41 Simple Things We Do That Brings Us Joy.

An unofficial list straight from the Dear Dilate Instagram community...

After a shitty few weeks I wanted to start this week differently. My husband still with Covid, isolating from my son and I, and I still waiting to find out what that 3cm lump is so on Monday I dropped Freddie off to daycare and instead of heading straight to work I took myself out to breakfast and it felt so indulgent. A moment alone, sipping not skulling, savouring not shovelling, and sitting for an entire meal. Bliss. I needed that. So I asked the question; what do you do that brings you joy? Without kids, without trying to be productive, without effort, just something to make you release your jaw, lower those shoulders and smile. Here’s what the mother’s of @dear_dilate had to say (in no particular order) –

1. Drinking a takeaway coffee in my car alone.

2. Sitting in a coffee shop enjoying tea and a pastry.

3. Pilates and morning walks before everyone wakes.

4. Having a long shower and doing my full skincare routine.

5. A glass of wine and filling my wish-list on Net-a-porter with things I’ll never be able to afford to buy.

6. Reality tv and a magnum.

7. Just drinking a hot coffee. uninterrupted.

8. Putting a face mask on and just sitting.

9. Buying myself flowers.

10. A milky tea with honey.

11. Dawn walks while everyone sleeps.

12. Being left alone to read.

13. Home alone in silence. No music. No tv. Nothing.

14. Lighting the good candle and online shopping.

15. Eating a full block of chocolate and in no way feeling guilty that I didn’t share.

16. Buying Vogue, sitting in the sun and reading it from cover to cover.

17. Unashamedly going down a rabbit-hole of celebrity before and afters.

18. Calling a girlfriend, lots of belly laughs and losing track of time.

19. Watching the sky.

20. Dancing around the house.

21. Sitting on a park bench, eating a block of chocolate and scrolling Insta.

22. Listening to a podcast alone in the car (no Wiggles to be heard!).

23. Surfing! Even if I don’t catch any waves.

24. Just pottering on my lunch break.

25. Sleeping in.

26. Watching a full movie. Uninterrupted.

27. A long bath.

28. Reading somewhere cosy.

29. Laying on the lounge, home alone and watching crap tv from my twenties.

30. A solo swim.

31. Beach by myself is therapy.

32. I go for a run at 5am before my partner and kids wake up.

33. Driving childless and listening to my music full ball!

34. A cuddle from my partner, long and not rushed.

35. Watching cleaning hacks with no intention to clean.

36. Having a good giggle on the girls group chat.

37. Treating myself to a pedicure.

38. Laying on the the floor stretching out my poor back.

39. A lunch time spent just pottering.

40. Falling asleep after reading two lines of a book.

41. Cooking lasagne from scratch.

I’d love to keep this list going. Feel free to add more in the comments below.