being in nature can reduce stress, anxiety and depression. It can also improve your concentration and attention span. Being outdoors can help you maintain a healthy weight, lower your blood pressure, and increase your vitamin D levels!

Sunlight can improve your quality of sleep! Did you know that? If you suffer from poor sleep, or find yourself waking in the night, try to get in a few minutes of sunlight whenever possible. The sunlight affects your circadian rhythm and can help you fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer.

Being outdoors can encourage exercise and may help you burn more calories than indoor workouts. One of the things we discovered when we moved was that the outdoor activities really helped us to get more fresh air, meet new people, and get more exercise! We spent time by the community fire pits, grill pavilion, and swimming pool. In doing so, we have made friendships that have led to cross-country adventures, and opportunities to meet up in cities nearby.

If you’re looking for ways to enjoy simple pleasures, make the time to be outdoors, connect with your neighbors, cultivate new friendships, and see where the adventure takes you!

Follow the ‘one new thing’ mindset

What is the “one new thing” mindset, you ask? That’s a good question! When we decided to move somewhere new every year to year and a half, we quickly discovered that we are creatures of habit! Because we are creatures of habit, we found that we were going to the same restaurants, the same outdoor spaces, and the same local attractions. Just because we were living somewhere new didn’t mean we were experiencing all the things!

We came up with a soft rule that says we have to meet at least one new person in our community, and visit one new restaurant or attraction each week. It has quickly become one of the simple pleasures of our life! When we are out enjoying the amenities our community offers like the pool, they gym, the walking trails, or outdoor community pavilions, we make a point to introduce ourselves and get to know at least one new person each week.

If we are planning a dinner out, a Sunday Funday, or date night, we make it a point to choose one new thing we haven’t done before! That may be a college football or basketball game, a new restaurant, walking around the old town square, or finding a city park.

The point is, following the ‘one new thing’ mindset quickly breaks you from your rut and increases your opportunity to enjoy simple pleasures. Even if you have lived in the same community, city, or small town your entire life, there are hundreds of new people you can meet, new shops to visit, new restaurants to discover, and new adventures to have!

The simple pleasures of daily life

Now that you’re inspired to build your reading list, take a walk outdoors, and meet a few new friends, here are a few ways you can enjoy life’s simply pleasures in your daily life!

1. Meet a friend for coffee, lunch, or a chat session. I have a dear friend who recently moved to Atlanta. During a recent conversation, we determined that we should do a walking call from time to time. We can’t meet up to take a walk outdoors, but we can still walk together via telephone. Think outside the box, and find ways to connect with those who mean the most to you.
2. Volunteer your time. I know we’ve talked about this in the past, but volunteering your time is an amazing way to find simple pleasures in life! Reading to children or those in assisted living, volunteering at a food pantry, or simply lending a hand at the local library can bring so much joy and pleasure to your life! Look for ways to give of yourself and invest in someone else. It’s truly a simple pleasure of life.
3. Cook a homemade meal. We’re all busy, and finding time to prepare a home cooked meal can be daunting. However, having simple ingredients and easy recipes on hand really take this from being a daunting task to being a simple pleasure. Next time you do your food shopping, add in the ingredients to make a simple weeknight dinner. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. It simply has to be made with love.
4. Unplug from the world. We all know that being connected one hundred percent of the time isn’t healthy for us. That’s why I’ve included unplugging as a simple pleasure. The challenge is for one hour per day, put your phone away, set your tablet aside, and stash your laptop. Unplug from the television, social media, and notifications. Make that cup of tea or coffee, prop your feet up, and enjoy a good book or magazine.

Life is crazy, but we can find time to enjoy stolen moments when we make time to enjoy simple pleasures! What’s one of your favorite simple pleasures? Please leave a comment and let me know!

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