“No man is a failure who is enjoying life.” –William Feather
Get up and do something that you enjoy every day! Studies have found that individuals who engage in more frequent enjoyable leisure activities have better psychological and physical functioning. These leisure activities are pleasurable activities that individuals engage in voluntarily when they are free from the demands of work or other responsibilities.
However, when we are not in the best of spirits, getting up and doing anything can be difficult. In fact, when people are stressed, anxious or depressed, there is a tendency to want to avoid and isolate, which only serves to worsen those uncomfortable feelings. Behavioral activation, a treatment for depression, involves working with depressed individuals to gradually increase their engagement in activities. Sometimes we have to engage in enjoyable activities, even if we don’t feel like it, and wait for the feeling to follow. It has been found to be very effective and you don’t have to be depressed or anxious to reap the benefits of doing things that you enjoy!
Exercise is great for our mind, body and spirit. A brisk 30-minute walk can stimulate various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. However, there are many different things that you can do! Take an inventory of your weekly schedule. Do you regularly engage in activities that you find enjoyable? If the answer is YES, keep up the good work. If the answer is NO, take time to make a list of the things that you enjoy doing and make sure to do at least one of those things daily. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or consume a lot of your time. Here are some suggestions:
- Join a book club
- Exercise
- Meditate
- Soak in a bathtub
- Visit family
- Go to the movies
- Repair things around the house
- Go for a walk
- Golf
- Make a gift for someone
- Watch sports
- Dance
- Train for a race (e.g., 5K, 1/2 marathon, etc.)
- Listen to music
- Draw
- Cook
- Go to museums
- Play a board game
- Photography
- Travel to national parks
- Talk on the phone
- Writing a letter to someone you haven’t seen in a while
- Have lunch with a friend
- Make love
- Go hiking
- Get a massage
- Make tea, coffee or hot chocolate
- Sit by the fireplace
- Go bowling
- Take a dance class
- Join a public speaking group
- Develop a business plan
- Spend quality time with your children
- Take a shower
- Eat something sweet
- Plan a trip
- Watch the sun rise or set
- Go to a café
- Write a poem
- Organize your office/closet
- Organize a party
- Redecorate a part of your home
- Do yard work
- Write a story
- Go window shopping
- Experience your five senses, one by one
- Go on a picnic
- Go jet skiing
- Ride a bicycle
- Create your own list of pleasurable activities
This list is just a start. Now that you know the benefits of engaging in pleasurable activities, make a commitment to invest in yourself and do something daily that you enjoy. On your mark, get set, GO. Enjoy!
