9 Small Things To Do To Find Joy In Life Again

It felt like life was just one problem after another, and I thought I couldn’t be happy again.

I even thought things would only get worse, and I’d be stuck feeling miserable. But I was wrong. If you’re feeling this way now, know that it is possible to find joy, no matter what’s going on.

I learned that finding joy isn’t about ignoring your problems or pretending everything’s okay. It’s about accepting the tough times but realizing they don’t control your whole life. Joy and pain can happen together.

I know it might seem impossible, especially when you feel overwhelmed. But finding joy again doesn’t need big changes. It’s about appreciating the small things and finding balance in everyday moments. In this post, I’ll share the steps that helped me find joy again, even during the tough times.

1. Learn To Focus On What You Can Control

Are you always trying to control every little detail of your life? I know I’ve done that too. I spent so much time organizing everything, thinking if I could plan perfectly, nothing would go wrong. I believed that if I controlled everything, life would go exactly as I wanted. But that’s not how it works. No matter how much we plan, some things are beyond our control. Trying to manage everything didn’t guarantee things would work out the way I wanted. It just made life more stressful and trapped me in worry and disappointment. This cycle was draining and affected my mental and emotional health. Over time, I learned that the best thing we can do for ourselves is let go of the need for perfect control. Instead of focusing on what we can’t change, we should focus on what we can.

2. Take It One Day At A Time

Life can feel overwhelming. We often worry about our responsibilities, the future, and everything we need to do. It can feel like we’re carrying too much every day, and that can drain our energy and make it hard to enjoy life.I felt the same way. I was so focused on worrying about the future that I forgot to enjoy the present. It made me anxious, tired, and unhappy. I couldn’t even enjoy the things I used to love.I learned that it’s important to take life one day at a time, especially when things feel hard. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to focus on today. You don’t need to have everything figured out right now. Taking it one day at a time doesn’t mean ignoring your problems. It means dealing with them in a way that feels manageable. Some days will be harder than others, and that’s okay. Sometimes, the best we can do is get through the day.

3. Focus On Things That Make You Genuinely Happy

To find joy, focus on what makes you happy. It’s easy to forget this when we’re busy with goals and expectations. I’ve been there too. When I was struggling, I thought big changes would help, so I worked hard. But it only made me tired and stressed. I forgot to enjoy the good things I had.

I realized that happiness isn’t just about big achievements. It’s about balance. Spending time with loved ones, enjoying small moments, and doing what makes us happy are important. It’s okay to slow down. You don’t always have to be busy. Simple moments bring the most joy. Make time for what makes you happy.

4. Practice Self Compassion

Do you often criticize yourself? How many times have you felt bad over small mistakes? I know I’ve done this too. For a long time, I thought that being hard on myself would help me work harder and avoid mistakes. But I didn’t realize that it was hurting my self-esteem and confidence. I started doubting myself and wondering if I could reach my goals. I focused on my flaws instead of my strengths. This made me unhappy and affected my life. If you’re also hard on yourself, remember you deserve the same kindness you give to others. Being kind to yourself doesn’t mean lowering your standards. It’s about recognizing your efforts, even if things aren’t perfect. Mistakes happen, and we can learn from them. You are worthy of kindness no matter what. Finding joy also means accepting yourself and being kind to yourself. Give yourself the grace to be human and make mistakes. When you’re too critical, take a moment and offer yourself the same care you would give to a friend. You deserve it!

5. Set Small And Achievable Goals

It also took away time from the people and things that mattered.

I learned that it’s not about rushing, but about moving at a steady pace. Going too fast doesn’t lead to lasting change. It’s okay to take small steps and set realistic goals. Small steps help us stay on track without burning out.

Taking breaks and slowing down helps us learn and grow. We handle things better when we’re not rushing. Each small step brings us closer to where we want to be. It’s okay to not have everything figured out. It’s okay to start small, take breaks, and be proud of how far you’ve come.

6. Embrace Vulnerability

At first, I didn’t know that finding joy isn’t just about doing fun things. It’s also about being open and honest with ourselves.

I used to hide my feelings, thinking they would go away. I thought if I acted like everything was fine, I would feel better. But that didn’t work. My feelings didn’t go away, they just built up and made me unhappy.

I learned that ignoring feelings doesn’t make them disappear. It makes them stronger. To feel better, we need to face our emotions.

Being open about how we feel doesn’t stop us from being happy, it helps us find real happiness. Facing our emotions makes us stronger and helps us understand ourselves more.

If you’re struggling, it’s okay to feel. Being honest with yourself is the way to true happiness.

7. Make Self Care A Priority

I know it’s easy to forget self-care, especially when life feels overwhelming. It’s simple to take care of ourselves when things are going well, but when life gets tough, it often feels like the last thing to think about.

I felt this way this year. I went through big changes and was so busy handling everything that I stopped taking care of myself. I thought I didn’t have time for self-care and that other things were more important. But I realized that not taking care of myself made everything harder. It didn’t make my problems go away, it just made me tired and stressed, with no energy for the things I cared about.

I learned how important self-care is. It’s not just for when life is calm; it’s something we need every day, especially when things are hard. If you feel guilty about taking time for yourself, remember it’s not selfish. It’s necessary. Self-care helps you recharge and handle life better.

I know it can be hard to find time for yourself, but self-care doesn’t have to be complicated.

8. Focus On Small Pleasures

Reaching those goals made me happy, but only for a short time. The happiness didn’t last, and I kept looking for the next big thing.

But real joy is often in the small moments. It’s not just about big achievements but also about simple things we don’t always notice.

Focusing on small joys helps us enjoy the present. One thing that helped me was keeping a gratitude journal. Every day, I wrote down a few things I was thankful for, even small ones. It showed me the good things I already had and made me more positive.

Even during hard times, there’s always something to be thankful for. I learned that joy can exist even when life is tough, and there’s always a reason to smile.

9. Make Kindness Your Superpower

They reminded me that there is still good in the world, even on bad days.

Kindness doesn’t have to be big. Little things, like a smile or kind words, can make a big difference. Being kind has also made me feel more thankful—for the kindness I’ve received and for the chance to help others. It’s helped me enjoy the small, good things in life.

Life can be tough, but kindness makes it better. Even one small act of kindness can brighten someone’s day and make the world a little better. Let’s all try to be kind.