Would you enjoy time, every day, to do something that brings you joy – even if just for 5-10 minutes? I love pondering this question. I invite you to do the same. Many of us lead busy lives with full calendars. Others may have lots of free time but become stuck in monotony. So how can we incorporate more joy into our days?

Perhaps we can carve out a little time for what I like to call “joy spurts,” even building “joy spurts” into daily to-do lists. Isn’t that a big part of what we will look back on one day, the joy and connections we’ve made?

Joy often comes through engaging one of the five senses and being present with that.

Maybe it’s to stand outside, look at the clouds, star gaze, or listen to a favorite song and dance. Maybe it’s to read a few pages in a favorite book, or take a walk in nature and really notice the wisdom it offers. Maybe it’s to sketch in an art journal and focus on the process while releasing thoughts of what the art “should” look like, or maybe it’s to stand up and stretch. Some days it could be as simple as holding a cup of warm tea in silence and appreciating the breath and the life it brings. On other days it might include enjoying a yummy piece of dark chocolate and the sensations it brings. Some days, pausing and doing soft, slow neck rolls may feel great to work out the kinks and strains.

It’s often the little things that bring us the most joy, and a five to ten-minute joy practice can help remind us to really be present with that.

Give it a try and as you do, remember the things that bring us the most joy are often the simplest of things.