13 Must-Try Feel Good Activities For A Quick Happiness Fix
Today we are looking at 13 feel good activities that will instantly infuse your life with joy and boost your inner happiness.
>>> Bonus: 3-Day Feel Good Activities Challenge <<<
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We all have those days, don’t we?
The days when you wake up in the morning feeling a little off, like something is missing or not quite right and you can’t seem to find your groove.
I have been there too and know how frustrating it can be when nothing seems to lift your spirits.
These ups and downs in life are completely normal, we all have them. I think what matters most is how you show up for yourself in moments like this. I also think it is important to listen closely to your needs in these moments.
But here is the good news: sometimes, all it takes is a small, feel good activity to lift your spirits and turn your day around.
Think of this blog post as your personal feel good package, filled with 13 simple, yet powerful ways to instantly boost your joy and happiness and bring some light back into your day.
Whether you are looking for a quick pick-me-up or a full mood makeover, rest assured that you will find your happiness fix among this package of 13 must-try, feel-good activities.
13 Feel good activities to boost your mood instantly
Below are 13 feel good activities, guaranteed to make you smile. The best thing, all feel good activities are completely free and available to you at any time.
So grab a cup of coffee, lean back and let’s explore these little moments of joy together.
1. Smile at a stranger
Smiling at a stranger is a super simple, yet powerful way to lift your mood and connect with others.
When you smile, even if you are not feeling your best, the brain releases endorphins, the ‘feel-good’ chemicals that boost your spirits within seconds.
This small gesture of smiling at a stranger creates a positive social interaction and can brighten both your day and the stranger’s.
Engaging in these small acts of kindness can enhance your sense of well-being and satisfaction, as knowing you have contributed to someone else’s happiness, even in a tiny way, is incredibly fulfilling.
Additionally, smiling reduces stress by calming your nervous system and lowering your heart rate. It can also build your confidence, encouraging you to engage more openly with the world around you.
Reading tip: Check out the article 10 Benefits of Smiling.
2. Gratitude journaling
A gratitude exercise such as gratitude journaling is a powerful way to uplift your mood instantly.
When you practice gratitude, you focus your mindset on all the positive aspects of your life, helping you to foster more joy, happiness, and abundance in the long term.
The top 5 benefits of a regular gratitude practice are improved mental and physical health, stronger relationships, boosted self-esteem and living more in the present moment. Just to give you a few examples.
3. Start practicing yoga
Starting a yoga practice is one of the most rewarding feel-good activities you can introduce into your life. As a yoga teacher, I might be a bit biased, yes, I know, but I would not say it if it wasn’t true for me.
Yoga is not just about physical movement; it’s a holistic approach that connects the body, mind, and spirit, helping you find more balance and inner peace in your daily life overall.
Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.
Elle Woods, Legally Blonde
As you start doing yoga, you will notice how it encourages greater self-awareness, promoting relaxation and a sense of calm that lingers long after you have finished your yoga practice.
Whether you are looking to improve flexibility, build strength, or simply carve out a little ‘me time’ in your day, yoga is a great way to nurture your soul and experience the joy of movement.
4. Do a random act of kindness
A random act of kindness like for example giving a compliment to a stranger or buying coffee for the person behind you at Starbucks are small, yet incredibly powerful feel good activities that can brighten your day as well as the recipient’s.
The joy you see in someone’s eyes when they receive a compliment or the surprise on their face when they find out their coffee is already paid for is priceless.
Apart from that, these small acts of kindness create a ripple effect of positivity, as you are not just making their day better, you are also giving yourself a boost of happiness.
5. Get creative
Getting creative is a wonderful feel-good activity that allows you to tap into your imagination.
Whether it is drawing in your sketchbook, writing, exploring pottery or knitting a scarf, etc. creativity offers an outlet to express your emotions and ideas in a way that is deeply personal and fulfilling.
Apart from that, when you immerse yourself in a creative project, you enter a state of flow where time seems to disappear, and your worries fade into the background.
In addition, this process provides a sense of accomplishment and acts as a powerful stress reliever, helping to clear your mind, lift your spirits and boost your mood.
6. Don’t compare yourself to others
Growing up in a society where you are constantly judged by your appearance, education, job title, income, etc. doesn’t generate the confidence to be yourself.
Comparing yourself to others changes your mood instantly. It makes you feel inferior and insecure as you always focus on the lack aka the things you don’t have or can’t do and you always end up losing out.
Constantly comparing yourself to others can result in low self-esteem, increase anxiety and depression, cause feelings of jealousy, hinder your personal growth and personal development, and decrease your motivation as well as the joy of living.
Stop comparing yourself to others and keep in mind that comparison is the thief of joy.
7. Appreciate small wins
Appreciating your small wins along the way is a powerful feel good activity as it encourages you to focus on positive achievements, no matter how minor they may seem.
This practice boosts your self-esteem by reinforcing a sense of accomplishment and progress, helping you feel more confident and capable.
It also creates positive momentum, motivating you to keep moving forward with enthusiasm as you venture along your path to tackle larger goals.
In addition, by acknowledging these small successes or milestones, you reduce stress and anxiety, shifting your attention away from the pressure of bigger challenges.
8. Declutter your home
Decluttering a space is a surprisingly effective feel-good activity that can have an immediate impact on both your environment and your state of mind.
When you take the time to tidy up even a small area, such as your desk, or for example a corner of your living room, immediately you create a sense of order and calm in your surroundings.
The process of sorting, organizing, and letting go of items you no longer need can be incredibly therapeutic and rewarding, giving you a sense of accomplishment and boosting your energy levels at the same time.
As you create a cleaner, more organized space, you are also creating a more peaceful and focused environment which can boost your mood and productivity.
Plus, a decluttered space often leads to a decluttered mind, helping you feel lighter and more at ease.
9. Be with people who support you
Connecting with loved ones is a profoundly uplifting feel-good activity that deeply nurtures your soul and strengthens your sense of belonging.
Taking time to reach out to friends or family, whether through a phone call, a heartfelt message, or a casual meet-up, can bring a lot of joy and comfort to your day.
These moments of connection remind us that we are not alone and that our relationships are a source of support and happiness.
By making time to connect with loved ones, you’re not only enriching their day but also fostering a deeper sense of fulfilment and joy in your own life.
10. Style up your outfit
Styling up your outfit can be a super fun feel good activity as it allows you to express your creativity, boost your confidence, and enhance your mood.
Think about it, when you put effort into your appearance, it can make you feel more polished and put-together, which in turn elevates your self-esteem.
The act of choosing clothes, accessories, and colours that reflect your personality or how you want to feel can be incredibly empowering, giving you a sense of control over your image and how you present yourself to the world.
Get out your over-knee boots, fishnet tights, big earrings, a chunky necklace, a hat, etc., and style up your outfit.
Whatever it is that you pick, wear it with confidence. People will always talk about you, you might as well give them a show and make it worthwhile.
11. Go on a nature walk
Taking a nature walk is a feel-good activity that allows you to reconnect with the natural world and recharge your batteries.
Stepping outside and immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of nature can be incredibly therapeutic, offering a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Whether you’re strolling through a local park, hiking a scenic trail, or simply walking around your neighbourhood, the act of being in nature helps reduce stress and clear your mind.
Nature walks also provide an opportunity for physical exercise, which further enhances your sense of well-being by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters.
Embracing this simple yet profound activity can help you feel more grounded, refreshed, and connected to the world around you, making it a perfect way to lift your spirits, boost your mood and enjoy a moment of tranquillity.
12. Start a morning routine
How you start your day sets the tone for the rest of your day. If you start your day feeling stressed and rushed, there is a high chance that the rest of the day feels the same.
A consistent morning routine can enhance your physical and mental well-being and improve the quality of your life in different ways: reduced stress, increased productivity, better sleep quality, etc.
By creating a consistent and intentional morning ritual, you set a positive tone that can carry through the rest of your day.
Starting your day with a morning routine helps ground you, providing a moment of peace before the busyness of daily life takes over. It allows you to take control of your morning, setting aside time for self-care and reflection.
13. Watch a feel-good movie
Watching a feel-good movie or show is a delightful way to boost your mood and indulge in a moment of pure enjoyment.
Finding a film or series that makes you smile, laugh, or even shed a happy tear can be an instant mood booster, offering a welcome escape from a stressful day.
These moments of escapism allow you to unwind, recharge, and temporarily leave behind any worries or challenges.
Get your favourite snacks, hope on your couch, lean back and enjoy a feel good movie of your choice.
Bonus: 3-Day Feel-Good Challenge
Nope, the 3-Day Feel-Good Challenge wont take much of your time, but yes, bring you lots of smiles and boost your mood.
Did you say that you are in? Amazing 🖤.
For the next 3 days, come back to this blog post every morning, pick one feel good activity that speaks to you that day, go out there and make it happen.
Be aware of how each feel-good activity makes you feel and use this as an opportunity to find your go-to feel-good activity that brings you your quick happiness fix wherever and whenever you need it.
My personal top 5 happiness quotes
A little bit of extra support won’t hurt I would say.
Below are my favourite 5 happiness quotes, feel free to use them as inspiration, pick one that you like, write it on a Post-it and stick it on your bathroom mirror, put it in your wallet, stick it on your laptop, etc.
Remember this, that very little is needed to make a happy life.
Marcus Aurelius
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Mahatma Gandhi
Happiness depends upon ourselves.
Aristotle
Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.
Margaret Lee Runbeck
Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
Buddha
I hope you enjoyed the 13 feel good activities that we went through today and in case there are any questions, feel free to leave me a comment below and please keep me posted on the 3-Day Feel Good Activities Challenge 🖤. I would love to hear from you.
Before we finish for this week, keep in mind that happiness is also a choice and the choice is yours to make 🖤.
And yes, I do have a newsletter, make sure to join our online community today to stay up to date with my latest blog posts, well-being tips and personal growth strategies.
Stay wild,
Nicolle
Featured image Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash
Hi, I am Nicolle, a Senior Marketing professional, certified Yoga Teacher and Wellness Blogger. I am the founder of Let Your Shadow Shine Yoga and this blog. I am here to support you along your self-discovery journey, offering empowering tools like yoga, holistic well-being tips and transformative personal growth strategies.
These are all excellent feel-good things to do daily! I definitely need to work on #12 though haha! Thank you!
Me too!!
Thanks so much for your comment 😉
You mentioned one of my favourite things to do which is dancing.
It’s an instant pick me up and you always feel better after moving to the sound of music.
And of course a good night sleep works wonders!!
LOVE a good dance party!!! Bring on the 80s 😉
Thanks so much for your comment!!
These are all awesome tips. Some I use already but others I will have to try now! Thanks for a great read! Oh, and I love that you included the Legally Blonde quote LOL!
hahaha……I LOVE that movie!!!
Thanks so much for your comment and happy to hear that you enjoyed the post 😉
I love doing these daily. My favorite is just being nice to people, like smiling or paying it forward. You never know what someone is going through. I must say too, I love my beauty sleep! I write down 3 things I’m grateful for at the end of the day instead of in the morning just in case something else happens during the day.
Thanks so much for your comment, Samantha. Wow, you are totally over it, well done!!
Really makes a difference, doesn’t it?!