Welcome to the world where motherhood is romanticized through the simple intention of finding joy in the little things. Joy is not confined to grand occasions or extravagant gestures; it can be discovered in the tiniest corners of our existence and in the small everyday wonders surrounding us.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.

Lately, I struggle to find joy in things because I’m always focusing on the next thing I have to cross off the to-do list or the next goal I need to accomplish, not realizing the anxiety and feelings of inadequacy it was causing me. I went through the motions daily, lacking excitement for life and feeling frustrated at the end of the day because I felt more disconnected than present.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the never-ending to-do lists, coordinate family schedules, and try to balance work and home life. It’s so easy to throw something together to get dinner on the table, and then the kids have to get in their pajamas and quickly say goodnight. And just like that, another day has ended in a whirlwind.

It feels like the days pass quickly, like a blur, and I’m just floating on by, not enjoying things like I used to. I’m on autopilot—just existing and not actually living.

As we wrap up this year, I decided to make it my intention for the upcoming year to romanticize all aspects of my life to get myself out of this funk and reconnect with my life. I want to get out of being on autopilot and fall deeply in love with life again – and I’ve found that the secret to that is to find joy in the little things.

The following is a list of simple yet beautiful ways to romanticize motherhood, find joy in the little things, and get excited about life again.

How To Find Joy In The Little Things

There is something powerful to be said about the small pleasures in our lives that bring us joy. Even the quiet, mundane moments we commonly take for granted in our day can offer extraordinary experiences and help us see life as beautiful and joyful. We need to make the simple moments count and treasure the beauty in the ordinary because all those moments add up to learning to appreciate life.

Here are 20 ways and more to see the beauty in the mundane and find joy in the little things:

1. Bring all of your senses to the present moment.

Living, and not just existing, in this life means actively participating and being fully aware of your current experience. Immerse yourself fully in your present moment by using all five of your senses to practice mindfulness and notice the simplicity of that moment.

So often, as busy moms, we become disconnected from our actual world because sometimes it feels like everyday life is monotonous and we are always busy doing something. Engaging in all five of your senses is the best way to be in the present moment, find joy in the little things, and can help us redirect our thoughts to cultivate awareness and reconnect with our lives.

Randomly use your five senses throughout your day to notice the small details of your life. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the sunrise or the grandness of a sunset. Appreciate the warmth of a cozy hug. Marvel at the laughter shared with your loved ones. Notice the ordinary details. We usually take these little moments of hidden joy for granted, forgetting that these moments make life beautiful.

2. Show yourself your own highlight reel.

Life is full of highlights and precious moments that we often overlook. Find the tiny, colorful moments of your day and snap a 6-second picture. Combine them in your own highlight reel for you to look back on. You can do this monthly, yearly, or randomly. I find joy and gratitude when I can reflect on those tiny magical moments in my busy life. It’s a small reminder of all the fantastic things I was blessed to experience, do, or see in that time of my life, and it helps me to appreciate those joyous moments. Learn to pay closer attention to the joys in daily living and see this as a way to scrapbook life’s little pleasures.

3. Show up in your life as your genuine and authentic self.

Moms, stop shrinking who you are so that others feel comfortable. Live your life in alignment with yourself and create your own path unapologetically. Your kids are watching you, and you don’t want them to think they have to shrink who they are, too. You want your kids to shine and be fully their authentic selves, and you are their best example of that.

4. Really watch and notice your kids when their faces light up.

Create beauty and joy in your life as a mom, and that will spill over into your children’s lives by romanticizing motherhood. Spend quality time with your kids and try to be present in the moment because every moment – even the moments you think are mundane – can become a core memory for them. Take a pause when you are with your kids by paying attention to their faces and watching how they light up about something they are interested in or the small joys in their expressions when they are in their element.

5. Create a home that brings you immense joy.

The main thing I strive for in my home is to create a culture of peace. Set the mood for relaxation and recharging. Make your house your safe haven, not a place for stress and anxiety.

Those feelings of stress should be outside of the home, such as at work or school. When we get home, we want to rip off those career hats we wore all day and want to go into a space where we can feel rested, content, and comfortable. If you work from home, dedicate one area of the house for work only and keep the rest of the house a space that brings you great joy and peace.

Other things you can do to curate a home that brings you an experience of joy: 

• Use the expensive and luxurious bath products you kept “for a special day” – today and every day is a special day
• Buy yourself a fresh bouquet of flowers and put them on display
• Sit outside watching the sunrise with a delicious cup of your favorite morning coffee
• Declutter your house and turn it into a comforting home
• Light up a candle while you take a warm shower or bubble bath
• Decorate your home for the holidays
• Eat dinner on nice fancy plates
• Let in the fresh air and open up those windows when the weather is amazing
• Have a candlelight dinner at home by yourself or with your significant other
• Play relaxing music in the background
• Or play your favorite song on full blast and dance around with your kids
• Open the windows and let in the fresh air and warm sunlight
• Create family traditions with your kids

6. Add things in your life that spark joy and eliminate those that don’t.

Fill your home or space with things that you love. Get rid of things that clutter your mind, space, and home. Eliminate those things that cause you stress and don’t spark joy in your life. Your mental health is not worth all that clutter.

Years ago, I read Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,” which changed my life when it came to getting rid of things in my home and only inviting things that cause me joy. To this day, I still implement practices such as discarding items that no longer spark joy and keeping my house clutter-free.

This also goes for anything besides possessions, whether it be relationships, friendships, morals, activities, or events. You are not obligated to do it if it does not give you happiness. Why sacrifice your happiness for something you don’t even want in the first place to make other people happy? Find your simple pleasures and sprinkle them throughout your day to create a life you love and cherish.

7. Write down five things you are grateful for.

Daily gratitude is a powerful and underutilized tool for creating true happiness and abundance. By writing down what you are grateful for, you appreciate those little moments and welcome more abundance and blessings into your life. Gratitude elevates, and you start loving life so much more.

When you wake up, the first thing you should do is make a list of 5 things that you are grateful for. Keep a journal and pen on your bedside table so that they are easy to grab in the morning. Take the time to think about your sense of gratitude, and you’ll start to see beauty and wonder in the small moments of life.

For example, the top 5 things I am grateful for today are the early sunshine peeking in through the bedroom curtains, my child peacefully asleep near me as I listen to the little snores, the air conditioning quietly humming and giving us comfort, the delicious cup of coffee that I drink every day but look forward to, and the Christmas tree in the living room sparkling in the darkness of the morning.

8. Make an effort to show up for yourself.

Sometimes, we feel like there is no need to put in the effort in the morning because there are other things to do. But, by just taking a few minutes to wash your face, brush your teeth, comb your hair, and put on sunscreen, you are prepping yourself for the day by caring for your basic needs. Doing so can shift your mindset because you are starting the day by prioritizing yourself in your own life. Other ways to care for your basic needs are staying hydrated, giving yourself enough sleep, and moving your body daily.

Another essential way to show up for yourself, besides physically, is by keeping your promises to yourself! Set personal goals for self-improvement and actually carry them out instead of just planning for them. If you make a promise to yourself that you will go to the gym three days per week, then fully commit to that promise. Just think about how it would feel when you complete the goals you set out because you promised yourself that you would do that specific goal. The more you show up for yourself, the more you build that self-trust and inner confidence.

9. Randomly take candid pictures that bring you joy throughout your day.

Once the new year rolls around, I will do this more often. If something brings me joy, I will take out my phone and snap a picture. You can also name a folder on your computer or your phone with a title such as “Things that bring me joy,” and if you are feeling down, take some time to look at the pictures in that folder.

Anything and everything goes for these pictures. I’ve taken plenty of photos of sunsets to admire the changing colors of the sunset. When you stop throughout your day and use your five senses, as discussed earlier in this post, snap a random picture to remember the moment.

The best photos are candid when people are in the moment and are their authentic selves instead of posing for the camera. There is just something so raw and beautiful about capturing the joy of those around you, just enjoying life and living unapologetically.

10. Bring the hobbies you used to love into your life. 

I used to be a huge bookworm when I was a little girl. I’ve read everything from fiction to biographies to classic novels. As I grew older, I slowly went away from those fantasy fiction novels and read more self-development and non-fiction books on finances, investing, and productivity. Though I still love reading non-fiction (more so listening to audiobooks on these topics now), I started reading fantasy novels again that are written for an adult audience, if you know what I mean.

Call me a bookish mom, but it really feels like self-care for me when I get to wind down with a book and a cup of tea after a long, busy day. Especially now when the Christmas tree is up, and I’m reading with the lights sparkling in the background. It brings joy back into my life, and all it took was a spicy book and hot tea.

Think about what you used to love to do as a kid and see if you can incorporate it into your life today. Did you love to play softball in high school? You could join an adult softball league, play for fun on the weekends, or even start coaching it. Did you love to paint when you were younger? Take a painting class once a week, or attend a wine and paint party once a month with friends. Do you love playing the piano but stopped once you got older? Practice with songs on YouTube to bring the joy of music back into your life.

11. Write down the top 3 amazing things that happened to you today. 

As busy moms, we don’t have hours to sit down and journal long passages like we used to when we were teenagers. So, writing down the top 3 amazing things that happened during your day will help you reflect on what went well and refocus your mind in a positive light. It can be done in under 10 minutes.

Keep a small journal by your bed, and before heading into dreamland, write at least three memorable things that happened throughout the day. They can be anything from small to big things, but the only criteria is that it made you happy and resulted in a good day.

12. Feel the sunshine on your skin every day.

Sunshine on your skin is instant serotonin. Those who say they get a mood booster after taking a quick walk outside are not lying, as studies show the sun’s rays help make people feel happy, relieve stress, and improve energy. Serotonin is the happy hormone. The next time you feel sad or low, go outside for 10-30 minutes and see how you feel afterward.

13. Get outside daily and take a walk.

That said, go outside to see the beauty of nature and inhale a nice breath of fresh air. Take in the beauty of the natural world by noticing everything on your walk – the way the butterflies hover over a garden of flowers, how the runner that passes you makes a winded effort to say hello, or how even your mood and body feel refreshed during your walk outside.

Taking at least a 10-minute walk has been proven to have an enormous list of mental health benefits, such as benefiting your mood due to the release of endorphins, reducing stress, and making you feel calmer. Sure, you can walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes, but when you participate in outdoor activities, there is more enjoyment simply because of the changing scenery, the fresh air, and the sounds of nature.

14. Do something that scares you – then celebrate yourself for doing the dang thing!

Say yes to things you usually say no to. Doing things that scare you but are advantageous for you and pull you out of your comfort zone is the key to your growth. Don’t let temporary fear or pain rob you of the lasting joy life can bring when you step out of your comfort zone. Try something new and do what you always wanted but never did because you were scared. You never know what you can accomplish if you don’t try. Start small and move up from there. Remember that failure or fear is a small price to pay for not having to feel the pain of regret at the end of your life.

And since you did the dang thing, acknowledge how far you’ve come and celebrate your progress no matter how big or small that fear may have been. People don’t often give themselves enough credit when they do the hard things in life. Even if you are not where you want to be, celebrate your progress because the most challenging part of doing something that scares you starts at the beginning of the journey. Celebrating yourself for your small wins and any improvement you made towards something that initially scared you will increase your joy, satisfaction, and gratitude in life. You are capable of achieving more than you think.

15. Compliment someone and watch their face light up.

Spread love and joy to receive love and happiness. Give a stranger or someone you know a pure, simple, and genuine compliment. When you seek to find something positive and good in others, you will start seeing more joy in your own life. Watch their faces light up with real happiness because you said something nice about them. They’ll remember it for the rest of the day, and maybe they will forget what you said, but they will remember how your compliment made them feel.

16. Practice kindness in your life with random acts of kindness.

It doesn’t take much to make a difference. The smallest random acts of kindness can significantly impact you and the person you are giving to. For example, giving a random stranger a nice, genuine compliment or doing good random acts of kindness can positively impact your life because kindness boosts happiness. Your brain releases dopamine, a feel-good hormone, instantly elevates your mood, encouraging empathy and compassion. The little things make a big difference, and when we help one another, we restore faith in humanity.

17. Hide your phone in a drawer or get off social media.

Social media can wreak havoc on our mental health if we aren’t careful. Everyone is always showing the best moments of their lives, which can unconsciously make us feel less than others and incomplete in our own lives. In other people’s social media posts, they showcase their houses as immaculately clean and perfectly designed, all of their family members so well-behaved and happy, smiling wide in family pictures, and going on expensive trips every month.

But remember that all of this makes up their highlight reels, and they only show you what they want you to perceive as their perfect life while hiding the ugly, disorganized, chaotic parts of their lives from social media. It’s not real, but we can easily get caught up in the comparison game or go down a rabbit hole of other people’s “perfect lives” just the same.

If it is starting to affect your mood or mental health, put the phone in the drawer, and instead of scrolling, spend some time doing something you love. Be present and play with your kids. Limit the time you spend on social media. Every year, I take six months off social media and deactivate my Facebook and Instagram accounts to be more present with life, put more time into my hobbies and other passions, and spend more time with family. Try out one month and see how you feel after that month.

18. Curate the perfect morning routine that is enjoyable for you.

I love morning routines. I can watch YouTube videos of other people’s morning routines and listen to podcasts about curating a perfect daily routine. However, another person’s morning routine may not be ideal for you. Don’t copy theirs. Instead, figure out what things give you joy. Try to incorporate it when you wake up and start your day with a positive attitude curated to your interests. Who loves to wake up and do something they hate first thing in the morning? If you do, you are already setting yourself up for a negative day that will most likely drag on.

Your morning routine should not be complicated and time-consuming, but it instills a sense of order in your life. Search for wellness habits, peaceful meditations, or writing in a gratitude journal in the morning. Set up your favorite coffee so that you look forward to it when you wake up. Write down things you are thankful for before you hit the ground running. Whatever activities you decide to incorporate into your morning routine, make sure it is something positive, something you enjoy doing, and something that improves your wellness and mindset or decreases stress.

19. Curate a relaxing evening routine.

Just like the morning routine is essential to kickstart your day, your evening routine is just as impactful. To have a successful, productive, and enjoyable morning routine, you must start with your evening routine the night before. Set yourself up for the next day by preparing things the night before so you don’t wake up frantic, late, and stressed. Make some non-negotiables for your evening routine, such as always winding down with a good book and cup of hot tea with a candle lit right before bed. Or set aside time for self-care and pamper your skin with your nighttime skin routine. Don’t forget to go to bed at a reasonable hour so you don’t wake up grumpy and sleep-deprived the following day.

20. Take time to slow down.

Nothing is worse than looking back at your life and regretting wasting all those years trying to get through the day quickly or waiting and wishing for something better in the future. We all have goals to reach, places to be at, or tasks to cross off, hoping that one day we will finally get to the place where we want to be. You are not living each day to the fullest this way. Slow down and choose to make the small moments count. Enjoy yourself, your family, and your current environment in the present moment, and feel the joy in the simplicity of that moment.

On the weekends, usually Sundays, we revel in the slow start of the morning and slow down our busy lives by spending quiet time with each other. Once everyone is awake, we cook breakfast, and my daughter usually makes her weekly muffins. We’ll listen to acoustic music in the background, and after breakfast, we spend time outside taking a walk or bike ride together.

Since the weather has been excellent lately, we’ve been spending time in our backyard. We read books around the fire pit and relax with each other. These quiet moments create peaceful memories for us and our children to reflect on in the future because we take a moment to slow down and just be.

How To Enjoy The Little Things And Be Happy

Finding happiness may be challenging, but taking even one small step forward by incorporating any of these tips can help reshape your life. The habits that you do now will determine your life in the years to come. Take time to appreciate what is in front of you, and be present in the now to find the beauty of life in the everyday moments. You are in the pursuit of happiness, so find ways to elevate the mundane to experience gratitude in the tiny moments of life. Romanticize life and romanticize motherhood to find joy in the little things.

What simple things help you find joy in the little things? 

Save this post for later or share it with your friends!