There is a girl on TikTok who shares good news from around the world, and her videos always make me smile and feel a bit guilty.
You see, it is so easy to focus on everything that upsets us, annoys us, and takes us out of our comfort zone.
Yet, there are at least 100 things that make you happy present in your life right now, and you probably pay attention to the ones that don’t.
I am exactly like you. Therefore, I’ve made a list of those 100 random things that make me happy, too, and I’ve decided to share it here. Spoiler alert: There is a free printable for you somewhere in the post!
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List of random things that make you happy
1. The first sip of coffee for the day.
2. The first few minutes when you get in bed at the end of a tiring day.
3. The smell of freshly cut orange on a cold winter day.
4. When your phone rings and the display says “Mom” or “Dad”.
5. Laughter of a child on the street.
6. Getting to “The End” page of a book.
7. Empty Inbox on your email.
8. The smell of a new book.
9. A perfectly ripe avocado.
10. Hugging someone you love.
11. The smell of your dog’s paws (yes, it is a thing; dog owners would agree).
12. Bright and cold mornings in December.
13. When someone you don’t know smiles at you on the street.
14. When you receive a compliment from a person you love.
15. Watching a child learn something new.
16. Waking up without an alarm.
17. Finding money in your pocket.
18. Getting your cat to snuggle with you willingly.
19. Finding a cold spot on the pillow.
20. Receiving a gift you actually love and didn’t ask for.
21. The first spoon of your mom’s chicken soup.
22. Lazy, quiet Sunday afternoon when nothing actually bothers you.
23. That moment when you sit with a warm bowl of popcorn and press the play button of a new episode of a favorite show. (so specific, I know)
24. When your hair looks great, and you didn’t contribute to it.
25. A video of pets reuniting with their owners.
26. The tapping of the raindrops on your window on a late Saturday afternoon when you have no plans to go anywhere.
27. A surprise text from a friend.
28. Watching clouds drift by.
29. Seeing a childhood treat and remembering something good from your childhood.
30. Getting a seriously good deal while shopping.
31. Finding precisely what you’re looking for when out shopping.
32. Solving a puzzle. By yourself.
33. The first time you complete a HIIT workout without passing out.
34. A warm shower on a cold day.
35. That first really warm summer day.
36. First snowfall.
37. Going through a 7-day or 30-day challenge you didn’t believe you could do.
38. A hearty breakfast.
39. Seeing a shooting star.
40. The smell of a freshly baked loaf of bread.
41. Being productive and flying through your task list.
42. Seeing a big butterfly in your garden.
43. Unexpected kindness from a stranger.
44. Hugging the clothes after you get them out of the dryer. (am I the only one doing this? okay!)
45. A warm hug from a child.
46. When the taste of a fruit matches your expectations of it.
47. Seeing that an entire new season of your favorite show has just dropped. And it’s Friday evening.
48. Hearing that your boss has said something good about you to someone else.
49. Finding a long-lost item you really cherish.
50. Coming home to your partner cooking.
51. The first few minutes after you decorate your Christmas tree and turn the lights on.
52. Those moments BEFORE opening the Christmas gifts.
53. Telling a joke and seeing that people can hardly breathe from laughing.
54. A witty answer you threw at the right moment.
55. Getting a handwritten letter in your mail.
56. The crunch of autumn leaves under your feet on a cold November morning.
57. Reconnecting with an old friend.
58. A quiet moment in your house before everyone wakes up.
59. The sleepy walk of your child in the morning when they just want a hug.
60. Remembering a favorite childhood moment.
61. Realizing you’ve been busy with your hobby, and it’s been hours (getting in the flow).
62. Hearing “Thank you!” from a polite child in the shop.
63. A good self-discovery journaling session where you had a “revelation moment”.
64. The first day of the new year.
65. A bird’s song on a sunny morning.
66. Dancing when nobody’s watching.
67. Going to the park in springtime and walking under the blossomed trees.
68. Finding and watching a favorite movie from your childhood.
69. A surprise day off work.
70. Waking up to good news.
71. That moment when you just got a new candle and are about to light it up.
72. When you finish cleaning earlier than expected.
73. Finding a four-leaf clover.
74. Going out with your besties.
75. Those first steps on the sand on the first day of your holiday.
76. Waking up on your first day of your holiday and having to pack for a trip.
77. Going to swim and realizing you’re alone in the pool.
78. Finishing a successful DIY project.
79. Discovering an old photograph.
80. Witnessing a beautiful sunrise or sunset.
81. Successfully finishing a school assignment way before its due date.
82. Getting into your car and turning on the radio to a favorite song.
83. A peaceful afternoon nap.
84. A spontaneous road trip.
85. Getting that perfect cup of coffee from your favorite coffee place in town.
86. That moment when someone’s visit surprises you, but you’ve just cleaned your house.
87. Following a new recipe and making the meal seriously delicious.
88. Snuggling with your partner.
89. That first slice of your favorite pizza.
90. Finding a handwritten recipe in a family cookbook.
91. Watching the full moon.
92. Trying a new self-care idea.
93. Your mom’s freshly baked cookies.
94. Waking up feeling rested and fresh.
95. Enjoying a warm beverage from a cute mug.
96. Meeting someone obsessed with the same stuff as you.
97. Star gazing on a warm summer night.
98. Opening the first page of a new planner. (agh, the possibilities!)
99. Finding the perfect aromatherapy oil.
100. Watching your house plants grow and thrive.
10 Ways to use this list with things that can make you happy
Yes, reading through it might lighten up your mood for the day. However, if you want to take things one step further, here are ten ways to have fun and experience these 100 happy moments.
Bucket List for 2024
Grab this free printable list, select the ideas you like the most, and add them to your 2024 bucket list. It is the best way to add achievable and positive experiences to your year.
A Happy Bingo Card
Download these four bingo cards and daub the happy moments once you experience them. Carry them with you throughout the day, or leave them by your bedside table so you know to scan through them before going to sleep.
A Photo Challenge
Snap a photo representing a happy moment from the list and keep all images in a separate album on your device. Even better, print them out and pin them on your fridge.
Happiness Scrapbook
If you love scrapbooking, start a new project where you scrapbook with ephemera that reflects the happy idea of your choice.
Happiness Jar
Print and cut out your favorite ideas from this list. Fold the paper pieces and throw them in a jar or a box. Pick a random idea from that jar or box every time you want to experience something that would boost your happiness.
Make it Family Friendly
This is the perfect family activity. You can grab a random idea or create an event based on one or more of the ideas. Make it fun and adventurous.
Monthly Challenge
You don’t have to pick 30 of the ideas to make it a monthly challenge. Approach it how you wish: as a challenge to see how many you can tick off in the next 30 days or split them into smaller groups of 5 or 10 ideas and pick one group every month.
Weekly Happiness Day
You pick a day of the week, and when that day arrives, you do one or more of the ideas. For example, if you picked Saturday, you would scan the list every Saturday morning and see which one of the ideas you can fit into that day to promote happiness and positivity.
Happy Vision Board
Select your favorite ideas and create a vision board of happy images that represent those ideas. You can create AI images, take the photos yourself, or download them from Pinterest.
Gratitude Journal
Get an empty notebook and use it as a journal where you express gratitude for every happy moment from that list that you have experienced (in the present or the past).
Blogger, dreamer, procrastinator, and lover of everything soul-touching. My mission is to make you laugh, provoke your thoughts, light up your day and inspire you to fall in love with life and yourself.