Tell me about your tiny pleasures please.

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

I'm struggling enough with staying positive atm, and January is likely to be horrendous. I am trying to think of as many little things as I can that will bring me pleasure, to try and help me through it.

They need to be really tiny, because I don't have the mental energy to make any major changes to my life; and preferably not food-related, because while the temptation to comfort-eat is definitely there, getting overweight will just depress me more.

So far I've got:

• Books. I used to read a lot but these days I'm always on my phone instead. Going to try and stop that and read more instead.
• Soft blankets. Sounds silly but there is something very comforting about wrapping myself up in a cosy blanket, preferably with a good book.
• Fresh flowers. I figure a once a week lovely bouquet that will make me smile when I see it is a worthwhile investment.

I'd love to hear some other suggestions please.

Hot water bottles
A lovely face mask
Choose some nice notecards and write to people you don't see often

Dig out your old cassettes
If you are old enough to have them that is.

Listen to them on a cassette player and relax.

A hot bath
Listening to a whole album
Going to bed early and reading
A nice scented candle
Doodling/colouring (I like doing it with the kids and discussing the colours etc together)

Entering competitions always gives me a boost. I’ve won some lovely prizes but it’s the waiting, wishing and wondering that gives me the lift I need.

A nice soak in a hot bubble bath (with a good book & a glass of something nice)
A feel good Christmas film - watched Elf last w/e & it was sooo funny!

A fresh loaf of sofa bread straight from the oven spread with butter.

Sanctuary Spa shower oil feels very indulgent and like a real treat to me!

Also, when I'm going through times I'm feeling down, at the end of the day I write down at least 3 positive things from that day, could be something productive I've done- did the washing up, something self-carey- read bit of book, or something outside of my control- sun was shining. After a while of doing this I start noticing the things I'm going to write down at the time they happen and it just encourages me to have a more positive outlook on the simple things in life.

Hot cups of tea
Cosy socks and boots
A candlelight bath
A clean and tidy house
Watching movies when it's miserable outside
Making a nice smoothie
Phone calls/FaceTimes with friends
Dancing around the kitchen to good songs
Putting on makeup and then doing a proper skincare routine to take it off
Being creative, even if you're not good at it (painting, sewing, writing, drawing)
Listening to a good podcast
Doing a yoga video on YouTube
Giving yourself a mani/pedi
Having a long hot shower (my go to!)
Going on a walk in the cold then coming home and getting warm
I don't know if this helps, I struggle January - April so am going to try to remember these too x

Nice smelling candles
Reading a magazine
Orgasms.

Lovely bedding. Going for a walk outside and really noticing things. Watching birds, squirrels, dogs, people, plants.

Some lovely ideas here, thank you. I like the idea of writing to people, or writing down positive things. My DS got me a lovely fountain pen for my birthday, abd writing with it is a real pleasure, but I very rarely need to. I've asked for a nice note book for Christmas with the intention of starting a journal, so writing positive things is a good start.

I'm also going to work on getting more sleep, my sleep patterns are generally dreadful.

Taking my bra off

@CrimbleCrumble1

Nice smelling candles Reading a magazine Orgasms.

Oh, yes, the last one! My sex drive has been virtually non-existent since DS was born (he's nearly 8 ), but lately I've found myself craving the intimacy sex brings as much as anything.

Think now about your feet inside your socks. Feel the warm cosiness enveloping them. 😍 Perfection. I do this during meditation sometimes.

At the moment, the Jacqui Lawson London Advent Calendar, which is an online interactive one, very inexpensive. They're always charming, and each day is a tiny little pleasure I look forward to. I particularly like looking through the calendar and exploring all the bits at night, I find the city and river in darkness soothing.

And yes to really good socks. I followed someone's advice here about heat holders. Ooooh yes they were right...

Putting pjs on a radiator before you put them on
A hot bath with a nice bath oil or salts
Scented wax melts or candles
New pjs
Fluffy socks
A good book
Writing and receiving letters/postcards
Fresh flowers and plants
A cosy blanket
Hot water bottle in bed
Going to bed early one night just to read or watch a film

Hot shower
Clean bedding
Brisk walk or run
Chat to a friend
Posh crisps
Wine

Hot bath with epsom salts plus lavender and geranium or rose essential oils.
Fresh ginger tea with a small dash of brown sugar.
Warm tone white fairy lights post xmas (winter cheer) or a nice toned bulb/lamp.

A cat to sit on your lap whilst you're wrapped in a fluffy blanket, reading.

Oh yes - this is what I need too. Following with interest!

@Mabelface

A cat to sit on your lap whilst you're wrapped in a fluffy blanket, reading.

I do have one of those.

Heated blanket. Pure bliss.

That heavy limbed feeling you get when you've exerted yourself, and are physically tired all over.

Light through stained glass

Singing

Kitchen discos

Warming up after coming in from the cold

A giant mug of hot tea exactly the way I like it.

Being the person the cat wants to sit on

Walking in the woods

Seeing the crocuses come up

Cheesy rom coms. (There are excellent suggestions over on the "Holidate" thread.)

Stew and dumplings on a cold night

Feeding the birds

Sitting on a park bench with a thermos (decaf bc preg) after a walk around

Painting my nails

Lighting my scented candles (just £1 wilko, nothing £££ in my case, but any will do)

Style at home magazine (not an ad, it's just pretty cheap)

I love the winter skyline when the sun is setting or rising .Both urban rooftops and more rural bare trees .Often there's a red glow .Truly beautiful .

Books ,if you find an author you like .

Scented soap .