The Life-Doesn’t-Suck List: The Tiny Practice That Made My Days Feel Full Again

Let me guess: you're juggling work, relationships, fitness (ish), and maybe a hobby that’s just binge-watching home renovation shows.

You tell yourself, "When things slow down... I'll finally exhale."

Except things never slow down. At least not on their own.

For a long time, I kept waiting for a huge surplus of joy to show up in a big, movie-montage-worthy moment. Vacations. Career milestones. Birthday weekends with well-behaved charcuterie boards.

But life doesn’t always give you fireworks. Sometimes it gives you back-to-back meetings and a weird email from your dentist.

So I created something small and kind of silly—The Life-Doesn’t-Suck List—and weirdly, it changed everything for me.

What’s the Life-Doesn’t-Suck List?

It’s a list. A lovingly curated, totally-you list of the little things that spark joy, lighten your mood, or make you feel like a human instead of a productivity robot.

I’m not talking about the kind of stuff you have to earn. No "treat yourself" narrative here.

These are tiny, daily, no-special-occasion-required pick-me-ups:

Morning coffee in your favorite mug, no phone allowed
That oddly specific playlist that makes you feel like the main character (I like to opt for "songs that feel like October"
Buying yourself fresh flowers just because
Voice-noting your funniest friend about something ridiculous
Reading one chapter of a book instead of 57 hot takes on social media
Eating lunch away from your laptop like it’s 1996

They’re small. They’re simple. And they work.

Why It Works (Even If It Feels Too Easy)

Your brain? It’s a bit of a drama queen.

It’s wired to scan for problems, not pleasure. That’s why it’s easier to obsess over what went wrong than to notice what’s quietly going right.

Enter: the Life-Doesn’t-Suck List.

It’s not about avoiding hard things or bypassing stress. It’s about interrupting the spiral with a sliver of joy.

Because when you remind yourself, Oh yeah, life can feel good, you make better choices. You become more generous, more grounded, and frankly, more fun to be around.

How to Make Yours

List 10 micro-joys. Think “costs less than $10 and takes less than 10 minutes.” You know the drill.
Post it somewhere visible. Your fridge. Your phone background. Tattoo optional.
Use it daily. Like a menu, pick one or two things when you’re feeling crispy.
Refresh often. Joy isn’t static. What worked in summer might flop in winter. Update your list like your coffee order.

Bonus Round: Create a “We List”

Make one with your partner, roommate, bestie, or even your team at work. What are the little things you can do together to bring lightness back?

(Hot tip: laughing at the same dumb TikTok totally counts.)