What little things give you happiness?

[Gottodosomething2026]

What little, easy things bring you joy.
I am feeling quite low and I'm looking to have some things in place. Preferably non child based suggestions as I can't have children.

Thank you.

My beautiful dog

This time of year...

• home made soup
• a new soft wool sweater
• planning Christmas outings
• walking through woodland
• moving to an autumn wardrobe
• reading a book in peace in front of my log burner

Good coffee

Mug of Yorkshire tea and a KitKat

A good browse in a charity shop
A good book and a cup of tea
A cosy blanket and a snooze in the armchair
Daydreaming

Hot chocolate with spray cream & dusting of chocolate in my favorite mug.
A good book.
Cosy blanket & hot water bottle...
Jigsaw or solo board game

Electric blanket
Mugs of scalding tea plus biscuits
A good laugh during a long phone call with a friend
Boosting someone else’s day

Pets
Books
Tea

Walking the dog
Going to the beach
A Sunday roast
Sitting in front of a real fire
Walking through the woods
A film
Books

Sitting outside with a coffee, either at home or in a street cafe, garden centre...anywhere really.

Buying a small bunch of flowers for the kitchen windowsill.

Lighting a candle now the nights are drawing in.

Taking my bra and outer clothes off and putting on comfy clothes and a warm pair of socks at teatime (and hope no one calls unexpectedly)

My sweet dog and her loving looks
Driving through the forest with the sun setting in a blue sky
Waking during the night and feel warm and safe

Walking the dog. We don't go for long walks or anywhere hugely scenic but I really try to enjoy the excuse to be out and about meeting lovely pooches.

A mug of hot Ribena when I get back from my afternoon dog walk.

Hot tea and oaty biscuits.

Browsing in charity shops and picking up something I'd never buy new - I got myself a proper Bett Lynch furry leopard print coat yesterday.

Reading a good book, preferably with tea and biscuits.

Preparing my overnight oats as the last chore of the night after washing up - it always feels like a little gift for my tomorrow self.

Painting my nails a lovely colour and then looking at the all the next day while I'm working.

Putting in a really hard session at the gym.

Rewatching comfort TV that I know is great rather than taking a risk on something new - I'm currently watching original X-files series.

A long shower with fancy soaps, shampoos and hair oils.

A clean bed with high thread count cotton sheets, preferably with freshly shaved legs.

A glass of wine and a sharing bag of spicy crisps to start a Saturday night in with DH.

Browsing around Christmas tat in the shops or online, preferably hampers that have a load of junk no-one ever wants. I never buy any shit like that but it really makes me feel Christmassy.

Clearing out a cupboard or drawer or just generally binning clutter. I've vowed to throw out one thing a day between now and December 18.

Getting up really early while it feels like the rest of the world is sleeping and getting started with work - I was up at 5:15am today, sat at my desk working for 5:30am and watched a beautiful sunrise.

Doing the washing and making my clothes all fresh and lovely-smelling, preferably whites that you can hang on the line.

A dog. I could list little fifty things that might bring simple pleasures and improve your mood but none would come close to a dog. I think they might be the single best things on the planet.

Charity shops. I have a vintage earring addiction.
A big mocha in my huge mug, made frothy with my matcha whisk.
Knitting vintage patterns. Currently very nearly finished a 1960s jumper for myself.
Soup. I love soup.
Pork pie. Although not very often as I'm on a bloody diet.
My dog, who is a twat, but my twat and I love her.

Sending you healing thoughts @Gottodosomething2026, I need some joy in my life as going through a long period of low mood too. I’m going to steal some of these ideas so far. I’ve been thinking about doing some crafting to distract me, quite what though I’m not sure yet.

@Comvit I got a fabulous leopard print fur coat a few weeks ago from a charity shop! Best coat ever.

Sunlight
hot chocolate
cats
kind words
good books

Interacting with animals. We got a rescue cat earlier this year, he was a real scrawny street urchin who hated being anywhere near us. I have put in the hours, and now he is a strong, sturdy boy who curls up on me and purrs ecstatically when I stroke him. Feeding wild birds and foxes, watching them come to the garden for food. Birds will sometimes eat from my hand. It makes me so happy.

Good music - especially in combination with morning rituals. Wake up, feed animals, make fresh coffee then put on anything from classical piano to modern indie rock and listen while I watch the birds feed and unload dishwasher and fold laundry.

A long walk in nature.

Cooking (sometimes) Not daily drudge cooking but seasonal stuff. I've been making gingerbread, casserole with dumplings, damson jam. Things that tune in with the time of year - in summer it is fresh tomato and herb salads from our garden.

Have a go at making your own Christmas cards...I find that really relaxing.

Food and sleep.

I ate it earlier, fresh cream chocolate éclair. I deserved it after all the gardening I'd just done. Such a treat.

Putting bird food out in the garden and seeing lots of birds. A good book, tea and biscuits. Being in nature. A good tv series whilst snuggled under a blanket.

Birdfeeder in the garden - today I've watched robins, finches, tits, wrens, sparrows and a woodpecker feeding.
Clean sheets.
Gardening - planted some spring bulbs today - looking forward to seeing them next year.
My dog and cat - loving and non judgemental (well, the dog is - the cat definitely judges me)
Spotify - after years of not really listening to anything new I'm now discovering loads of new to me music from suggested tracks

Ok so apart from dogs...

Great coffee, first thing in the morning with the papers on my ipad and the luxury of time to do the crosswords.

My bed. An electric blanket, great pillows, good quality bedlinen and a comfy mattress.

Treating myself to lots of good books on my favourite subjects.

Some new pyjamas that are soft and comfy.

Listening to great music.

A beautifully mixed cocktail in a lovely glass.

Fresh flowers on the table, just for the hell of it.

Having a pile of good magazines (or a subscription to Readly which gives you TONS of online magazines on every topic under the sun, including back issues, really cheaply. Great value for money.)

A long walk on a perfect autumn day somewhere with spectacular scenery.

Actually a lovely long walk anywhere at any time of year is always good for the soul. Invest in some decent walking shoes/boots and clothing, maybe join a local group if you like the company, but just get out and walk in nature. There is nothing like it.

The Lake District. The West Highlands of Scotland. Cornwall. The North Norfolk coast. California. If you can't get to any of those beautiful places then watch travel and nature videos of the scenery on youtube with nice music in the background.

My caravan. The cosiness and simplicity of it and the flexibility/spontaneity it gives us to go all over the UK quite cheaply at the drop of a hat.

A home baked loaf or cake.

A log fire, candles, blankets, either coffee or wine.

My garden in May and June. Pottering around dead heading, early in the morning before the day starts. Watching the bees and the butterflies. Catching the scent of roses or jasmine as you walk past.

A hot bath with lovely oils or bubbles.

A Sunday roast all made from scratch. Even the faff of it is very therapeutic.

Having a hobby that you love and that completely immerses you and gives you fulfilment.

Also. Did I say a dog? Hell, just get three dogs. If you can't get a dog then volunteer at a shelter. Just visit them, walk them, pet them, play with them, chat to them. They boost your seratonin massively just by being there in the room with you and listening intently like they understand every word.

The dog walking along with a massive stick, she’s small but she can’t resist an out of proportion huge stick.