Joy Is This Season’s Must-Have Accessory: Here Are 5 Tips To Get It In Under 5 Minutes

Feeling joy does more than put a smile on our faces. Joy makes us more resilient, resistant, healthy and productive. It’s the accessible, low cost, one-size-fits all accessory we should all be wearing this spring. A study from the scientists behind a research initiative called the BIG JOY Project found that people who commit daily “micro-acts” of joy experience a 25% increase in emotional wellbeing over the course of a week. The same study found joy helps us sleep better too! 

Laura van der Veer and Danielle Leroux, founders of She Summits are personifications of joy, finding glimmers of it everywhere. They’ve both seen the impact joy can have on their day-to-day experiences and are now on a mission to spread it around. Ahead of their Joy Mode: Activated –  7-Day Reset, we asked them to share some easy ways we can each get the benefits of joy in under five minutes. These simple actions can be done from anywhere, at any point in the day. Give them a try and step out this spring with a joyful glow. —Jenn Wint 

Grab a pen and list three things that made you smile this week. Don’t overthink it. Go with whatever pops into your head – the small stuff can count the most! Once you’ve got your list, take a moment to close your eyes and relive each moment. Feel the joy you felt when it happened.

Do a joy booster check-in. Take 1 minute to identify a simple joy booster – like playing your favourite song, lighting a candle, or looking at photos from a past vacation. A joy booster is any small, easy action that instantly lifts your mood or shifts your energy. These tiny mood lifters can make a big difference in how you feel right now.

Notice a joy glimmer. Pause and look around. Notice something beautiful, kind, or unexpected – like sunlight through the trees, kids laughing, or a stranger holding open the door for you. Naming these small delights can help your brain recognize and build more joy.

Choose a joyful action and schedule it in. Pick an activity that brings you joy, such as a cozy coffee date with a friend, a walk in the park, or a quiet evening with a good book. You can even treat yourself to a beautiful new personalized accessory from zoelev.com as a reward for sticking to your goal! Choose when you’ll do it this week and put it on your calendar. The anticipation of doing something joyful can often bring as much happiness as the activity itself. Scheduling it makes it real!

Text something “I appreciate you because…” and spread the joy. Connection sparks joy. A few kind words can brighten your day and theirs. Whether it’s a colleague, friend, or family member, a small act of kindness can have a lasting impact.