121 Simple Things That Make Me Happy: The Ultimate List

There are so many reasons to make a things that make me happy list. Firstly, it gives you the opportunity to reflect on the positive little things in your life that bring you joy, but also to give you a mood boost when you might need it.

Today I’m sharing a big list of things that make me happy and my hope is that you’ll find inspiration to write your own happy things list.

Before I share my list, make sure to drop a few things that make you happy in the comments section below – to inspire others.

Why Create a Happy Things List?

Intentionally seeking out things to be happy for completely transforms your life – even if you’re going through challenging times. 

You see, as the saying goes, you can either be a glass-half-empty person or a glass-half-full person.

The best part is you can choose to become a glass-half-full person if you aren’t already, and the best way to get started with this is by practicing gratitude. 

Creating a happy things list is good for:

• Your mental health. This list is a reminder of all the good things in life that make you feel happy and content.
• Becoming a happier person overall. This practice helps you change the way you look at the world and actually trains your brain to seek out things to be happy for.
• Helping you practice being present in the moment.
• Getting in the habit of positive thinking
• Having a grateful heart by seeing the little things that make a positive impact in your life.

This leads me to the happy things list – a great way to start seeing all of the things in your life to be grateful for.

121 Things That Make Me Happy

I’m sharing my own list of things that make me happy, which will hopefully inspire you to write your own. Perhaps you and I will be happy and grateful for similar things!

Let’s get into it.

1. Birds chirping in the spring
2. The smell of freshly cut grass
3. Cuddles with my big lug of a dog
4. My bedtime routine
5. Early mornings with a perfect cup of tea
6. Slow Saturday mornings with my hubby
7. The feeling of a productive, accomplished day
8. Shopping at local fruit & veg markets
9. Walking my dog and chatting with other pet parents (and their fur babies)
10. Phone chats with my best friend
11. Fresh flowers in my home
12. Starting my garden in the spring – and tending to it all summer
13. Travelling to new and exciting places
14. Daily banter and chats with my son
15. Having my morning cup of tea outside
16. Essential oils – especially mood-boosting oils such as lavender, orange and peppermint
17. Being outside in any kind of weather – so good to clear my mind and help me relax
18. Listening to nostalgic music from my teens and early twenties
19. Evenings with old friends, catching up on our lives and being grateful for every moment
20. Quality time with my parents
21. Making connections with strangers
22. Hiking in the spring, summer & fall
23. Being self-employed
24. Writing in my self-love journal
25. Kitchen dance parties with myself or others
26. Driving at night in the summer with all the windows down
27. Roasting marshmallows over a bonfire
28. Visiting wineries
29. Reminiscing with my husband about past shared memories
30. A relaxing massage
31. Family time with my sister, niece & nephew
32. Ice cream on a hot summer night
33. Looking at old photos
34. Homemade soup
35. Completing my daily to-do list
36. Appreciating the simple pleasures in life (like the things in this list!)
37. Reading a good book
38. Fresh air first thing in the morning
39. Going on a long walk and taking everything in around me
40. Friday afternoons
41. Cooking a new recipe that turns out amazing
42. Blasting your favorite song in your car as you sign your heart out
43. A long hot bath with relaxing essential oils
44. Family traditions
45. A freshly made bed with crisp sheets
46. Having a good night’s sleep
47. A clean house
48. Family dinners
49. Flowering spring trees 
50. Connecting with someone on a deeper level
51. Reaching an important goal
52. Writing a bucket list
53. Someone saying I Love You
54. Sitting on a front porch watching people go by
55. Going on a road trip with people you love
56. Laughing out loud
57. Date night
58. Swimming in the sea
59. Walking barefoot on the beach
60. Seeing childhood friends
61. Exploring new cities and countries
62. Holding hands with my husband
63. Chocolate!
64. Live concerts
65. Picking fruit (berries, apples, pears)
66. Birthdays
67. Anniversaries
68. Chatting with my sister
69. Brilliant colour of fall leaves
70. Apple pie
71. Weekend brunch
72. High tea
73. Board game night
74. Camping
75. Long summer nights
76. Art galleries
77. Learning something new
78. Windchimes
79. A gorgeous red sky at night
80. Everything about my pup – he’s my heart, my therapy, and best friend
81. Making a new friend
82. Cute and colourful mugs
83. Writing in my gratitude journal
84. Singing out loud in the car
85. A day of healthy eating
86. Vegetable gardens
87. Perennials blooming in the spring
88. Snuggles with my niece & nephew
89. Taking a long hot shower in the winter
90. Taking a cold shower in the summer
91. Publishing a new blog post
92. Feeling confident
93. A self-care day
94. Taking a long bike ride
95. Dreaming about the future with my husband
96. The perfect glass of red wine
97. 80’s and 90’s music
98. A cold Greek frappe
99. Visiting my husband’s family in Greece
100. Being vegan
101. Watching kids make sand castles
102. Christmas morning
103. Watching the sunset by the lake
104. Cozy pajamas
105. Being a kid at heart
106. Looking for the good side of things
107. The first snowfall of the year
108. Colourful pens
109. Working from home
110. Looking forward to something (an event, trip, special occasions)
111. Taking a gratitude walk
112. Long-lasting friendships
113. Being financially secure
114. Decluttering a space
115. Treating myself to something small (new lipstick, book, a delicious latte)
116. Canoeing
117. Watching birds eat from my bird feeder
118. Laughing with my Dad
119. Laughing with my Mom
120. Playing Scattergories with my son
121. A new season of my favourite TV shows

How To Write Your Own Happy List

Firstly, there are no rules with this list. You can write it all at once or gradually over time, but here are a few tips on how to get started…

1. Think about what makes you happy in various areas of life

Things like family, health, career, personal time, nature, art, hobbies, spirituality, relationships – and so much more.

When you think about what makes you happy in these different areas it becomes a lot easier to think of ideas.

2. Don’t forget to think of the small things

Of course, big things can make us happy like vacations or important milestones but these events don’t happen every day so it’s just as important to focus on the little moments that bring joy on a day-to-day basis. 

3. Keep writing & never stop

Your happy list doesn’t ever have to end – you can keep adding to it whenever you experience a happy moment you want to remember.

👉 Check out my Self-Care Planner Worksheets to help you build a happy balanced week.

How To Use Your Things That Make You Happy List

You’ve written your list – fantastic! Now, here are some easy ways you can use your things that make me happy list:

• In your daily routine. Look at your list to see what things you can add to your daily routine.
• Read when you’re having a bad day. You’ll find that it will give you the pick-me-up you need when going through tough times.
• Read on New Year’s Eve as a reminder of all of the wonderful things you’ve had in your life over the past year.
• Share some of your happy things with people close to you – especially if they made the list!

What simple things make you happy?

Share a few positive things that bring you true happiness in the comments below 🙂

Related Resources on Happiness

• Building A Happy Week: Self-Care Planner
• 20 Ways To Find Your Happy Place (+ Why This Matters)
• 100 Inspiring Always Choose Happiness Quotes
• Why Happiness is a Choice + 12 Ways To Choose Happiness
• 100 Simple Ways to Improve Your Life This Year