This list is by in no means conclusive and is only here to act as a jumping off point for you – ideas that I have found to help me to find my joy in the present moment. You will want to make your own list and ideally keep it handy for those moments when you need a quick pick me up.

Keep in mind that not every activity will skyrocket you to the peaks of joy but are meant to help you on the road to getting there. Any upward movement towards joy is a positive thing. Little by little you will be able to get there.

1. Be grateful.
The easiest and quickest way to become joyful is to be grateful. Focus on all of the things you are grateful for in this very moment. They can be big things and they can be small things. Where you focus expands your energy there so the more you focus on the things you’re grateful for, the more joy you will feel. This is my go to whenever I’m feeling down or even anxious. I have found it to be the quickest way for me to change my mood around.

2. Focus on what you love.
Similar to being grateful, focusing on what you love will bring love into your heart and make you feel better. Love is an expansive and joyful energy. The more you focus on things you love, the better you will feel. The things you love can be things, people, experiences, moments, really anything. They can be major things and little things. Take a few moments to focus on them all, one after another, until your heart feels full of love.

3. Do something you love.
Most of us don’t find the time to do the things we love. Spending even five minutes doing something you love will make you feel more joyful. Don’t overthink this. It’s great if you have an on-going list of the things you love for easy reference but even if you don’t, pick one thing you can do right now that you love to do and spend at least five minutes doing it. Allow yourself to fully focus and be present while doing it. To help increase your joy every day, make space to do the things you love each and every day, even if it’s only for five minutes. This will help to increase your overall joy.

4. Let go of what no longer serves you.
It’s amazing how many things weigh us down in our lives without us even realizing it. But once we start to let go of the things that no longer serve us, we will start to shed the weight and rediscover our joy. Start small if that feels more comfortable. Focus on letting go of one thing that no longer serves you. It can be as simple as cleaning out a drawer or as large as letting go of a relationship. Even writing a list of all the things that no longer serve you can be a great start.

5. Spend time in nature.
Being out in nature is an instant pick me up. Simply walking outside, looking out at the trees and taking in a few deep breathes will instantly calm your nervous system and bring you sense of calm. Be intentional about it. Let thoughts of everything else fade away as you take at least a few minutes to appreciate the bounty and beauty that nature provides. Let yourself seep in it. Allow it to be a full experience. The more you lean into it and be present with it, the more joy and peace you’ll feel.

6. Talk with someone you love.
Connecting with someone you love is a wonderful way to immediately increase your joy. Take a moment to actually talk with someone you love – not via text but either face to face or over the phone. Hearing your loved one’s voice, the tone and care they take with you, makes all of the difference. Spend at least a few minutes talking with them. Keep the conversation light and loving. Don’t focus on your problems or theirs. Take a moment to express your love and appreciation for them. This will instantly make you both feel better.

7. Focus on self care.
Take time to focus on your self care. With busy schedules, it’s often something that gets pushed to the wayside. But spending some intentional time on your self care will instantly boost your mood. It can be as simple as finally using that face mask that’s been sitting in your bathroom for ages or as elaborate as booking a full day at your favorite spa. Carve out a little time to devote to your self care, allowing yourself to luxuriate in the moment and let everything else fade away.

8. Move your body.
One of the quickest ways to increase your joy is to move your body. This doesn’t need to be intense physical activity. It can be as simple as a stroll around the block. Moving your body releases endorphins which naturally boosts happiness as well as increases dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters associated with pleasure. It’s one of the quickest and surest ways to increase your joy in the moment. Even just five minutes of physical activity will do it.

9. Listen to happy uplifting music.
Music is powerful. It can instantly lift (or kill) your mood. Listening to happy uplifting music, especially pieces that you have happy memories and associations with, will instantly make you happier. So blast that happy music for an instant lift. Ideally surround yourself with happy uplifting music every day. It’s a wonderful way to start each day.

10. Smile.
My mom told me this trick when I was a kid and I thought at the time it was ridiculous BUT it actually works. It’s scientifically proven! Smiling sends signals to your brain that tells it that it’s time to release the mood-boosting chemicals dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. It also increases the blood flow to the brain which can improve your mood. So smile. It’s the simplest and quickest thing you can do to instantly make you feel more joy.

Define what joy looks like for you!
The best thing you can do for yourself is to define what true happiness and joy looks like for you. Take a moment to truly consider this. Take out all the society noise, your parent’s voices and all the well intentioned advice you’ve ever received and look at what it means to you. Write it down. Include all the little things that bring you sparks of happiness and joy along with all the big things.

Often times you may be surprised to discover that true happiness and joy come from very little things, like a quiet moment on your back porch with a cup of coffee, having lunch with a friend, and taking a moment to simply breathe during a hectic day. It’s all these little moments that truly add up to a joyful and happy life. Most of the times these moments are happy accidents but you can take deliberate steps to incorporate them into each and every day.

Write down what brings you joy!
Start by writing down all the little things that make you happy no matter how small and/or insignificant they may seem. Consider this your happiness list. Keep it present so you can reference it throughout the day. Even go as far as setting a soothing (not jarring) alarm to remind you to look at it.

Once you have your list made, consider it a living document that you can and will add to whenever you like. The longer the better! This is you creating joy each and every day.

Create little slices of joy every day!
The next thing to do is to make time for a little slice of this joy each and every day. Schedule it if you need to. Ideally, make it a routine to do something on your list every day. It often works best if you put it with something else you’re already doing, like a meal. For example one of the things that bring me joy is sitting out back on my deck with my cats and journaling. I have made this a routine part of my day every day after breakfast. Once the weather turns colder I will need to move this inside but right now I’m enjoying the twilight of the summer warmth and making it a point to do every day.

Create a routine for joy!
Look at what little pieces of joy you can start incorporating into your daily routine. Make them a habit. Make them non-negotiable. Even if it’s only for five minutes. You will be amazed at how impactful five minutes focused on something that brings you happiness will transform the rest of your day and, really, your whole life. Our lives are made up of moments so the more mindful you can be with each moment, the more joyful and happy your whole life will be.

Be fully present!
When you’re in your moments of joy, be sure to slow down and be present with them. Let go of any other thoughts, especially negative ones, that could interfere with your ability to fully fill your joy. Take in deep breathes and observe everything around you. Allow the pleasure of the moment wash over you and thoroughly bathe yourself in it. Notice the small details with appreciation and gratitude.

Bring joy into the rest of your life!
Ideally take these abilities with you throughout your day – the ability to be present, to slow down, to find joy and gratitude in the small details of life. Even the most mundane activities can be joyful with the right perspective. For example, the next time you wash dishes, be fully present with it. Feel the soap and warm water on your skin. Feel the satisfaction of the dishes becoming clean and renewed. Noticed the room and experience true appreciation and gratitude for the food you ate, the home you live in, all of it. 

Fill yourself up with joy every day!
Feel yourself fill up with the joy of your life. This is your life right now. Don’t wait for things to happen to experience joy and happiness. You can do it in this very moment.

I would love to hear how this goes for you. Feel free to comment below. I hope these activities bring joy and happiness into your life. I know they have worked for me.

Be sure to join the Dragonfly VIP Tribe to receive 25% off everything!

If you’ve been a fan of Dragonfly Paper Press, rest assured that Laura Kinker Designs is just the same. I’m a solopreneur so I run both sites. You will find all the products you found here over at laurakinker.com.

Thank you for your understanding. I love that you’re here and I hope we’re able to stay connected.

If you want to be sure to stay up to date on new products as well as receive a lifetime discount, be sure to sign up for the Dragonfly VIP tribe. I may change the name of it at some point soon but it’ll be the same list and the same content.

I’m excited to see what will be in store for me and my business. I hope you join me on the journey.

I’m in the process of developing the Dragonfly Paper Press brand and have a lot of amazing products in the works. I will keep things over at laurakinker.com for now but I plan to start shifting that website as well. I know it may seem confusing but believe it or not, this is my way of streamlining!

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Lots more to come. Oh – and if you want to know the latest, follow me on Instagram and Facebook @dragonflypaperpress.