How to enjoy life more: 8 simple steps

There’s no shortage of people trying to tell you how to enjoy life. Your parents might say you need to get married. Advertisers say you need to invest in their product. And social media tells you to be more like celebrities. 

However, you’re not going to find happiness by listening to others. The trick is blocking out the noise and tuning in to your values and what matters to you. The sooner you let go of preconceived notions about how your life “should” be and live life on your own terms, the sooner you’ll find the space you need to feel happy. 

Life is too short to be miserable. With a little self-awareness, positivity, and a sense of direction, you can enjoy life through both pain and pleasure.

Understanding happiness

Happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, contentment, and fulfillment. It’s also tied to a sense of life satisfaction and subjective well-being. It’s founded on a trust that, despite occasional setbacks, things are going to be all right.

Happiness isn’t just a “thing” you can have but a habit you must build. As with many habits, the biggest challenge can be getting started. However, if you break happiness down into simple, everyday tasks, you can set attainable goals for yourself to slowly improve your mood and live a happy and meaningful life.

Small (and cost-free) tips on how to enjoy life

“Money can’t buy happiness,” as the saying goes, which is why it’s important to develop a list of go-to activities that don’t cost anything. You can use it to cultivate joy and find purpose. Here are eight completely free and simple ways you can create more enjoyment in life, starting today.

1. Develop an attitude of gratitude

According to a paper published in the journal Learning and Motivation, human beings have a bias toward negativity. This means that most people think negative events hold more power than positive events of an equal magnitude. With this working against you, it’s not always natural to take time to practice gratitude.

Practicing gratitude can improve your physical and mental health, boost your optimism, and strengthen healthy relationships. You don’t even need to spend large amounts of time practicing gratitude to experience the health benefits. According to research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, even short-term gratitude practices can improve your mental health.

If you can find something to appreciate every day, life might not feel as heavy. You’ll start noticing all the good things that happen on a regular basis, even if they’re just small things. 

To start a gratitude practice, you can try activities like gratitude journaling, engaging in random acts of kindness, or practicing mindful breathing.

2. Find a reason to laugh

There’s truth to the old adage, “Laughter is the best medicine.” According to Mayo Clinic, laughter reduces stress levels, fights disease, and improves your overall health. It’s also a way to connect with other people.

Here are some tips to add more laughter to your life:

• Figure out what makes you laugh and make time for it.
• Hang out with people you find funny as often as possible.
• Try to make other people laugh with your own jokes.
• Watch funny videos or TV programs, or read a humorous book.

3. Take a nap (no, really)

Few things are as blissful as taking a short nap during the day. So why not make this a regular self-care practice? This will depend largely on your lifestyle, but if you have the time and flexibility, 20 minutes is all you need to wake up feeling “rebooted” and ready for a fresh start. Science backs this up. 

According to a survey of 2,000 Americans, self-identified nappers were more likely to be productive, feel happy and confident, and have a healthy work-life balance. In a different study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers found that people who nap for 30 to 90 minutes show signs of better cognition. This suggests that naps support brain health and can be a simple way to recharge and enjoy life more fully.

4. Exercise

Working out daily helps boost happiness. When you go out for a run, do pushups, or dance like no one’s watching, your brain releases “happy hormones” called endorphins. According to Greater Good Magazine, published by UC Berkeley, these naturally produced chemicals can decrease feelings of depression and increase your capacity for joy.

If it’s your first time working out, it’s good to take things slow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends starting with 30 minutes of moderate to intense exercise per day. This is all it takes to experience exercise benefits such as reduced stress, better sleep, a healthier body image, and improved self-esteem.

5. Find out what makes you tick

Self-discovery and self-reflection can teach you how to enjoy life more by helping you find your passions. This could mean learning something new, finding a hobby, or getting into meditation. It can also lead you to develop healthy habits.

When you have a handle on what you need, you can adjust your life to accommodate. Here are some examples:

• If you’re not a morning person and love sleeping in, look for a job with flexible hours.
• If large group hangouts make you tired, prioritize one-on-one interactions with your friends.
• If you don’t like solitary exercise, like running or lifting weights, try joining a sport or a dance class.

Take time to look inward and find what brings you enjoyment, and then invest time in starting something new.

6. Nurture positive relationships

As you reflect, identify the positive relationships in your life. Ask yourself these questions:

• Who do I consult when I need support?
• Do I feel better or worse after talking to a certain individual?
• When I think about a particular person, am I excited or filled with dread?
• Is it easy to talk to this person, or does it feel difficult and unengaging?

As you think about your answers, try to identify why you feel the way you do. If hanging out with a high school buddy leaves you feeling drained or unhappy, decide whether it’s worth distancing yourself from this person.

On the flip side, if someone fills you with joy and makes you feel happy, try to nurture and preserve that relationship. Let them know you appreciate them. Life is about spending time with the people you love.

7. Go out and meet new people

You don’t need to replace your current group of friends, but expanding your support network is never a bad thing. Meeting new people who help you live in the present moment and boost your mood can help you through challenging situations so you can spend time being happy.

To make friends as an adult, try signing up for a local workshop or class, volunteering at a community organization, or joining a book club. Use the things that interest you as a starting point for finding common ground with someone new.

8. Create a bucket list and set goals for yourself

A bucket list, or a list of things you want to enjoy in life, is a great way to work toward what you want. No item is too ambitious. Without filtering them, write down your ideas and see what comes out. 

Then you can set goals to achieve those things. Goals are simply your dreams in action, where you make time to turn your ambitions into a reality.

You might not be able to achieve every item on your bucket list right away. But you can stack your goals so one gets you closer to the next until you’re in a better position to reach it.

For example, if you want to spend a year backpacking through Europe, you may need to plan a few extra steps. This could include determining how much money you need to survive without a job and setting clear financial goals.

How to love life and live to the fullest

To get the most enjoyment out of life, you have to learn to live it to its fullest. This means embracing new opportunities and engaging in all the experiences life has to offer. This doesn’t necessarily mean checking every item off your bucket list. It’s about making sure no moment is wasted.

Living this kind of life requires a change in perspective. Here are a few things you can do to help build a new mindset:

• Live in the moment: Try to stop ruminating on the past and worrying about the future. Living a fulfilled life means being present and using all your senses to experience your surroundings.
• Do what you love: Figure out what lights you up and find like-minded people to walk alongside you to make what you love even more enjoyable.
• Overcome your fears: If you never get out of your comfort zone, you might miss those adrenaline-rushing moments that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Make a point to do the things that scare you to create a sense of empowerment and help you overcome your fears.
• Take risks: You’ll never know what you like and don’t like without trying. But this requires a reasonable level of risk-taking and a growth mindset to reach your full potential. 
• Be willing to fail: Failure is an inevitable part of being human. When something doesn’t work out, don’t dwell on it. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.

How to enjoy life by yourself

While there are tons of benefits to spending time with other people, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life on your own. If you’re feeling lonely and having trouble getting motivated, try some of these activities you can do by yourself.

• Practice mindfulness: Being alone is the best time to practice mindfulness because there are fewer distractions, enabling you to focus better. Mindfulness can help you relax, build emotional regulation skills, and increase your overall happiness.
• Engage in self-care: Show yourself some self-love by creating a self-care plan that covers all aspects of your well-being, such as your mental health, physical health, social health, and spiritual health.
• Forgive yourself: It’s hard to enjoy life when you’re carrying grudges, and that’s especially true when you are your worst critic. Take time to forgive yourself for anything you’re still holding on to so you can lighten your emotional load.
• Find a new hobby: Discover new things to do with your free time by picking up a hobby you can do after work. Examples of hobbies you can try include gardening, woodworking, baking, and learning a new language. 
• Volunteer: Volunteering can increase your self-confidence, give you a greater sense of purpose, and make you feel good. Try volunteering with a local organization such as a food pantry, animal shelter, or nursing home.
• Spend time in nature: Being in nature is good for your health. Make time in your routine for outdoor walks and other activities that allow you to get sunlight and fresh air.
• Get a pet: If you have the money, time, and interest, adopting a furry friend can be a great way to enjoy life without another human. Pets can give you love, accompany you on adventures, and make you laugh.
• Create a happy living space: Everything about your environment can affect your mood, right down to the colors on your walls. Invest in creating a comfortable place you love to help you feel happy while you’re home. This is especially important if you have a work-from-home setup, as you’ll need it to create an environment where you can focus.

Learn how to enjoy life again

Learning how to enjoy life better requires constant time, attention, and prioritization of what matters most to you, but the benefits are worth it. It feels good to fill your time with the people and things you love, and that’s possible with a little intention and effort.

If you’ve been struggling to find peace and enjoyment, you’re not alone. This is something many people struggle with at different points in their lives. Learning to recognize that you can always start fresh is a great place to begin.

For help and encouragement along the way, try working with a life coach. A coach can help you identify your values, set meaningful goals, and develop habits that promote fulfillment and a sense of purpose.

Achieve the happiness you deserve by working with a BetterUp Coach to reach your full potential and learn how to enjoy life again.