What is a joy trigger?
Coined by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, they are “little moments of joy have the power to instantly transform your mood.” Her essay on joy triggers is a must-read, as is her new book.
A joy trigger can be a specific song, that first sip of a cup of coffee, the need to hug a book that you just finished and loved. For me, they’ve been a bit of a lifeline when I feel like I’m getting pulled down into the noise of the news or mentally spiraling about work or family matters. I’ve been meaning to list them in my Notes app so I can refer to it (in the hard moments) or add to it when I discover a new one.
Thank you for indulging me as I make my personal homework into a Substack post. I hope my list inspires you to create your own.
The whole experience of preparing a plate of rainbow veggies for my kids. I savor those last few minutes of quiet before they charge through the door. I love the cool touch of the sweet peppers, carrots, and cucumbers, and the satisfying ‘thunk’ as I chop them up. I find myself staring at the plate for a few moments, soaking in the colors and textures and arrangement before it gets inhaled.
Slipping on my favorite bamboo pajamas after an everything shower and a generous slathering of this body butter.
A surprise hug from my kids.
Arranging my weekly Botanical Brothers delivery and placing the small arrangements around my home.
‘Favorite Record’ by Fall Out Boy.
Our ‘cozy reading time’ ritual, most evenings at home. After the evening rush of dinner, homework, and showers, we all pile onto the couch and quietly read for a bit. I sit in the middle, my kids on either side and their feet nestled under my legs. I usually have classical music quietly playing in the background and our flameless tapers lit, and the overhead lights are bright enough to read and dim enough to feel relaxed.
Any Amanda Bynes movie - especially She’s The Man.
A walk in Central Park or the trail behind our Pennsylvania home. A 10 minute walk sparks joy, and an hour long stroll while listening to an audiobook is deeply joyful and restorative.
The experience of opening a bottle of sparkling wine and that first sip. I love the sounds of the cork popping and the hiss of the bubbles being poured into a glass. There’s something about the ritual of filling coupes, slowly raising them to toast, and that first sip that feels celebratory - even if the celebration is just that it’s a Tuesday evening with friends.
Filling an entire notebook with morning journaling entries (my favorite stationery brand, Rifle Paper, has a code for us - HITHA20 for 20% off your order through May 17).
A comfort re-read (this topic and the books deserve their own post)
Share one (or some) of your joy triggers in the comments.
Catch up on the latest posts:
A few kids’ things that have been a lifesaver: these bean bags (using your kids’ plush toys as the stuffing), dining chair cushions that have helped my kids stay in their seats, and a cheery timer to help them stay on task (I use it when they’re in school).
- ’s posts on her semaglutide experience had me meeting with my own doctor to discuss options. I really value Jo’s transparency and brutal honesty of why she went on the medication, and the habits she’s established or strengthened in parallel.
While we’re on the subject of health, I can’t recommend the Splendid Spoon 5-Day Detox more (though I dislike the term ‘detox’ - I viewed it as a reset). I felt satisfied and had good energy during those 5 days and saw a noticeable improvement in my digestion. I just ordered it for my father, who tried some of the meals and loved them (they make an excellent gift for the older folks in your life who swear they don’t need anything, but would love easy, delicious meals).
I have my eye on these pieces from Armoire: this pretty skirt and shirtdress, an on-trend denim vest, and a very springy blouse. I truly love this rental service - use my link to get 50% off your first month and 2 bonus items.
If some styling advice is all you need, I just stumbled across Aysat’s account and have bookmarked so many of her styling videos.Threads is excellent these days, and here are some of my favorites: the reason I am the way I am, movies & shows that feel like summer, why I’m becoming an Isack Hadjar fan, and the best reminder to eat more fiber.
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xo,
HPN
Love the cozy reading time family idea. A joy trigger for me is a slow morning, drinking coffee and reading blog posts or a book. Even if it’s just for 30 minutes, it’s nice to ease into the morning.
a joy trigger for me is Sunday mornings when I'm sitting on our couch with a hot cup of coffee, and my almost 4 year old and 18month old snuggled into me. Saturday night is a bath night, so they are often in matching PJs and smell like fresh babies to me.
One question I have is how you have made Threads good for you? I am having a really hard time figuring out the algorithm.