How to Get More Joy (Even If You’re Drained)

Let’s be honest: joy isn’t always easy to access right?

Especially when you're wiped out. But it’s not always about huge bursts of happiness.

Sometimes it’s about tiny flickers. Little nudges that say, “Hey. You’re still here. And there’s still good stuff.”

Here’s how I’ve been sneaking it in.

1. Dance While Doing Dishes

You don’t need rhythm. You just need earbuds and a beat that makes you forget how crusty that pan is. It's five minutes of silliness, and it shifts the whole vibe.

2. Let the Sunshine In (Literally)

Open the blinds. Step onto the porch. Stick your face near a window. The sun does magic on moods, and it’s free. Bonus points if you stretch while you're at it. Sun + movement = a small, happy brain cocktail.

3. Name 3 Things That Don’t Suck Today

Don’t go full gratitude journal. Just list three things that made today tolerable. Warm socks. A funny meme. Coffee that hit right. Boom. Joy spotted. The goal here isn’t to be deep—it’s to be present.

4. Compliment Someone’s Pet

It’s oddly uplifting. You’ll make their day. You’ll feel weirdly good. Bonus points if the pet is dressed up. Once, I complimented a beagle in a raincoat and the owner lit up like Christmas.

5. Keep a Joy Jar

Grab a jar. Whenever something makes you smile, write it down and toss it in. On a bad day, read one. I wrote “found $5 in winter coat” in mine. Still feels good reading it months later.

6. Make Something Bad Slightly Better

Have a meeting you dread? Light a candle. Doing laundry? Put on a podcast. Turn a "meh" moment into a micro-comfort. It’s not avoidance. It’s mood design.

7. Talk to Someone Who Gets You

Text a friend who makes you laugh. Call your cousin who always says the real stuff. Even a five-minute connection can hit like a reset. Laughter is medicinal. So is validation.

8. Create a Low-Stakes Ritual

Mine’s making tea at 3pm. It’s not fancy. But it’s a consistent, cozy pocket of time where I let myself breathe.

9. Laugh on Purpose

Look up the dumbest video you can find. Baby goats. Dad jokes. Fails. The sillier the better. Manufactured joy still counts.

10. Let Yourself Enjoy Something Guilt-Free

Watch a trashy show. Eat the cookie. Wear the weird socks. Enjoy it without the mental tax. That’s joy in its purest form.

Joy doesn’t have to roar. It can whisper. You just have to leave the door cracked open enough to hear it. Every small moment counts. Especially when you’re tired.