The Little Joys We're Losing Touch With: Why Anticipation and Rituals Matter
In a world where stress and anxiety seem to be on the rise, it's no surprise that Americans are reporting lower levels of happiness than ever before. One contributor to this decline is the loss of enjoyment in everyday activities, often referred to as anhedonia. This can lead to feelings of disconnection from life's simple pleasures – like a walk, a piece of cake, or a favorite show.
Burnout, compassion fatigue, and doomscrolling all play a role in numbing our enthusiasm for these small treats. But joy is crucial for resilience and forward motion. According to activist Adrienne Maree Brown, "feeling the pleasures of being alive" is essential for liberation and a sense of agency over one's life.
So how can we reignite that spark? Experts say it starts with anticipation. When our brain anticipates something pleasurable, it releases dopamine – the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure-seeking behavior. Research suggests that anticipating an experience can produce more dopamine activity than enjoying it in the moment itself.
To harness this power of anticipation, experts recommend creating routines and rituals around enjoyable activities. It's not about indulging in bigger rewards or forcing ourselves to be more enthusiastic, but rather about cultivating a sense of familiarity and expectation. For example, instead of grabbing a pastry on impulse, start a weekly ritual at your favorite bakery – knowing it's coming can activate dopamine long before the treat arrives.
Social connection is also key. While individual treats may not fix everything, sharing them with others can amplify their emotional payoff. Research has shown that social activities are more likely to increase happiness than solo pursuits.
In addition, experts suggest learning to savor moments of joy and notice when we're using treats as band-aids for bigger problems. Instead of using small pleasures to avoid anxiety or other emotions, see them as rewards for overcoming challenges.
Finally, nostalgia plays a role in our ability to appreciate the present moment. Reflecting on past accomplishments, relationships, and growth can give us a sense of belonging and resilience, while thinking about the future as something we'll look back on fondly can help us stay engaged in the present.
By rediscovering the power of anticipation, ritual, social connection, mindful savoring, and reframing our relationship with treats, we can reignite our joy for life's simple pleasures – and perhaps just find a little more happiness in this stressed-out world.
In a world where stress and anxiety seem to be on the rise, it's no surprise that Americans are reporting lower levels of happiness than ever before. One contributor to this decline is the loss of enjoyment in everyday activities, often referred to as anhedonia. This can lead to feelings of disconnection from life's simple pleasures – like a walk, a piece of cake, or a favorite show.
Burnout, compassion fatigue, and doomscrolling all play a role in numbing our enthusiasm for these small treats. But joy is crucial for resilience and forward motion. According to activist Adrienne Maree Brown, "feeling the pleasures of being alive" is essential for liberation and a sense of agency over one's life.
So how can we reignite that spark? Experts say it starts with anticipation. When our brain anticipates something pleasurable, it releases dopamine – the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure-seeking behavior. Research suggests that anticipating an experience can produce more dopamine activity than enjoying it in the moment itself.
To harness this power of anticipation, experts recommend creating routines and rituals around enjoyable activities. It's not about indulging in bigger rewards or forcing ourselves to be more enthusiastic, but rather about cultivating a sense of familiarity and expectation. For example, instead of grabbing a pastry on impulse, start a weekly ritual at your favorite bakery – knowing it's coming can activate dopamine long before the treat arrives.
Social connection is also key. While individual treats may not fix everything, sharing them with others can amplify their emotional payoff. Research has shown that social activities are more likely to increase happiness than solo pursuits.
In addition, experts suggest learning to savor moments of joy and notice when we're using treats as band-aids for bigger problems. Instead of using small pleasures to avoid anxiety or other emotions, see them as rewards for overcoming challenges.
Finally, nostalgia plays a role in our ability to appreciate the present moment. Reflecting on past accomplishments, relationships, and growth can give us a sense of belonging and resilience, while thinking about the future as something we'll look back on fondly can help us stay engaged in the present.
By rediscovering the power of anticipation, ritual, social connection, mindful savoring, and reframing our relationship with treats, we can reignite our joy for life's simple pleasures – and perhaps just find a little more happiness in this stressed-out world.
I mean, who needs real excitement when you can just imagine yourself eating a slice of cake? Like, yes, anticipation is key... to feeling like you're living vicariously through a dessert 
. But seriously, it's kinda sad that we need experts to tell us how to enjoy life's simple pleasures. Can't we just, like, find joy in stuff without being told what to do? 
The idea of rituals and routines sounds like my grandma's daily bingo nights... but I guess it could be cool if I didn't have to wear matching sweatpants 
honestly I think people are so extra when it comes to their daily routines. like who needs anticipation to get dopamine? just eat the cake now and worry about the calories later 
. and yeah social connection is key, but can we please just take a break from overthinking it all and enjoy ourselves already? 
. We need to stop using small pleasures as band-aids for our bigger problems and start seeing them as actual rewards, you know? 
. And social connection is key, obvi. But it's also about being mindful of when we're using treats as a way to avoid real issues. Like, I get it if you need a cookie after a long day, but don't use it as a permanent fix 
. We need to find that balance and prioritize our own happiness. And, tbh, nostalgia is super important too. Reflecting on the good times can give us perspective and make life feel more meaningful 
.
I think it's so important to slow down and enjoy the little things in life 
. Like, have you ever had those moments where you're watching your favorite show or eating a slice of cake (or three) and suddenly everything feels just right with the world? 
Those are the moments that make life worth living, but they're getting lost in our crazy busy lives.
. Creating routines around things we enjoy can actually increase the pleasure we get out of them! Like, if you know it's going to be a certain day every week where you'll have cake, that can build up the excitement for it beforehand. And social connection is key - sharing those little pleasures with friends and family makes them way more special 
.
like it's no big deal. I mean, anticipation is key! If you know you're gonna get your favorite avocado toast on Fridays at 3 PM, that first bite better give you LIFE 
. It's all about the dopamine rush, fam! And don't even get me started on how ritualizing our fave activities can make us more present 
. But we need to learn to savor moments of joy and not just use them to avoid bigger problems 
.
. It's like, when I think about all my favorite memories from years ago, it makes me want to live in the present more. Maybe we need to find ways to connect with our past and look forward to our future at the same time? 
. I ended up going back to my place and setting up my own tiny picnic area with my plants 
. Don't know if it's gonna be a regular thing or what, but maybe I'll get into the whole 'anticipation' thing too?
, it's like, your brain starts doing dopamine happy dances even before you get to the good stuff 
. But honestly, it's not just about the anticipation, it's about the ritual too 
. We just need to take a step back, breathe, and remember what makes us happy in the first place 
. Burnout is real, but so is joy... we just gotta find a way to balance it out 
. Can't we just take a moment to appreciate the little things?! Like a beautiful sunset 
or a good cup of coffee 
️? Anticipation and rituals are everything right now! 
? We need to find joy in the everyday moments, not just wait for something big to happen. Let's get this joy revolution started!