The 30-Day Experiment That Taught Me to Find Joy in the Mundane (And the Surprising Products That Helped)"

It was 7:15 a.m., and I stood in my kitchen staring at the microwave, wondering why I’d even bothered setting an alarm. The toast had burned again. My phone buzzed with 17 unread emails, and the thought of tackling my to-do list made my chest feel heavy. This wasn’t just “a bad morning”—it was a pattern. For months, I’d been moving through life on autopilot: work, eat, sleep, repeat. Joy felt like a distant memory, something I’d read about in books but couldn’t seem to grasp.

That all changed when I decided to try something radical: a 30-day experiment to find joy in the mundane. No grand gestures, no self-help books (okay, maybe one). Just showing up for the small, often-overlooked moments that make life feel… alive. Here’s what I learned—and the everyday items that became my unlikely allies along the way.

Day 1-7: Rediscovering “Slow”

My first mistake? Trying to “fix” my burnout by doing more. I scheduled yoga classes, downloaded productivity apps, and even bought a fancy bullet journal—all while rushing through my mornings like a caffeinated squirrel. By Day 3, I was more exhausted than before.

Then, I read a quote that stopped me: “Joy lives in the in-between.” Maybe I didn’t need to add more to my day; I needed to notice what was already there.

So I started small:

• Morning Coffee with a View: Instead of chugging coffee at my desk, I moved my mug to the porch. I bought a cheap but charming https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Painted-Ceramic-Coffee-Mug/dp/B09XYZ1234 (the kind that makes you smile when you hold it) and set it by the window. Sipping slowly, I noticed the way sunlight hit the leaves, the chirp of a nearby bird. It lasted 10 minutes—10 minutes of peace.

• Evening “Unplugged” Time: I pledged to turn off my phone at 8 p.m. for an hour. At first, I fidgeted, worrying I’d miss something. But then I picked up a https://www.target.com/p/Target-Blanket-Gray-Marled/dp/B0A1234567 from the couch (the one I’d ignored for months) and wrapped myself in it. I flipped through a physical book (remember those?)—Pachinko by Min Jin Lee—and cried over a character’s story. It felt like therapy, but free.

Day 8-15: The Power of “Little Wins”

By mid-month, I realized joy wasn’t about big milestones—it was about the tiny things that made me think, “I’m glad this happened.”

One of my favorite “wins”? Reviving an old hobby: gardening. I’d killed every plant in college, but I bought a https://www.urbansprout.com/products/herb-garden-kit (mint, basil, and parsley—hard to mess up). Watering them became a ritual. One morning, I woke up to find tiny green shoots on the mint. I texted my mom, “I think I did it!” She replied, “You’ve always had a green thumb—you just needed time.” That text stayed on my heart all day.

I also started keeping a “joy journal” (not a to-do list!). Every night, I wrote down one thing that made me happy: a coworker’s silly meme, the smell of rain, or even just finishing a chapter of my book. Looking back now, those entries are my favorite—proof that joy is all around, if we bother to look.

Day 16-30: Joy as a Habit, Not a Goal

By the end of the month, something shifted. I wasn’t “chasing” joy anymore; it found me in the ordinary:

• Breakfast with a Side of Music: I swapped my rushed cereal for https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/243987/easy-honey-oatmeal/ (the kind that sticks to the spoon) and turned on a https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXcF6B6QPhFDv (my guilty pleasure). Singing off-key made me laugh.

• Weekend “Micro-Adventures”: Instead of scrolling on weekends, I took short walks to the corner store for a snack, visited a nearby park, or tried a new coffee shop. One Saturday, I found a https://www.ebay.com/itm/1234567890 at a thrift store for $20—it now sits on my desk, playing Joni Mitchell while I work.

And yes, I still use some tools to keep the momentum going. A https://www.happify.com/ (not to “hack” happiness, but to remind me to pause) and a https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/lavender-essential-oil-diffuser/123456/ with lavender oil (calms my anxiety on stressful days). But these aren’t “hacks”—they’re just supports for a life I’m finally learning to savor.

To the You Reading This: Your Experiment Starts Today

If you’re feeling stuck, let me say this: Joy isn’t a destination. It’s in the burn of your morning coffee, the way your favorite sweater feels on your skin, or the sound of a friend’s laugh. You don’t need a fancy plan—just a willingness to show up.

Maybe start with one small thing tomorrow:

• Brew your coffee in that mug you’ve been meaning to use.

• Text a friend just to say, “I’m thinking of you.”

• Buy that $5 plant from the grocery store (you know the one that’ll make your desk less sad).

And if you need a little extra nudge, check out the items that helped me—they’re not magic, but they’re proof that small changes can make a big difference.

Because here’s the truth: You deserve to feel joy, even (especially) in the messy, ordinary parts of life. And I’m rooting for you to find it.

P.S. Found this helpful? Share it with someone who needs a reminder to slow down. And if you have your own “joy hack,” drop it in the comments—I’m all ears.

[Note: All product links are to items I’ve used and loved. No pressure—just sharing what made my 30-day experiment work.]