Rediscovered Simple Pleasures I Forgot About

I got so caught up in trying to be productive and efficient that I forgot about simple stuff I used to enjoy. Everything had to have a purpose or lead somewhere. Just doing something for the sake of enjoying it felt like a waste of time. Then I started doing those simple things again, and honestly, my whole quality of life improved.

I'd optimized all the joy right out of my life. Every activity had to serve a purpose. But I realized that simple pleasures are valuable too, even if they don't make me more productive or successful.

What I Stopped Doing - The Loss

Used to love just sitting on my balcony with morning coffee, watching the neighborhood wake up. Stopped doing it because it felt unproductive. That time could be used for exercise or getting ahead on work.

Used to enjoy cooking elaborate meals just for fun. Stopped because it was "inefficient" compared to quick meals or takeout.

Used to take walks with no destination, just wandering around. Stopped because if I was going to exercise, I should make it count with a proper workout.

I'd stopped doing all these things because they didn't serve a clear purpose. But they made me happy, and I'd forgotten that happiness is a valid purpose.

I'd lost all the simple pleasures that used to make my days better. I was so focused on being productive that I'd forgotten how to just enjoy things.

Everything Became Optimization - The Problem

Every minute of my day needed to be used efficiently. Free time meant time to be productive. Relaxation needed to serve a purpose - recover to work better tomorrow.

Even my hobbies became about improvement. Playing games? Should be practicing to get better. Reading? Should be educational books that teach useful skills. Walking? Should be hitting step goals.

I optimized all the enjoyment right out of my life. Nothing was just for fun anymore - everything had to have a purpose or lead somewhere.

This mindset was exhausting. I was constantly trying to optimize everything, constantly trying to be productive, constantly trying to improve. There was no room for just... existing.

I'd turned my life into a constant optimization project, and I'd forgotten what it was like to just do something because I enjoyed it.

Burnout Hit Hard - The Wake-Up Call

Eventually I was completely exhausted. Everything felt like work. I had no actual joy in my daily routine, just tasks and optimization and productivity.

A friend visited and commented on how I never seemed to relax. Just always doing stuff, planning stuff, optimizing stuff. Never just... existing. That hit me hard because she was right.

I realized I'd become so focused on productivity that I'd forgotten how to just enjoy things. I'd optimized all the joy out of my life, and I was miserable.

That conversation was a wake-up call. I needed to bring back simple pleasures. I needed to remember that not everything has to serve a purpose.

Started Small - One Simple Pleasure

Decided to bring back one simple pleasure. Started having my coffee on the balcony again, doing absolutely nothing else. No phone, no book, no productivity. Just sitting there with coffee.

First few times felt wrong. My brain kept saying I was wasting time. But I forced myself to sit there for 15 minutes anyway. By day four, I actually looked forward to it.

Those 15 minutes became the highlight of my day. Just sitting there with my coffee, watching the world wake up. No purpose, no goal, just enjoyment.

I realized how much I'd missed this simple pleasure. It was calming, it was peaceful, and it made me happy. That's enough of a reason to do it.

Added More Simple Pleasures - Building the Habit

Cooked a complicated recipe just because I felt like it, not because it was healthy or meal-prep efficient. Took a walk with no fitness tracker, just wandering and looking at stuff. Played easy games I enjoyed instead of challenging ones that would "improve my skills."

Each one felt like giving myself permission to just enjoy something without it needing to serve a purpose. Sounds dramatic, but it really did feel like permission I had to give myself.

I had to actively fight the urge to optimize everything. When I'd cook, I'd catch myself thinking "this isn't efficient" and I'd have to remind myself "that's okay, I'm just doing it for fun."

Slowly, I built back these simple pleasures into my life. And with each one, I felt a little bit happier and a little bit more like myself.

Life Got Better - The Results

I'm less burned out. Days feel more enjoyable because they have these little moments of pure enjoyment with no ulterior motive. My coffee on the balcony, a walk around the neighborhood, cooking something just because it's fun.

Ironically, I'm probably more productive now than when I was obsessed with productivity. Because I'm not completely exhausted and miserable all the time.

I've found that simple pleasures actually make me more productive. When I'm happy and relaxed, I work better. When I'm burned out and exhausted, I work worse.

My life feels more balanced now. I have productivity and I have simple pleasures. Both are important, and both have their place.

Simple Pleasures Are Underrated - They Matter

We've gotten so focused on optimizing everything that we've lost appreciation for simple, small pleasures. A good cup of coffee. A walk on a nice day. Cooking a meal you enjoy. Playing a game just for fun.

These things don't need to make you better or more productive or anything else. They're valuable just because they're pleasant. That's enough.

Simple pleasures are what make life enjoyable. They're the small moments that add up to make life worth living. Don't optimize them away.

I've learned that simple pleasures are essential, not optional. They're what make the hard work and productivity worth it. Without them, life is just endless optimization, and that's not living.

What I'd Tell My Past Self - The Lesson

Not everything needs to be optimized. Some things should just be enjoyed. You're allowed to do stuff that serves no purpose beyond making you happy in that moment.

Life isn't a productivity contest. Building in small, simple pleasures throughout your day isn't being lazy or inefficient. It's being human.

If you've optimized away all your simple joys like I did, try bringing one back. Just one thing you used to enjoy doing for no particular reason. See how it feels. Might be surprised how much you missed it.

Simple pleasures aren't a waste of time - they're what make time worth living. Don't optimize them away. They're essential to your well-being and happiness.

Bring back those simple pleasures. Sit on your balcony with coffee. Cook something just because it's fun. Take a walk with no destination. Play a game just for enjoyment. These things matter, even if they don't make you more productive.