How to Find Daily Joy Without Changing Your Whole Life
If there’s one thing that keeps life interesting, it’s having a long-term vision. Thinking ahead and having one, two, or even three ongoing projects is a real game changer. Alternating between different projects is important. It keeps you awake, curious, and always searching for new things that bring you joy.
Imagine having a few passion projects. It could be anything—knitting, cooking, making strawberry desserts, playing chess or Scrabble, or even gardening. These are the kinds of activities that can follow you throughout the year. If you dedicate just half an hour to forty-five minutes a day to these projects, you’ll notice a real difference in your mood and sense of fulfillment.
When you have a project that sticks with you day after day, it does wonders for your happiness. It keeps you alert and excited. Let’s face it, our days can sometimes feel a bit monotonous. We all need change. It’s part of human nature. Doing different things each day, or even just being in different places, sparks creativity. It helps you notice new things you might have missed otherwise.
Another benefit is gratitude. When you work on a project and see it progress, you become better at it, you enjoy your time, and you realize that life is meant to be enjoyed. Life is short. Spending three hours doing something you dislike is like losing three hours of your life, and you can never get that time back. That’s why it’s so important to fill your days with activities that bring you happiness.
Alternating between passion projects is a great way to keep things fresh. I encourage you to grab a notebook and jot down ten or twenty project ideas. Pick two or three to start with. Sometimes, the best ideas aren’t obvious. Ask your family what you loved doing when you were ten, eleven, or twelve. Before adolescence, we’re less influenced by others and more in touch with what truly makes us happy.
For example, when I was a kid, I loved playing with Playmobil. I still have a little Playmobil figure on my desk. Now, I could sell collectible Playmobil sets online, join a community of collectors, or even make a short film with them. These activities bring back wonderful memories from childhood.
I also loved reading comics, especially Tintin. Today, there’s a great Tintin app where you can read all the comics on your tablet, even in different languages. Spending half an hour in the evening reading a Tintin comic—maybe in English, Spanish, Italian, German, or even Japanese—can help you relax and improve your language skills at the same time.
Sometimes, your passion doesn’t have to be productive or profitable. Maybe you just enjoy gardening, dog grooming, or decorating for Christmas in a Scandinavian style. We all have things we enjoy, even if we don’t always know why. Having these kinds of projects will radically boost your happiness. It’s something that can truly change your life.
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
— Dalai Lama
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
— Bertrand Russell
Key Takeaways
- Having 2–3 ongoing passion projects keeps life interesting and boosts happiness.
- Dedicate a small amount of time each day to activities you love.
- Ask yourself what you enjoyed as a child—those passions often hold the key to your happiness.
- Switching between projects sparks creativity and gratitude.
- Life is short—fill it with things that make you feel good.
Action Steps
- Write down 10–20 project ideas in a notebook.
- Pick two or three to start alternating between.
- Ask your family what you loved doing as a kid.
- Try something new, even if it seems simple or silly.
Reflection
- What small project could you start today that would make your days brighter?
- When was the last time you lost track of time doing something you love?
- Which childhood passion could you revisit now?
Pierre-Henry Soria
#Daily Habits #Happiness #Life Satisfaction #Passion Projects #Self-Transcendence #Wellbeing