Life can be so overwhelming. How do we destress? The answer is simple… PLEASURES!
Let’s be honest. Life can get really stressful. Especially when you’re in your late 20s and 30s and you’re struggling to figure out who you are, your career path, financial independence and comfort, relationships, etc. (Not to mention the multiple global crisis we’re facing). There really is no end to the stress we endure at this time in our lives, unfortunately, but there are ways to ease that stress and get through it. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel; I promise.
One thing that always helps me get through even the most stressful of days is remembering my simple pleasures. These are the easy, cheap, innocuous everyday things that give you a small sense of joy and hope for the world. Let me give you some examples.
These are a few of my favorite things:
1) Fresh sheets
2) Grocery shopping
3) A freshly cleaned home
4) Binge watching the same TV show I’ve seen seventy eight times and can recite all the words to…
5) Crossing off things on a To-Do list
6) Hitting all green lights on your drive
7) Scented candlelight
8) An ‘Everything’ Shower
9) Rolling the car windows down
10) A Trail Run
11) Watering my plants
12) Seeing a really cute dog walk by on the street
13) That first sip of your morning coffee
14) Cheese
15) A morning walk with a nice breeze
16) Putting on my favorite old sweatshirt
17) Taking my bra off after a long day
18) A Storm
So those are a few of my favorite things. They don’t cost money (except for the groceries, yikes, am I right) or require much effort. They are just normal, simple every-day things that make me happy. Stopping to appreciate them helps me develop more gratitude for my life and drastically improves my mood.
Life can be stressful. Like, really stressful. You have to take time to appreciate the simple things or you’ll have nothing but stress on your mind. Pretty soon this creates a bleak outlook on the world and can lead to anger, bitterness, panic attacks, substance abuse and even depression.
So take time to smell those roses! Hey, that’s another one. Smelling flowers is a great simple pleasure.
What are your simple pleasures? Put together a list and try to take notice of and appreciate those things more in your every day life. I promise it will do wonders for your mental health!