Why Prioritizing Your Happiness Matters: A Simple Joy Practice to Transform Your Day

In the chaos of everyday life—where your to-do list seems to multiply faster than your laundry pile—doing things that make you happy probably feels like a luxury, right? But here’s the deal: happiness isn’t just for weekends or vacations. It's a necessity, like coffee on a Monday morning. And let’s be real—when was the last time stressing over deadlines or overanalyzing your grocery list made you feel good? Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. Life’s too short to be stuck in survival mode 24/7. So, why not start making happiness a priority, one small, joyful step at a time? You might be surprised at how much of a difference it makes.

Why Doing Things That Make You Happy is Important

1. Boosts Mental Health
   Engaging in activities that bring you joy triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, the “feel-good” chemicals in your brain. These chemicals help reduce stress, anxiety, and even symptoms of depression. When you consistently do things that make you happy, you’re essentially giving your brain a reset from the stressors of life. It’s like hitting the refresh button on your mental state.

2. Improves Physical Health
   Believe it or not, happiness can actually make you healthier. Studies show that people who regularly engage in enjoyable activities have lower blood pressure, stronger immune systems, and are less likely to develop chronic illnesses. When you feel good emotionally, your body responds by functioning more optimally.

3. Enhances Relationships
   When you prioritize your happiness, it positively impacts those around you. Being in a good mood makes you more present, kind, and patient, which naturally improves your interactions with others. In turn, healthy relationships provide even more emotional support and joy, creating a virtuous cycle of positivity.

4. Promotes Resilience
   Life’s challenges are inevitable, but when you have regular moments of joy, you build up emotional resilience. This doesn’t mean you avoid pain or difficulty, but rather, you’re better equipped to handle them. Knowing that you have activities that make you feel good gives you something to look forward to, even in hard times.

A Simple Joy Practice: The "Joy Jar"

Want to start incorporating more happiness into your daily routine? Try this simple Joy Jar practice. It’s an easy, low-effort way to keep joy at the forefront of your mind.

How to Do It:

1. Get a Jar: Find an empty jar or container you can keep in a visible place, like your desk or kitchen counter.

2. Write Down Your Joys: Every time you do something that makes you happy, write it down on a small piece of paper. It could be something as simple as enjoying your morning coffee, going for a walk, or laughing with a friend. Drop the paper in the jar.

3. Review Regularly: Once a week or whenever you’re feeling down, pull out a few notes and read them. It’s a wonderful reminder of all the good moments, and it reinforces the idea that happiness is built in small, everyday actions.

This practice encourages you to notice the little things that bring you happiness and gives you a tangible reminder that joy is always within reach.

So here’s the bottom line: happiness doesn’t have to wait for some magical “perfect moment” that probably doesn’t exist. Life is messy, hectic, and let’s face it, downright exhausting at times—but that’s all the more reason to make space for things that actually bring you joy. Whether it’s starting your Joy Jar or simply finding a few minutes to do something that makes you smile, these small actions add up. After all, we’re not here just to survive—we’re here to enjoy the ride. So, what’s stopping you from putting yourself first, even just for a moment?