Finding joy again can begin with a favorite song, a quiet cup of tea, or something that makes you curious. When you are caring for your health, working, or looking after everyone else, enjoyment can quietly move to the bottom of the list.
During the early months of COVID, I started acrylic painting. Painting brought me pleasure and helped me feel calmer. In my recent live conversation, I showed the panda I painted during that time.
Ballroom dancing has brought movement, connection, and greater confidence in my body. Those experiences remind me to ask an important question in my health conversations: What would you like to enjoy again?
Your answer belongs in the conversation about your health and daily life. These five simple ways offer room for fun, comfort, and connection within the life you have today. These ideas are invitations for personal reflection. Choose an approach that feels kind, realistic, and enjoyable for your circumstances today, and allow your preferences to develop at a pace that feels comfortable and welcoming.
Finding joy again while caring for your health
I want to understand what feeling better would mean in your everyday life. Perhaps you look forward to gardening, dancing, or enjoying time with your family. Perhaps you would simply like a peaceful moment to yourself.
The things you enjoy can change. Painting was especially meaningful during one period of my life, while dancing has become important during another. Give yourself room to discover what interests you now.
Five underlying factors to explore when finding joy again
In my live conversation, I described several everyday experiences that can shape how much space enjoyment receives. These five factors offer gentle starting points for reflection. Your own experience can guide which feels most relevant.
1. A full schedule and many responsibilities
Work, caregiving, and health routines can fill the day. Finding joy again can begin by giving a small enjoyable moment a place among those responsibilities. A song while you cook or a peaceful sip of tea can fit into an existing routine.
2. The habit of completing everything first
You may be accustomed to treating enjoyment as something that comes after the day’s tasks. Try giving a small pleasure a place within the day itself. A brief pause can sit alongside the things you care about getting done.
3. Guilt around taking time for yourself
Caring deeply for others can bring complicated feelings about personal time. Finding joy again can include giving your own interests a little attention, too. Choose a comfortable moment that honors both your care for others and your own experience.
4. Connecting fun with a special occasion
Travel, celebrations, and special outings can be wonderful sources of pleasure. Everyday experiences offer opportunities as well: a favorite cup, a familiar song, or a beautiful view. Let enjoyment take a form that fits your resources and circumstances.
5. Rediscovering what feels enjoyable now
Your interests can evolve with your life. This discovery may involve asking what makes you curious today, remembering activities you once loved, or trying something new. Approach this exploration gently and let small experiences help you discover your preferences.
1. Turn an everyday routine into a small ritual
A warm drink is a lovely starting point. Choose a favorite cup, prepare your tea or another beverage you enjoy, and take time to appreciate a few sips. You can begin with two quiet minutes.
A small ritual for finding joy again
Notice the warmth of your cup, its familiar shape, and the pleasure of sitting down for a moment. Let this be a part of the day you look forward to.
A ritual can fit into something you already do. Let it fit comfortably into your existing routine. Its meaning comes from your experience of the moment.
2. Bring a favorite song into your day
Sometimes I find a song I love and listen to it again and again. You might play music while cooking, cleaning, or taking a short pause. Choose something that makes you smile or feels comforting.
Finding joy again through music can be as simple as listening to one song with your attention. Let your mood guide the choice, whether you want something lively, familiar, or peaceful.
During a difficult period in my own life, I listened to comedy while driving to work. It helped me laugh and arrive feeling more relaxed. Sound can be part of the personal atmosphere you create around an ordinary day.
3. Follow your curiosity and enjoy being a beginner
Think about what interests you, or what you enjoyed when you were younger. Painting, cooking, music, and learning something new can all give you a starting point.
I came to painting through a group class where an artist showed us how to create a particular picture. When things shut down during COVID, I continued exploring acrylic painting online.
Finding joy again can include celebrating the experience of learning something new. The pleasure may come from learning, experimenting, or noticing what holds your attention.
Choose a manageable beginning: a few minutes exploring an interest or a simple creative activity. Give yourself room to decide whether you enjoy it before making a bigger commitment.
4. Make space for connection and comfortable movement
Ballroom dancing brings several things together for me: movement, enjoyment, and connection with other people. It has also helped me experience my body in a different way.
Your version of finding joy again might be time with a friend, a shared activity, playing with your children, or being with your pet. Notice which connections feel welcoming and comfortable.
Movement can be part of that experience when it suits your body. Choose an activity that fits your energy and any guidance you have received for your health. A gentler or shorter version can be a useful starting point.
The National Institute of Mental Health includes enjoyable activities and supportive relationships in its self-care guidance. For additional context on finding joy again and everyday self-care, explore its practical suggestions. [1]
5. Notice nature and allow small comforts
A few moments looking at the morning sky, flowers, or trees can offer something pleasant to notice. You might spend time in a garden or enjoy the view from where you are sitting.
Finding joy again during grief, exhaustion, or pain may begin with comfort. A hug, a quiet room, or a familiar song might feel more accessible than an outing.
Allow peaceful moments to arrive naturally. Give yourself room to feel what you actually feel, and choose something that meets you where you are today.
If loss of interest or other distressing symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily life, reach out to a qualified health professional. Enjoyable moments can accompany appropriate care. [1]
Choose one moment that feels right for you
For today, choose one small thing simply because you enjoy it. Let curiosity, comfort, or connection guide you. You can return to that experience or try something different another day.
Love and connection are central to how I think about healing. Love is the first key I explore in Healing When It Seems Impossible. For more about my perspective on finding joy again within a meaningful life, explore my book. [2]
At Heart to Heart Medical Center in Santa Rosa, CA, I want our conversations to include the life you hope to enjoy. To discuss finding joy again as part of your broader health goals, learn about your initial visit or call 707-524-9640 to arrange an appointment. [3]
Frequently asked questions about finding joy again
How can I discover what brings me enjoyment?
Begin with curiosity or comfort. Think about a song, a familiar taste, or a place you like looking at. Give yourself a few gentle minutes to notice what feels pleasant and inviting.
How can I make time when my schedule is full?
Choose something within a routine you already have. Listen to music while preparing a meal, or sit down for a few sips of tea. A small beginning can be easier to make room for.
Does finding joy again require a new hobby?
Familiar experiences can be enough. Time with your pet, a conversation, or looking at flowers may suit you better than learning something new. Follow what interests you and choose a comfortable level of commitment.
Can I enjoy something even when I am a beginner?
Yes. You can enjoy exploring, learning, and experimenting. Choose an activity because you are curious about it, and allow yourself to discover whether the experience feels enjoyable.
What if fatigue or pain limits my activities?
Choose a comfortable option that fits your circumstances and medical guidance. Listening to music or noticing something beautiful from your seat may be more accessible than an outing. Discuss persistent or changing symptoms with your clinician.
How can I welcome comfort during sadness?
Make room for your actual feelings. A little comfort may be a gentler starting point during a difficult period. Seek professional support when symptoms are persistent, worsening, or making daily life difficult. [1]
Should I choose a social activity or time alone?
Notice what you need today. You may enjoy company during one part of the week and appreciate quiet during another. Both connection and peaceful time by yourself can have a place.
Can these activities replace medical or mental health care?
Enjoyable activities are part of everyday self-care. Continue appropriate treatment and speak with a qualified professional about health concerns or ongoing loss of interest. Your care should reflect your individual circumstances. [1]
References
Primary source: Dr. Shiroko Sokitch, “Finding Joy Again: Making Space for Fun While Caring for Your Health,” supplied live-video transcript, 00:02.5–14:26.5. Recording date and public video URL not supplied.
[1] National Institute of Mental Health. Caring for Your Mental Health. Reviewed April 2026. Guidance on enjoyable activities, social connection, self-care, and when to seek help. Accessed October 19, 2026.
[2] Heart to Heart Medical Center. My Books. Practice information about Healing When It Seems Impossible. Accessed October 19, 2026.
[3] Heart to Heart Medical Center. Initial Visit with Dr. Shiroko Sokitch. Practice contact and initial-visit information. Accessed October 19, 2026.
