The Weirdly Satisfying Things Adults Get Excited About
When you’re a kid, excitement is all about birthdays, Christmas, holidays, and whatever toy everyone is obsessed with that year.
Then suddenly you become an adult and find yourself feeling genuinely thrilled because you’ve managed to get all the washing dry before the rain starts. What is that all about?
And why does nobody ever warn you that one day you will find yourself getting excited about things like a new vacuum cleaner, a fully stocked fridge, or finding a £5 note in an old coat pocket?
Yet here we are.
If you’ve ever caught yourself celebrating something that your younger self would have found painfully boring, you’re definitely not alone.
1. Fresh Bedding Day
There is no better feeling than climbing into a bed made with freshly washed sheets.
And let’s be honest, there are most definitely bonus points if you’ve also shaved your legs, had a shower, and remembered to put clean pyjamas on.
It’s like a five-star holiday at home.
2. An Empty Laundry Basket
It doesn’t last long; in fact, it usually lasts about seven minutes.
But for those seven glorious minutes, life feels completely under control.
3. Finding Money You Forgot You Had
An old handbag, a coat pocket, the bottom of a drawer or down the side of the sofa.
It doesn’t matter where it turns up; finding unexpected money always feels like you’ve won something.
4. A Delivery Arriving Early
Especially when you’ve been checking the tracking every hour, even though you know perfectly well it won’t make it arrive any faster.
5. A Cancelled Appointment
Not because you don’t like people, just because you suddenly have unexpected free time and that can be exciting.
What are you going to fill the time with?
6. Getting All the Washing Dry Before It Starts Raining
A particularly British achievement, especially when the weather forecast is never right, and yes, it was sunny 5 minutes ago…
But sometimes you just manage to get that timing right.
7. Finding a Parking Space Near the Entrance
This wasn’t exciting when we were younger, however, now it feels like a personal gift from the universe.
8. A Full Fridge After Doing the Food Shop
For approximately one day, you feel like the most organised person on Earth, and meals for days are right there before your eyes.
Then you’re somehow back to staring into the fridge, wondering what happened to all the food.
9. Clean Towels
Fresh, fluffy towels are one of life’s most underrated luxuries.
10. The Dishwasher Already Being Empty
Especially when somebody else emptied it.
That’s true love.
11. Getting Into Your Pyjamas Ridiculously Early
Sometimes by 6 pm.
Absolutely no regrets.
12. The Reduced Section
I don’t make the rules; finding something good with a yellow sticker on it is exciting.
13. Finishing a To-Do List
Even if the list only had three things on it.
I am most definitely team; we take the wins where we can get them.
14. Finding the TV Remote Straight Away
No searching under cushions, no accusing your innocent partner, while actually you are sitting on it….
Just immediate success.
15. When the Queue Moves Faster Than Expected
A rare but beautiful experience. (Also, when you choose the queue that moves the fastest).
16. The First Cup of Tea of the Day
Particularly if you’ve slept badly, I admit that in my world, tea just fixes things (or at least helps a little).
17. An Empty Sink
It’s amazing how much calmer a kitchen feels when there aren’t dishes staring at you.
18. A New Notebook
Will you use it immediately? Probably not (read probably never as it’s just too nice).
Will you buy it anyway? Absolutely!
19. When You Remember You’ve Got Snacks
The best discoveries are often found at the back of a cupboard. Biscuits please!
20. Crossing Something Off Your Life Admin List
Booking appointments, replying to emails, and sorting insurance.
It’s boring, but it feels so good once it’s done.
21. Waking Up Before Your Alarm and Realising You Can Go Back to Sleep
Possibly one of adulthood’s greatest pleasures. Just 5 more minutes without running the risk of being late at all!
22. Finding Exactly What You Need Without Having to Visit Three Different Shops
A genuine miracle.
23. The House Smelling Nice
No matter if it’s fresh laundry, a candle, baking, or just having finally opened the windows after cleaning.
It instantly makes everything feel better.
24. Using Up the Last of Something
Finishing a shampoo bottle, using the final tea bag, and getting to the end of a jar.
It’s oddly satisfying every single time. (And I think that’s why empties posts used to be so popular!)
25. Finally Sitting Down After a Busy Day
You know that moment when you’ve done everything you needed to do and can finally stop?
The feeling of your body just relaxing into the sofa is pure bliss.
Final Thoughts
It’s funny how our idea of excitement changes as we get older.
These days, I’m far more likely to get excited about finding a parking space, getting through my to-do list, or discovering I already own the thing I was about to buy.
Honestly, though, I think there’s something quite lovely about that.
Life isn’t always made up of big exciting moments; sometimes it’s the little wins, the small comforts, and the unexpectedly satisfying things that make a day feel a bit better.
And if you’ll excuse me, I need to go admire my currently empty laundry basket before it fills up again.
What weirdly satisfying thing makes you feel excited?
Competition
One that is definitely satisfying to me is finishing up a LEGO set, so I thought this would be the perfect time to give one away! So if you would like to be in with the chance of winning the LEGO® Creator 31140 Magical Unicorn Playset, just enter via the Gleam widget below.
Win a LEGO® Creator 31140 Magical Unicorn PlaysetThis competition has no mandatory entry types; all entries are optional. Entering via multiple methods allows you more entries into the final draw.
Open to UK residents only. Giveaway closes 12/07. The winner will be chosen at random and contacted by email. Good luck!
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The satisfaction that comes from actually clearing away the accumulated pile of stuff in my bedroom.
I love to watch the washing spinning round on the rotary line
Still getting hugs from my grandchildren and hearing ‘Love you Nan’ even though most of them are grown up now.
Fresh sheets on the bed for sure, especially if they have been out on the line!
Sad as it may sound entering competitions and hoping I get lucky with them
Nothing sad about that – I love a good competition – that’s why I run them myself!
freshly wahsed beddings do wonders, and a cup of tea afterwards.
fresh bedding
Going shopping and finding plenty of reduced goodies
Trying out a new cake recipe
Having a physical train ticket which I can hold instead of fumbling around trying to find the right ticket on my rather useless phone.
I still love popping a fresh sheet of bubble wrap – the ones where the bubbles are really puffed out and make that really satisfying pop! I need to grow up 😀
Sounds ridiculous and kind of childish.. but buying a 4 pack of yogurts and being able to snap one off while leaving the other 3 intact!