How can we rediscover the joy of living in our daily lives, which tend to stress us out or bore us? How do we get our smile back? It’s high time we made an appointment with joie de vivre. I wholeheartedly invite you to take up this 30-day challenge!

1 – Rediscover the joy of living: congratulate yourself on 5 things

For example: I congratulate myself for…

not getting angry
for having: taken 5 minutes to please myself, said no to what’s-his-name, said yes to what’s-his-name, been kind, shown courage, done something better or differently than usual, succeeded or tried something…
worked well, comforted someone, smiled at a shopkeeper, shared a laugh with a colleague…
How do you regain your joie de vivre? By congratulating ourselves. Patting ourselves on the back improves our self-confidence and helps us to think positively. We focus on what’s going well and what’s been achieved. That’s a change, because we’re used to seeing only what remains to be done.

2 – List the 2 things you don’t like doing or being

Example: I don’t like…

doing the dishes, running, ironing, getting angry, shouting, crying, going to bed late, getting up early
being late, tired, stressed out
Highlighting what we don’t like to do encourages us to find solutions. If we don’t like doing the dishes, if it makes us angry or tiresome, maybe we could save up for a dishwasher to make our lives easier?

3 – Rediscover the joy of living: list the 5 things or moments you enjoyed yesterday.

Example: I liked

walking, reading, singing, laughing, eating, resting, gardening, writing, working, watching a film,
learning something, not doing something
feeling good, rested, beautiful, brave,
Listing the things we’ve enjoyed helps us develop a sense of gratitude. Our eyes gradually see the good and the beautiful in our lives. We feel calmer, more confident and therefore happier.

4 – Wear your best outfit to put a smile on your face

Why wait for special occasions to shine? Let’s shine when we feel like it, for no particular reason other than ourselves. Let’s shine!

So, go to your wardrobe and choose the garment you like best right now. Then wear it! It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday or Sunday!

Audrey Hepburn said:

“Life’s a party. Dress for it.”

5 – List your top 5 success stories

Example: I have

scored a winning goal for my team
got an A on a math test
children I love and who love me
organized the most beautiful party for a loved one
I’m doing the job I’ve always dreamed of
supported someone close to me through illness
learned to speak a foreign language, to program, to cook, to play basketball
travelled to the country of my dreams

6 – List all the things you’ve done in the last 24 hours

Being aware of the things we do is important. First of all, to appreciate everything we do. Unfortunately, we tend to focus on what’s left to do, forgetting everything we’ve done. We don’t know how to enjoy our actions. So we stop, de-stress and enjoy our efforts.

What’s more, we can notice which things are important to us and which are not. The tasks we spend too much time on and the ones we love but which slip by.

We’ll be able to sort out our life: we’ll keep what’s right. And what doesn’t suit us, stop doing it, delegate it or organize ourselves better to do less of it.

7 – Rediscover your joie de vivre: list your 5 qualities

Example:

ambitious, generous, caring, funny, intelligent, tenacious, honest, curious, thoughtful, outgoing, reserved, optimistic, loyal, frank, patient, organized, motivated, polite, willing…
Here’s a list of qualities.

Knowing our qualities is essential to knowing ourselves. What’s more, the better we know our strengths, the more we can do things that suit us.

8 – List the 2 things in your life that no longer suit you

Example: I no longer want

to be late, tired, stressed, angry
a job I don’t like, a relationship in which I don’t feel fulfilled
lack of money, being disrespected
not having enough time for myself
This question can make our stomachs turn. And yet, it’s quite liberating to make this realization in our lives. This is what we don’t like. It’s part of our life, but we don’t like it. It allows us to let go and then ask ourselves: What can I do to improve this?

9 – Dance, sing along to your favorite music

Stop taking yourself too seriously and always putting off the moments when you let yourself go. When you hear that voice telling you: “I don’t have time to have fun. Life is serious.”

Shut it up! Put on your favorite music and sing, dance!

10 – List your 2 faults

Example:

lazy, grumpy, short-tempered, negative, aggressive, anxious, stressed out
makes too many reproaches, doesn’t try hard enough, talks a lot but doesn’t do enough
Knowing ourselves also means knowing our faults. Nobody’s perfect. The most important thing to remember is that we all do the best we can. We can improve, but in order to do so, we need to know in what areas? So, what are your faults?

11 – Rediscover the joy of living: give yourself the right to learn

What do you dream of learning? Go online and read 3 articles on the subject. Then list what you’ve learned, 3 points that seem important to remember.

The feeling of improving, of moving forward, is what makes us happy. We need movement in our lives. Let’s never stop learning.

12 – List the 5 things you like to do

Example: I like to do

cooking, sport, theater, shopping
eating, chatting, laughing, chatting, going to the cinema, reading, writing, gardening, drawing, coloring, sewing, dancing
organize, think, dream, create, imagine, build, repair
We talk a lot about passion. I believe that passion feeds our lives. It’s like a ray of sunshine that lights up our daily lives. We can make this passion our job, our hobby. You can devote your whole life to it, or just a few minutes a day.

The most important thing is to find it and enjoy it at our own pace and in our own way.

13 – What would you like to tell your grandchildren when you’re 80? What will you have done? Experienced? Experienced? Learned?

List at least 10 things!

Answering this question is the best first step to living life to the full. Over time, we forget what we dreamed of doing. From now on, we won’t miss out on our life, let’s remember what’s important to us. Let’s build a more beautiful and serene life.

14 – Rediscover the joy of living: laughter

Search/browse the Internet for a funny video and laugh out loud.

Enjoy without moderation

15 – List the 2 things you could have done better yesterday or done more of

Example: I could have done better/more

talk to my partner, get organized, relax, write, think, get ready
smile, work, cook,
be kind, peaceful, courageous
This exercise helps us to fill our days “more” with the things we love.

1- In the evening (or in the morning), let’s take “inventory” of our day: what we did, how we felt…

2- Then, let’s think about what we’d like to do better or more of.

This could mean, for example: being nicer to my partner, being more serene, taking more time to relax, eating more healthily…

3- The next morning, let’s choose a point and make sure we do it better or more.

This exercise reminds us when we forget our good resolutions.

So, of course, let’s be kind to ourselves and accept that we’ve done our best and will do our best again tomorrow.

16 – Recall your 3 best childhood or young adult memories

Let the memories flow and feel your smile widen. Yes, there are some wonderful moments!

17 – What’s your current frustration or problem? Imagine this happening to someone you love. What would you say to comfort and reassure them?

This exercise allows us to talk to each other as if we were friends. We tend to be hard on ourselves. When we have a problem, we think it’s our fault and criticize ourselves. Whereas if it happened to a friend… we’d comfort them. So let’s be our friend right now. Let’s be gentle, kind to ourselves.

18 – Do you look at yourself? Do you say I love you? Go to the mirror. Look into your eyes. Smile at yourself. Say to yourself: I love you.

Do it! I’m watching you, watch out (laughs).

19 – Rediscover the joy of living: list the 5 things that suit you in your life

Example: I love

my work, my partner, family meals
taking time for walks, sports, painting, writing, going on vacation every summer
having enough money, having a nice wardrobe, being in good health,
to feel I’m doing my best, to move forward in life, to have projects

20 – List your 5 favorite dishes? When was the last time you cooked or enjoyed one?

Come on, get organized to enjoy a good meal during the week.

21 – Rediscover the joy of living: give yourself 5 compliments

Example:

I’m handsome, intelligent, caring, there for others
I like my hair, my nose, the way I talk, my kindness, my craziness, my dynamism,
I’m proud to have worked hard, made an effort, to learn new things, to be curious
I cook well, I draw, I sing, I work well

22 – Rediscovering joie de vivre: buying your favorite pastry

Indulging yourself is the best way to feel good, and to feel free too. We free ourselves from others, from situations outside ourselves, to feel good. We are in control of our lives.

23 – If you were to learn that you were going to die tomorrow

What would be your 2 biggest regrets?

24 – What are the 5 things you do well? What do people ask your advice about? What skills do you have?

We often forget what we’re good at. What a shame to waste so much potential. Let’s go in search of ourselves and our treasures that may be forgotten or hidden. We all have something to offer the world.

25 – List your 5 favorite movies? When was the last time you watched one?

I think you know what you have to do now… (laughs)

Schedule yourself a couch, computer or DVD session, and why not some good popcorn?

26 – Rediscover your zest for life:

If you had a magic wand, what would you change in your life?

27 – Look in the mirror and list the 5 things you like best about yourself.

Yes, I did write the number 5. So take the time to look at yourself. Let your gaze become increasingly benevolent and loving, and give yourself 5 compliments!

28 – List your 2 biggest failures

Looking back, what have you learned? What would you do better?

Example: I’ve learned to

prepare for meetings, get enough sleep to stay in shape
deal with conflicts, apologize right away and don’t let misunderstandings linger
take care of myself so that my body doesn’t let me down, eat so as not to put on weight
be more courageous so I can move forward more quickly
be more positive so as not to wear down my loved ones

29 – Rediscover the joy of living: list your 3 fondest vacation memories

Find the pictures and share them with the people you were with.

Recalling memories makes us feel good. We say to ourselves, “My life is worth living.” What’s more, rekindling memories brings us closer together and therefore improves our relationships.

30 – Rediscover the joy of living: congratulate yourself

You’re a responsible person. Congratulations! You’re responsible for your own happiness!

If you’re here, it’s because you’ve answered 29 questions, met 29 challenges. Bravo, bravo! You can be proud of yourself.

How about rewarding yourself? Give yourself a present, right now.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Enjoying the moment: 5 “keys” to happiness in the here and now
Discover How to combat sadness? 6 tips for bringing joy into your life

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Happiness Project One-Sentence Journal: A Five-Year Record by Gretchen Rubin

This journal offers a simple yet powerful way to rediscover the joy of living. Each day, you jot down a single sentence, capturing a moment, a reflection or something that brings you happiness. Over five years, the journal becomes a treasure trove of memories and ideas that encourage you to focus on the positive aspects of your life. It’s a practical tool for cultivating mindfulness, gratitude and joy, ultimately leading to greater appreciation of the everyday moments that make life rewarding.

These concepts are simple-to-follow ideas that made for easy implementation and evaluation. I like many of the ideas presented. The world needs these concepts.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself