35 Little Things That Bring Me Comfort and Joy

Life isn’t always made up of huge, exciting moments; of course, holidays, celebrations and big plans can be wonderful, but I often find it is the smaller, everyday things that bring me the most comfort and joy.

Sometimes it is opening a new pack of cards and finding a character I love, while other times, it is settling down with an audiobook, lighting a candle or having a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Then there are the things that mean a little more, such as being at home somewhere I feel safe, spending time with Ash or having a creative outlet that keeps my brain working.

None of the things on this list needs to be expensive, impressive or meaningful to anybody else. They are simply little things that make me smile, give me something to look forward to or help me feel more like myself.

So, I thought I would share 35 little things that bring me comfort and joy. Perhaps you will recognise some of your own favourites along the way.

1. Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh will always bring me comfort.

There is something about the characters, the friendships and the gentle world of the Hundred Acre Wood that feels familiar, nostalgic and reassuring.

Pooh has been part of my life for so long that seeing him still brings back that comforting feeling of childhood.

Sometimes we all need a little Pooh wisdom.

2. Being at Home

My home is probably one of my biggest comforts.

It is somewhere I feel safe, I know I can relax as much as my body allows, be myself and not feel as though I need to mask or hide parts of who I am.

Being at home with Ash makes me feel safe, and there is a huge amount of comfort in being surrounded by familiar things in a space that feels like mine.

3. A Cup of Tea and a Biscuit

Sometimes a cup of tea and a biscuit genuinely does make everything feel a little better.

The biscuit is, of course, important, although deciding whether to risk dunking it is an entirely separate matter.

4. Opening Trading-Card Packs

I love the excitement of opening a new pack of cards and not knowing what might be hiding inside.

Disney Topps Chrome is a favourite, alongside Saturday Morning Cards and, of course, Pokémon.

Sometimes you pull something special, sometimes you find a character you love, sometimes every card seems determined to be one you already own.

That is all part of the fun.

5. Getting Lost in an Audiobook

Audiobooks allow me to disappear into another world without needing to hold a book or focus on a screen.

I read across lots of different genres, but some of my favourite authors include C. J. Cooke, Juno Dawson, Jo Callaghan, Sarah A. Denzil, B. A. Paris, Alice Feeney, T. M. Logan, M. W. Craven and C. K. McDonnell (yes, I sometimes buy hardback copies of some I really love too!).

And if Richard Armitage is narrating?

That is always a win.

6. Cheese

Cheese deserves its own place on the list.

There are so many different kinds, it improves an impressive number of meals, and sometimes eating a bit of cheese is simply the correct decision.

7. Watching Doctor Who

Doctor Who will always be a comfort programme for me.

There are so many Doctors, companions, worlds and stories to return to, whether I fancy revisiting an old favourite or disappearing into a completely different part of time and space.

8. Rearranging My Card Collection

Opening cards is exciting, but I also genuinely enjoy spending time with the collection afterwards. I might rearrange a binder, look through some favourite cards or decide which ones belong together.

There is something calming about sorting through them and seeing how the collection has grown.

9. Lighting a Favourite Candle

I love the glow and atmosphere a candle brings to a room alongside the scent, there is something about the soft light that instantly makes home feel a little cosier.

I tend not to light candles during the summer when the fans are running, but once the cooler weather arrives, they become part of the atmosphere again.

10. Spending Time Around Animals

We don’t have a pet at the moment, but I genuinely love being around animals.

Red pandas, capybaras and seals are particular favourites, but honestly, anything with a face has a very good chance of winning me over. Animals have a wonderful way of making the world feel a little less complicated.

11. Receiving My Small-Business Mystery Boxes

I love having a mystery box to look forward to.

There is something exciting about knowing a parcel is on the way while having no idea exactly what will be inside.

I currently receive a monthly mystery box from Rose Lee Pewter and a quarterly box from Iris Inspired. Both are full of surprises from small creators, so I get to discover unusual things while supporting independent businesses at the same time.

I love the feeling of getting a mystery in the mail!

12. Watching Criminal Minds

Apparently, serial killers and criminal profiling count as comfort television.

There is something familiar about returning to characters and episodes I already know, even if the subject matter is not exactly what most people would describe as cosy.

13. My Handmade Silver Fidget Rings

I have two handmade silver rings that I wear all the time, they were designed as fidget rings, so they are both beautiful and practical.

Jewellery has always brought me joy, but these pieces are particularly special because they give my hands something to do, too.

14. Finding a Card I Have Been Chasing

There is something incredibly satisfying about finally finding a card that has been sitting on my wish list.

It might feature a favourite character, have beautiful artwork or simply be the one missing piece I have been searching for.

The longer the chase, the better it feels when the card finally joins the collection.

15. A Cheese Naan When I Am Really Hungry

When I am really hungry, a cheese naan is often the answer.

Warm bread and plenty of cheese are difficult to argue with.

16. Watching HopeScope

I enjoy watching HopeScope on YouTube.

Her videos are colourful, fun and often involve mystery boxes, unusual products and things I would probably never come across otherwise.

Sometimes I just want something cheerful and easy to watch, and there is always Leo! 

17. Blogging

Blogging has been part of my life for such a long time, and it still brings me comfort and joy.

Living with a chronic health condition has affected how my brain works, and there have been times when I have struggled with things that once came much more easily.

Blogging gives me somewhere to be creative, keeps my brain working and allows me to continue learning, thinking and putting ideas together.

It is more than simply publishing posts. It is a creative outlet and something that has remained part of who I am through a lot of change.

18. Pulling Winnie the Pooh From a Mystery Box

I adore the surprise of opening a blind box.

Miniso has some lovely Winnie the Pooh collections, and there is always that moment of hope when opening one, wondering if Pooh might be waiting inside. And I am always up for getting a new Winnie the Pooh card from Saturday Morning Cards!

Of course, all the characters are lovely, but finding Winnie the Pooh makes the surprise even better.

19. Watching People Play Games

I can no longer game in the way I used to because of my eyesight, but I still enjoy watching other people play.

It lets me experience the stories, worlds and ridiculous moments without needing to control what is happening on screen myself.

Sometimes I look for a particular game; other times, I somehow end up watching something completely random. I’ve been really enjoying watching people play Meccha Chameleon over the past week or so.

20. Chocolate

Sometimes chocolate is exactly what I fancy.

It doesn’t have to be anything unusual or expensive. A favourite bar, a chocolate biscuit or something I have been saving can bring a small moment of enjoyment to an ordinary day.

21. Chatting During a Whatnot Live

One of the things I enjoy about Whatnot is the social side.

Even when I am not buying anything, I can chat with people, watch what is happening and feel part of a little community (Futures, I’m looking at you).

Being able to join in from home can make things feel less lonely.

22. Buying a Spot in a Disney Card Break

Sometimes I am a little naughty and treat myself to a spot in a Disney card break.

There is the excitement of waiting to see which card gets pulled, chatting with everyone during the live and wondering whether something special might appear.

23. My Favourite Ice Lollies

Ice lollies are not only for hot summer days.

Sometimes one of my favourites is exactly the little treat I want, even if the weather outside is doing its best impression of November.

24. Finding a New Small Business

I love discovering independent businesses and the unusual things they create.

There is something special about finding a product that feels different from everything available on the high street and knowing there is a real person or small team behind it.

When I have the choice, I will usually support a small business first.

25. Looking Back Through Old Blog Posts

Some older blog posts are difficult for me to revisit, and I skip those when I need to.

However, I often enjoy looking back through the archive and remembering what I was doing, what I loved, and how much has changed over the years.

After blogging for so long, the archive has become a slightly chaotic record of different parts of my life.

26. Rearranging My Sticker Book

I enjoy looking through my stickers, moving things around and deciding which ones belong together.

There is something strangely calming about organising a collection purely because I enjoy it.

27. Settling Down With a Disney Film

Sometimes I want to watch something completely new.

Other times, I want to settle down with a Disney film where I can enjoy familiar characters, beautiful animation and a story that gives me somewhere else to disappear for a while.

I have particularly enjoyed Hoppers lately, while Winnie the Pooh will probably always have the biggest piece of my heart.

28. Seeing a Rainbow

Rainbows are one of those things that can make me stop and look, even if I am in the middle of doing something else.

They don’t last forever, which perhaps makes spotting one feel a little more special.

29. The Smell of Petrichor

Petrichor is the earthy smell that appears when rain falls on dry ground.

There is something fresh, familiar and comforting about it, particularly after a stretch of warm, dry weather.

30. Spraying On a Favourite Perfume

I don’t need to be going anywhere to wear perfume.

A favourite scent can bring back memories, lift my mood or simply help me feel a little more like myself.

31. Finding Something That Makes Me Laugh

Sometimes it is a ridiculous meme, sometimes it is an animal doing something silly, sometimes it is something Ash says at exactly the right moment.

Those unexpected moments of laughter can brighten a day more than we realise.

32. Building a Small LEGO Set

There is something satisfying about opening a LEGO set and watching it slowly come together.

I particularly enjoy smaller sets that can be completed without becoming overwhelming. Following the instructions gives me something to focus on, while each new piece brings the finished build a little closer.

Then, at the end, I have something fun to display alongside all the other things I love.

33. Reading Uplifting Notes on Fun Postcards

I love the idea of writing kind thoughts, happy memories and little reminders on fun postcards, then keeping them somewhere I can return to when I need them.

It means I don’t have to think of something uplifting in the moment. I have already left a little collection of kindness there for myself to find.

34. Spending Time With Ash

We don’t need to go anywhere exciting or have elaborate plans.

Sometimes simply being together at home, chatting about random things or sharing something funny is exactly what I need.

Ash helps me feel safe and be completely myself, which I never take for granted.

35. Being Surrounded by Things I Love

My cards, jewellery, candles, collectables and all the other little things gathered over the years help make home feel like mine.

Some remind me of people. Some are linked to memories. Some are simply here because they made me smile.

They might look like “things” from the outside, but together they help create a space where I feel comfortable, safe and able to be myself.

Final Thoughts

Writing this list made me realise how many of the things that bring me comfort and joy are small, familiar and have easily become part of my everyday life.

Some are connected to hobbies I love, such as collecting cards, blogging and opening mystery boxes. Others are linked to people, animals, favourite foods, familiar stories, or simply being at home.

Not everything on my list will bring the same comfort or joy to somebody else, and that is part of what makes these little things so personal.

Your list might include books, gardening, baking, music, gaming or something completely different.

There is no right answer. If something makes you smile, gives you something to look forward to or helps you feel more like yourself, I think it deserves a place.

So, I would love to know: what little things bring you comfort and joy?

Competition

If your list also includes building a simple LEGO piece, then today’s competition is for you, as I am giving away a LEGO® Creator 31173 Wild Animals: Tropical Toucan Playset!

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is follow the options on the Gleam widget below.

Win a LEGO® Creator 31173 Wild Animals: Tropical Toucan Playset

This competition has a mandatory comment entry; once completed, all other entry methods are optional. However, entering via multiple methods gives you more entries into the final draw.

Open to UK residents only. Giveaway closes 09/08. The winner will be chosen at random and contacted by email. Good luck!

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