It’s the simple pleasures.
As the hours of sunlight begin to dwindle and the days become covered by a blanket of mist and dull, grey fog, it is important to ensure we are still enjoying ourselves to the best of our abilities, rather than sinking into the enveloping sadness so dominant in the run up to Christmas. This is where casual magic can brighten your day in the simplest of ways with so many simple actions having a major impact on your mood, changing the outlook of your day when you reflect on what’s happened as you go to sleep.
One easy way to bring more joy to your life is through the wonder of music. ABBA said it best in their song “Thank you for the Music” when they questioned “without a song or a dance, what are we?”. Music can brighten your environment on even the most miserable of days. Whether this is through listening to a comfort album from your childhood, or an album with conventional autumnal or wintery vibes, such as “Tapestry” by Carole King, or listening to an entirely new artist, following the narrative of the lyrics or simply listening to the melody can evoke a sense of happiness. Becoming more involved in the song can ease the sense of loneliness prevalent in day-to-day life, therefore improving your mood for the day.
Another idea is the classic indulgence of buying a coffee. It can be to sit in a café with a friend and have a gossip or moan about work and chores that need to be done, or to takeaway and have with you whilst you do said work or chores. Either way, it can feel like a proper treat if you adopt the impression that the coffee is a present to yourself in order to provide some necessary cheering up.
Also, any quality time spent with friends can have the ultimate desired effect of providing joy as just enjoying someone else’s company can have heartwarming effects. This could be through having a special movie night once a week where you watch a different romcom, or binge watch a new TV show together. It could also be through going out for a walk in nature and blowing away the cobwebs in the harsh cold weather and bonding through complaining about how summer is so far away. Alternatively, it could simply be through having a cuppa and a biscuit and having a catch up, remembering that there is more to life than whatever is saddening your days.
So, whether or not you listen to music, buy a coffee, or see your friends it is important to remember that even the most minuscule of acts can brighten your day, shifting a sorrowful mood to one of bliss.
Photo by Melody Zimmerman on Unsplash