50 best simple pleasures that make life worth living

From warm laundry to the smell of cookies, sometimes it really is the little things that make life beautiful!

Nothing says pure bliss like getting out of a warm bath and slipping into crisp, clean sheets. As you tuck a pillow behind your head and inhale the fresh scent, it’s easy to imagine all is right in the world – and it is, for this one precious moment.

Games of tag, getting called to dinner, staying up late playing street cricket and neighbourhood adventures: The smell of a street after a summer rain calls back memories of childhood so poignant, it’ll take your breath away.

Infants’ heads are imbued with an aroma unlike any other. The soft, sweet smell manages to convey safety, comfort, and hope all in one fleeting breath. Okay, and possibly a whiff of baby throw-up – but even that is reassuring in its own way. Scents can be incredibly powerful and even affect our health – here are 10 soothing scents that can boost your immune system.

A sink completely cleared of dishes signals the end of the work day and the beginning of relaxation time. With the gently humming dishwasher in the background you can read or watch your favourite show in peace, knowing that there will be clean bowls and spoons in the morning. (Because nothing ruins a perfectly good morning like a sink of last night’s dishes.) Struggle to ever see an empty sink? Don’t miss these great kitchen and dining room cleaning hacks.

It doesn’t have to be popular, catchy, or even from this era, but we all have a favourite tune we love so much we’ll never skip it on the playlist. But you don’t have to wait for your song to waltz in your life; find it online and play it now. Sing aloud and enjoy every note. Don’t play it too loud though… check out our guide to keeping your hearing to find out why.

Kids are many things but one thing they’re not is self-conscious. An adult on a dance floor will wiggle uncomfortably or look for the bar. A child, on the other hand, will take full advantage of the empty space and will twirl, cartwheel, and jump (sort of) in time to the music. Instead of making boring conversation, trying joining one of your favourite kids in a dance-off.

Jokes, by definition, are supposed to be funny. But the funniest jokes of all are the ones you share with your oldest friends. “Remember that time… and the gorilla suit… Danny… then the cops?” might not sound like much to everyone else but with the people who know the story you won’t be able to breathe for laughing so hard. Take every occasion you can to remember the good times. Does your sense of humour veer towards the black? If you laugh at these dark jokes, you’re probably a genius.

In years past you used to have to wait for days, weeks, or even months to hear from a loved one. Now we have a way to instantaneously reach anyone at any time and yet it seems like even though we’re communicating more, we’re sharing less. Use technology to your advantage to text a simple love note and hopefully get one (quickly!) in return. Here are 10 mobile phone etiquette rules you should be following… but aren’t.

Socks – straight out of the package, unmarred by dirt or pet hair or toenail fungus, the cotton still creased and crisp – are like little hugs for your feet. Oh, you prefer the smell of dirty socks?! Don’t worry, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re crazy! Here’s how to tell if your neuroses are normal.