7 Surprisingly Effective Ways to Enjoy the Little Things in Life

In today’s world, lots of people have this misleading belief that time’s moving a lot faster than it used to. So, in pursuit of catching up with the time, we run so fast that we only wait to see the checkpoints, i.e. the big things in our life. But what about those little things that make our life meaningful and worthwhile? Well, we often tend to overlook them and don’t seem to enjoy the little things in life. 

We spend so much time waiting for those big moments in our life – starting school, graduating, falling in love, marriage, the birth of a child, et cetera.  However, when chasing to achieve these “bigger” moments, time and again, we forget to slow down for a while and appreciate the little things in life that we experience in our daily lives.

Although these so-called ‘little things’ in life might seem, well little, these are the things that create small, yet major differences in our daily lives. While bigger moments like getting a major job promotion or celebrating your 25^th marriage anniversary are important as well. Thinking about only these big moments without appreciating the little things in life can be detrimental. 

7 Ways to Enjoy Little Things in Life         

Loving and appreciating the little things in life is undoubtedly one of the best things you can do for yourself. Although it might be hard to recognize the little things in a world where we take so many things for granted, you can simply follow the 7 tips below that can help with your journey of enjoying little things in your life.

1. Going too fast? Hit a break

As I said earlier, these days we are in so much hurry to reach the destination, we forget to enjoy the journey. That being said, we’re so focused and busy with our work and daily hectic schedule (exhausted when we’re not busy) that we have no idea what’s going on around us. And you can’t appreciate or enjoy the little things in life if you’re too busy, stressed, or tired. So, the best way to start seeing them is to hit a break once in a while, slow down and make some effort to notice and enjoy the little things in life. 

2. Make a list of things that make you happy

Unless you’re Darth Vader, whom no one has ever seen smile behind that big black oxygen mask, you feel happiness from time to time in your life. Little things like (when your mom makes you your favorite dish, a smile and wave from your neighbor, the goofiness of your partner, etc.) can make you happy. So, think of the things like these that might not be grand but makes you smile once in a while. Now, make a list of those things and keep it with yourself every day. Whenever you feel down or tired, take out that list and I’m sure you’ll feel a lot better.

3. Stop comparing

You stop appreciating the little things in life when you compare yourself with others. I’ve seen so many people comparing their weaknesses to other’s strengths. Most people compare themselves with others because they’ve never enjoyed the little things in their life. You’ve got to understand that life’s not a race. There’s no winner or loser in your life, there’s only you. We all have our own thing, we all are different, and we all have various gifts. So, when you stop comparing yourself with others, you start to enjoy the little things in life to the fullest.

4. Thank someone for the little things

No matter if it’s a big or small thing, whenever someone does something good for you, show them that you’re thankful for their work. For instance, your assistant grabs you a coffee every morning on time. For you, it might seem like a trivial thing or nothing at all, but for your assistant, that’s her job. So, when someone does things like that, show your gratitude to them. This will not only make that person feel good but also help you to realize and enjoy the little things in life. 

5. Live in the moment

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is present.”
Most people these days are either stuck in the past or anxious about the future, thus leading to overlook the little thing in life. We don’t realize how important and beautiful the present is. Our life is a huge collection of the small ‘todays’. Stop stressing about your past because you can’t change it. Stop worrying about your future since what you do today determines what’s going to happen tomorrow. When you start living in the present, you feel grateful for all the things and you start to enjoy the little things in life. 

6. Help helpless people

“You’ll never feel the pain until it’s inflicted on you.” There are millions of people out there in the world, who live in absolute poverty. They have to struggle every day just to fill their empty stomach, let alone enjoy the little things in life. When you spend some time with them and help them, you understand that they don’t have the pleasure that you do. The little things that you ignore in your everyday life are the things that they struggle day and night and pray to have. Therefore, if you feel like you don’t appreciate the little things in life enough, help someone who needs help and support.

7. Travel alone

Now, this might not be one of the easy and comfortable ways to enjoy the little things in life, but at the end of the day, it certainly will make you realize the importance of those little things that you take for granted. When you go on a solo trip, you are most likely to be vulnerable and self-dependent. For instance, you are someone who doesn’t appreciate the effort of your mom’s or wife’s cooking. So, when you’re traveling alone in a foreign land, you’ll face hunger at one point and that will make you understand the effort and love that your mom or wife puts in feeding you.

Also Read:
10 Things You Can Control in Life: Here’s How 
7 Morning Routines of the Extremely Successful People

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Why should you enjoy the little things?

Appreciating the little things in life means that you focus on what nurtures and sustains you in life. On everything that brings you even the smallest amount of pleasure. It also means practicing gratitude by noticing these everyday things that you take for granted so easily.

How can I enjoy the little things again?

• Keep Track Of The Small Things
• Thank Someone for the Small Things
• Compliment Someone For The Small Things
• Appreciate Yourself For The Small Things
• Live in the Moment 

Why Little Things Make a Big Difference?

People often say that you don’t need to mind the little things. They say you can just brush them off, forget about them, and continue with life as if they never happened. But what those people don’t know is that the little things do matter.

Also Read: Benefits of Traveling Alone For the First Time and Tips to Do it

What are the little things that matter in a relationship?

The Little Things That Matter In Every Relationship

• Say it!
• Watch a romantic movie.
• Be silly together.
• Say thank you.
• Compliments.
• Do what the significant other enjoy.
• Travel together.
• A little present goes a long way.

What do you call a person who appreciates the little things?

The adjective appreciative (“Showing appreciation or gratitude”) may apply but is somewhat nondescript and general. The adjectives epicurean (“pursuing pleasure, especially about food or comfort”) and hedonistic (“Devoted to pleasure; epicurean”) may apply but are slightly pejorative.

How do you value small things in life?

Appreciating the little things in life involves focusing our attention on what is pleasurable, nurturing, and sustaining in our lives and away from those events that are annoying, frustrating, or hurtful. It means practicing gratitude for those everyday things that are easy to take for granted or misses altogether.

Why do small things matter?

Small actions make up our attitude and behavior. Small things grow and are more efficient over time. The little things we overlook build-up to the big ones. The little things we do are actually the memories our families and friends have of us.