Where I accidentally found small pleasures

Let’s be totally honest—there’s a lot of bad news in the world right now, and it can easily overshadow the good. I can’t say for certain if we’re living in more tumultuous times than 50 or even 100 years ago, but one thing I know for sure is that technology has exposed us to way more information than ever before. And it just keeps coming… and coming…and coming.

I don’t know how you get your news, but aside from sitting down at 6:00 in front to the tv, my Alexis gives me morning top notes, my phone sends me real-time alerts while my watch taps me on the wrist with every “newsworthy” event and it is exhausting—and, let’s be honest, most of it isn’t good news.

Maybe we’re programmed as humans to share bad news faster than good. You’re more likely to discuss in detail, “Did you hear who’s getting divorced?” over wine than to have a lengthy discussion about someone’s child just graduating from college. And with the constant barrage of negative news, I reached a point where, if I didn’t shift my perspective, I risked curling up into a tight fetal ball and rocking myself into oblivion.

So, I decided to change things up. I still stay informed, but for my mental health, I knew I needed to balance the bad with some much-needed good.

Here’s where I accidentally found small pleasures:

Unplugging

I’ll admit it—I have an unhealthy, codependent relationship with my phone. But do I really need to be available to everyone all the time? Absolutely not. So, I make a point to disconnect and unplug for at least two hours every day. In that time, I do something just for me. Being a little selfish and unavailable isn’t bad—it’s essential. It’s called recharging.

Setting healthy boundaries

I put a limit on how much time I spend consuming news, whether it’s world events, politics around a dinner table or a friend complaining about her husband’s snoring. I’ve also pruned my news alerts way back. It’s not healthy to be bombarded with bad news, and I don’t need to be updated in real time.

Balancing the good with the not-so-good

If you’ve just spent two hours watching CNN (which I don’t recommend) or any other 24-hour news channel, balance that with something light. Play feel-good music or watch something funny. For me, a couple of episodes of Schitt’s Creek is a tonic for the news-battered soul.

Taking a walk

Preferably in a treed area. This isn’t groundbreaking advice, but if you can carve out a bit of time to get outside, breathing in the fresh oxygen those trees are making just for you, it almost feels like a brain reset. And, dare I suggest, put down your phone and just watch, inhale, and listen to the world around you.

Doing something nice for a stranger

Next time you’re standing in line at Starbucks or Tim Hortons, buy the person behind you a coffee. Something so simple goes a long way. Can you imagine if we all started our day like that? You are actually releasing endorphins. Small deeds lead to simple pleasures.

Looking for the good in people

I don’t know if it’s just me, but when I see people holding hands—whether they’re really old or really young—it instantly makes me smile. Or hearing the laughter of children, anyone’s children. Focus on those moments; they’re all around us.

Being present and notice the little things

Here are some small pleasures I’ve found in my own life:

• The way a hot cup of coffee warms your cold hands on a chilly day.
• The audible “aaah” you make when lowering yourself into a hot, scented bath.
• Clean, fresh sheets sliding against freshly shaved legs.
• The cool side of the pillow.
• Cracking the spine of a much-anticipated unread book.
• That first quiet sip of morning coffee.

As I reflect on these seemingly inconsequential moments, I’ve realized that these little nuggets are more essential to happiness than I ever knew, especially in today’s environment. It hasn’t made the world’s problems go away, or make me less likely to care, but something did change—me.

To quote Neil Pasricha from The Book of Awesome, “Life is so great that we only get a tiny moment to enjoy everything we see. And that moment is right now.”

Be kind to yourself. Silence the noise and smile.