5 joyful experiments to try
I talk a lot online about living a joyful life. I wholeheartedly believe that we all deserve to invite more joy, positivity and fulfilment into each and everyday, but I understand how overwhelming that can sometimes seem as a concept.
One of the most common questions I get asked is “how do I start to invite more joy into my life?”, and while there are a few key answers to that question that I often repeat (gratitude lists, scheduling your fun first and defining your core values being my top 3), another idea that I like to share is to treat joyful living like one big experiment, and see how much of it you can find in your everyday.
When we get curious about what truly makes us happy, we start to take an active role in our lives, instead of simply letting life happen to us. And so today, to get you started, I thought I’d share 5 joyful experiments for you to try. They’re all basic, everyday activities that won’t cost you very much (if anything!), but they’ll hopefully help you to reconnect with your joy and happiness.
Approach these experiments with an attitude of curiosity and ease - you’re not looking for a magic wand to fix all of your problems, you’re just trying to find some glimmers of joy amongst the everyday. And gradually, those glimmers will start to build, until you notice that there’s magic all around us…
1) Go for a walk
We’ve all heard the advice “get outside for a bit of fresh air” more times than we can probably count, and while that is the basis for this experiment, I’m going to ask you to approach it a little differently. Instead of putting your headphones on and heading off for a walk as a means to an end, try and approach your walk like you’re a tourist visiting your part of the world for the very first time.
Notice what’s happening in nature around you - which plants and trees are blooming? What colour is the sky? Can you hear any birds or animals? Inhale any smells, feel the sensation of the wind or warmth on your cheeks, notice the colours of the shop fronts or cafes. Really immerse yourself and all of your senses in your walk, and see how it makes you feel. Oh, and smile at anybody you pass en route - that’s a sure fire way to catch a glimmer of joy.
2) Try a new recipe
Cooking and baking is always one of my go to joyful experiments, because it has the magic ability to take you out of your head and into the present moment. The reason why I recommend trying a new recipe is because the act of measuring the ingredients and following each step carefully will help you to stay focused on the here and now, instead of worrying about your to do list.
Plus, the bonus with this experiment is that you get something yummy to eat at the end of it! For some extra glimmers of joy, eat whatever you’ve made without any distractions, or share it with someone you love - cooking for your special people and watching them enjoy something you’ve made is just the best.
3) Spend some time hanging out with a kid or an animal
I hope I’m not offending any parents out there by putting kids and animals in the same bracket, but what they both share is the incredible ability to be completely and utterly in the moment, and when you spend some time hanging out with a toddler or a dog, you can’t help but do the same.
They’re not worrying about your career plan or how much you weigh or whether you’ll ever be able to afford a new car - all they care about is that you’ll play with them, nurture them, and take care of what they need right here and now, and that can feel completely amazing. So make a playdate with your nieces and nephews, or sign up to BorrowMyDoggy, and before you know it, you’ll be experiencing all of the joys of living in the moment.
4) Have a phone free evening
I won’t be the first person to recommend a mini digital detox, but as with the other experiments, I’m gonna take it one step further and ask you to think about how you approach this task in a slightly different way. Instead of just switching your phone onto airplane mode and going about your evening, instead, replace that time you’d usually spend on your phone with something you love.
Maybe it’s having a proper chat with your partner or flatmate, maybe it’s curling up with a new book, or maybe it’s just letting yourself get immersed in that Netflix boxset without the distraction of Instagram. Try to stay away from your phone for at least 3 or 4 hours, and then notice how you feel as a result. This is an experiment that will yield stronger results the more that you practice it, so even if it feels a little bit uncomfortable on the first try, give it another go - soon you’ll be relishing all the extra time it frees up.
5) Grow something
The final experiment I have to share with you is one that I’m relatively new to, but is bringing me ALL the joy, and that’s attempting to grow something. Now, I know how overwhelming that might seem to some of you (believe me, I have a reputation as ~quite~ the house plant killer), but you can start really small - a couple of herbs on your windowsill, a small plant in the garden, a couple of bulbs in a pot on your dining table.
It doesn’t matter how big or small your growing project is, if you truly invest in it, watching your plants or herbs or bulbs start to bloom will bring you all the joy. It will also teach you a lesson in patience and nurturing something even when you can’t see immediate results, which I think is something we could all do with being reminded of in our instant world.
What do you think of these joyful experiments? Let me know if you give them a go - I’d love to hear how you get on!
