How do you inject JOY into your day?

[eatprayloveorjusteateateat]

I wake up everyday and feel 'bleurgh!'... just bleurgh!

Is there any way that you cheer yourself up/ inject some joy into your morning/day?

Is it getting up an hour before everyone else and having a good cup of luxury coffee?
Do you watch something to shake off your crappy mood?
listen to something?
do something unusual?
eat something?
put something on?

i don't know about you but i don't wake up feeling naturally happy so i really need to do something to put a smile on my face.

Any ideas?

[worsestershiresauce]

I make the baby laugh (it's very easy, she laughs at almost everything). Baby giggles are the funniest cutest thing every and never fail to make me smile.

I'm not sure what I'll do when she grows up. I'm fairly sure sarcastic teenage chuckles would not have the same effect.

[ZingWantsCake]

this is still making me laugh, I can't stop!

[fuzzpig]

Playing piano (dependent on time of day due to neighbours!)

Playing my Happy playlist on itunes and singing along

Ben and Jerrys :o

[loopyloou]

I try to make sure the kitchen is tidy and clean the night before, so that there's no work in there first thing. I make myself a lovely coffee and stand in the open doorway to the back garden with my coffee and look out, watching the dog and one of my cats sniffing around, I call my other cat who always comes over the fence straight away, pleased to see me. That makes me very happy Then I sit alone with a lovely breakfast and listen to Chris Evans on Radio 2, because he makes me laugh.

[PoppyAmex]

Someone mentioned "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin and I second that. Well written too, no self-help trite rubbish.

I'm Latin and have a bit of a temper but my life has improved since I started living by the mantra "do you want to be right or want to be happy?"

[GoodbyeRubyTuesday]

What a lovely thread. for OP.

I'm generally rather happy, in fact one of the people on a course I went on recently said I was the most positive person she had ever met :) I know I'm incredibly lucky as two of my immediate family suffer serious depression.

I think a lot of it comes down to what SirRaymondClench said about being grateful for things. I feel incredibly lucky for so many reasons. Every day I find lots of things to be grateful for. Every night before I go to sleep I list five things I am grateful for that day and that means I go to sleep in a happy frame of mind.

Like Unicorns I've been doing mindfulness meditation with Headspace for quite a while, I recently subscribed to the full service so I am working my way through the different series. I find it so refreshing. I try and do it in the morning so it sets me up for the day. Since I started I've found I'm more present in every moment which I think really helps with happiness. I'd definitely recommend it :)

Another thing I do is that first thing in the morning I get out of bed, open the curtains to see the day and have a bit of a stretch.

Really though the main reason I'm so happy is that I find joy and beauty in so many things. I've had a less good few months as was finishing up six months of chemotherapy and have been fairly ill with it so unable to go out much. Even on the grimmest days when I was waking up to go to the bathroom up to ten times a night, I still managed to find a glimmer of joy in seeing the beautiful night sky through the landing window. The sky is the most beautiful purpley grey colour around dawn :)

Nature is definitely a big source of joy, as is music. I also love learning so I read lots of non-fiction books about different subjects, I do lots of puzzle books, cook, potter in the garden. Lots of cheap/free things. The feel of sliding under the duvet on a chilly evening, walking barefoot in the garden, yummy food, playing board games with my family and friends...

As whenever I walk past a mirror, I smile at myself, or if I'm feeling silly I will make a funny face :) that always makes me happy. I'm that crazy girl walking round town smiling at everyone, it's usually only the older people who smile back! I try to embrace my inner silliness and do silly little things like jumping off the bottom stair, or walking in muddy puddles in my wellies.

I've rambled on loads and probably sound a bit weird

[Charlottehere]

Tea peace wine exercise rare

[breakingbadaddict]

Taking the dog for a walk & kicking the ball around for her, sometimes I run after her like a child! It makes me laugh & keeps her tail wagging constantly! Obviously when it's freezing & raining this doesn't work as well!

[GoofyIsACow]

Great thread :)

[TwoStepsBeyond]

Bought some Waitrose cinnamon, raisin and apple bagels and smothered them with leftover vanilla buttercream for breakfast.

Deep joy.

[KatieScarlett2833]

Ruby, you sound fabulous

[GingerAnne]

Spot on Ruby!!! Wise word. Makes you appreciate things in life I bet. Good on ya xxx

[Kamchatka]

I grow stuff and it makes me happy.
I don't have a lot of space but I have packed it with flowers I can bring indoors and which give long displays outdoors, herbs all year round, plus fruit and veg at various times of the year.
I can't explain why I like it but it gives me great joy.

[grants1000]

I like to kiss the top of my boys heads each morning whilst they are sleepily eating their breakfast before school. I do it every day like clockwork.

[eatprayloveorjusteateateat]

Ruby is my inspiration. What a wonderful person you are - I wish you were my friend.

[eatprayloveorjusteateateat]

Dear mums netters - OP here! much happier due to this thread.

Inspired by this thread I have started a blog - here it is

practicalguidetojoy.blogspot.co.uk

[GoodbyeRubyTuesday]

Thank you Katie :) and eatpraylove you sound lovely too, would love to be your friend! I shall check out your blog now, sounds interesting :)

gingeranne yes definitely, I try to really live each day, not in the whole YOLO, doing lots of massive things kind of way, but in ways that matter to me :) all the best to you x

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Ahh!, enjoyed your blog eatpraylove, and the pic of you and your little one is gorgeous
Love your pics of the cinnamon bagel breakfast with cheerful flowers

[eatprayloveorjusteateateat]

cheers!
Today I have been sent the Christmas Ocado brochure... oooh pure joy for a Monday.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

There were a few Christmassy things out at the garden centre which dd and I went to yesterday afternoon. She spotted some cute cards of Highland cattle in the snow which we liked because we've just got back from a holiday in the Highlands. So, quite liked seeing the first Christmassy stuff, but it is early isn't it ?!
A well timed catalogue can be a joy though ! I like the "Museums" one, or a nice Christmassy book one.

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

Excellent blog, eatpray. You're a fantastic writer!

[eatprayloveorjusteateateat]

thank you very much

ps. It's 100 days till Christmas so not that early. I like to start celebrating in September - with a mulled wine candle. Ooh - i'll put that one on the list.

[GingerAnne]

Blog is fab!!! Look forward to reading more :)))

[enormouse]

I searched for this thread as I'm currently having a crappy day.
house a mess, uni woes, tiredness from pg, short on cash etc and I thought I'd use some of your suggestions to cheer me up.
In return I'll share what I like to do when pissed off. I watch comedy box sets (of which I have too many) whilst eating minstrels.

At the moment I'm watching black books whilst slowly tackling my bomb site of a living room.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

But have you got any minstrels enormouse ?

• pass em round !