Everyday joy

Choosing a small activity just because you enjoy it

You have a little time, and nobody has told you what it must be used for.

You are allowed to do something small just because you like it. It does not need a result, a schedule or a reason you can explain to anyone.

If you have ever abandoned a hobby because you could not “keep up” with it, this guide is for you. The aim here is lighter: find a little pleasure and let it be exactly that.

Why does enjoyment get squeezed out?

Because a full day trains us to ask, “What is this for?” Work, school and family all have clear answers. A song on the way home or ten minutes with a crossword does not, so it quietly loses.

Then we turn what is left into projects. We buy equipment, set targets and compare ourselves with strangers online. The pleasure that started it fades.

Enjoyment does not need defending. The NHS lists learning new skills, connecting with others and paying attention to the present moment among its five steps to mental wellbeing¹. Small, enjoyable things can touch more than one of these without you trying.

What counts as a small activity?

Anything that takes a few minutes and feels pleasant. It might be:

Making a proper cup of teh tarik and drinking it sitting down
Doodling on the back of a receipt
Watering the plants and looking at what has grown
Humming along to an old P. Ramlee or Teresa Teng song
Sending a silly sticker to a friend on WhatsApp
Walking one extra lap around the taman

It does not have to be impressive or shareable. If it makes the next five minutes more pleasant, it counts.

Try this: choose one in two minutes

Use this when you have a pocket of time and no idea how to spend it.

Take one slow breath and let your shoulders drop.
Ask: “What would be nice right now?” Do not edit the first answer.
If nothing comes, pick the smallest item from the list above.
Do it for five minutes. Put your phone away while you do.
When time is up, stop. Notice if you liked it, without scoring it.

If you did not like it, that is useful information. Try another tomorrow.

Fitting it into a real Malaysian day

You do not need a free evening. Enjoy the first sip of kopi before you open your messages. Look at the sky while the lift arrives. Listen to one song fully before the school run.

If your home is crowded, take your pleasure small and portable: a sketch pad, a pair of earphones, a paperback in your bag. Shift workers can claim a few minutes after waking, whatever the hour is outside.

If energy is very low, choose something passive. Watching rain on the window is enough.

If you ever notice that nothing feels enjoyable for a long time, or your mood stays low, talk to a doctor or counsellor. It is fine to stop any practice that brings up distress, and our support page lists where to start.

Where to go next

For the same idea in your evenings, read enjoying a quiet evening without turning it into a project. To set a kinder bar for the whole day, try choosing what a good-enough day looks like.

If one of your small pleasures is food, mindful eating at Malaysian mealtimes may suit you. A simple meditation timer can hold a quiet five minutes for you, and nothing you set is sent anywhere. The whole set is on the mindfulness in daily life hub.

If you would like to rest your attention somewhere gentle before choosing your small pleasure, Sadhguru's free seven-minute guided meditation is a quiet start.

Enjoy 7 quiet minutes

Common questions

Does an enjoyable activity have to be useful?

No. Humming along to the radio, watering the pots on the balcony or colouring with your child does not need to produce anything. Enjoyment is a good reason by itself. If something useful comes out of it, that is a pleasant extra, not the point of doing it.

I cannot remember what I enjoy. Where do I start?

Start with what you did as a child or a student, or with what you stop to look at on the way past. A song, a plant, a cartoon, a kuih you like. Try one small thing this week and notice whether you lean towards it or away from it.

Is it selfish to spend time on something small for myself?

No. Looking after a little of your own time makes it easier to be patient with others. Ten minutes is not taken from anyone. You may find you return to your family or work a bit lighter. Choosing it for yourself is a normal part of a balanced day.

What if I start enjoying it and then turn it into a hobby I must keep up?

Let it stay loose. You can enjoy drawing for a week and then not touch a pencil for a month. Nothing is owed. If you want to come back, the pencil is still there. A pleasure that is allowed to come and go tends to last better than a duty.

Sources

The NHS five steps to mental wellbeing are connect with other people, be physically active, learn new skills, give to others, and pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness). NHS (accessed 2026-10-19)