Joyful Living: Finding Pleasure in the Boring and Mundane

Did you know? One in four Americans find their life quite boring while about 60 percent of those surveyed say they desperately need to go on an adventure. These numbers are from a new survey by Talker Research for Storyteller Overland. I, on the other hand would like to argue that in the pursuit of joyful living, there are ways to find pleasure and thrill in the dullness of life. Boring is what works! It was not until a friend mentioned this that it hit me like a ton of bricks. Quiet simplicity and having the time for careful introspection can be beautifully rewarding. Great things also happen once we stop looking for validation outside of ourselves.

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Our society is so obsessed with the fear of missing out (FOMO) and chasing after the next shiny experience that the entire situation often leaves us sad and unsatisfied. When will it ever be enough? It is the reason that we are constantly frustrated with our lives and always comparing ourselves to others. playing the comparison game, along with a host of other vices. How did we get here? Well, I credit most of the dissatisfaction to social media. We are supposedly more connected than ever and yet, we are also disconnected. If you have many social media friends that you’ve never actually spoken to, then you’ll understand exactly what I am saying. Joyful living doesn’t have to be totally out of our reach however.

Recently, I have begun identifying with the joy of missing out (JOMO) and the deeply meaningful enrichment it offers. Sometimes, this can look like going long hours, even days without being wired into a technological device, basking in nature through long, relaxing walks, cooking my weekly meals or eating out occasionally and reading interesting books that fuel my critical thinking. Instead of seeking an adventure outside myself, I have discovered small actions that I can take to romanticize my current life — relishing my repetitive routines and embracing the lack of external stimulation. Here’s all of the ways I am doing this. Perhaps you will glean an idea or two about joyful living and also say no to chasing cheap dopamine.

• Honing my copywriting skills. To be a better writer, one has got to write and do it often. Hence, this article and a host of others on this beautiful blog and beyond.
• Embracing cloudy days as an opportunity to fuel up on vitamin D, move my body and eventually cozy up to a cup of tea or my favourite feel-good tunes.
• I’m not waiting for anyone to invite me out. Solo outings to restaurants to relish my favourite and delicious meals are definitely the best thing ever.
• Falling in love with my love for reading. I’m currently reading Blaze Island, a climate-themed fiction novel by Catherine Bush.
• Engaging in lengthy early morning or late night conversations with key friends or relatives while creating and tightening the bonds of the community.
• Working on a solid financial plan for the year. There is nothing like the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can pay the bills, and still spare some for you and loved ones.

• As a foodie, I’m getting back into making large, nutritious meals for the week, using my meal prep packaging system to ensure the food lasts a whole week so I don’t have to cook.
• Movement over everything. I need to be constantly moving for good health, whether it happens by being out in nature to unplug and be present or indoors, on the treadmill.
• Waking up early and along with that never leaving the bed unmade for the day. To start the day right, it’s got to begin on a proper footing from the moment one wakes up.
• Treating myself to a light make-up routine that enhances (not alters) my facial features and which I can keep up with every time I step out the house for an outing.
• Putting the ‘s’ for spinach into my protein smoothies. Nothing much, just increasing my natural source of iron intake.
• Taking my focus off the writing groove of my computer-based blog or client work once in a while to actually journal on paper, immersing myself in the process of writing down one’s thoughts, feelings and emotions.

If all of this sounds hard and difficult to you, remember, it’s the little things that count. You too can start basking in the pleasure of boring and mundane things. It starts now. I am not saying that it will be completely easy but I promise, it will be totally worth it and you will be pleased.

Instead of chasing thrill, what will you do to enjoy life on your own boring terms?