I’m a firm believer in small, daily pleasures.

If you don’t enjoy the little things you do on a daily basis, then it’s hard to build a truly satisfying life. My weeks tend to be pretty regimented, so on the weekends, I try to let go of my routine and dial the simple pleasures up to 11.

Here are some of the things I love on any day of the week, but especially a cold rainy Saturday when there’s absolutely no pressure to get things done.

1. Good coffee.
I have a special cup that I only use on the weekends. It tells my brain that I should be heading to the couch for an epic day of lounging, rather than to my desk where my inbox awaits.

 

2. The newspaper.
I spend the entire week in front of a screen, so on the weekend, the last thing I want to do is read on an electronic device. I’m still a sucker for print, even if it’s a bit unwieldy.

 

3. A big breakfast.
On a gloomy day, sometimes you’ve just got to go all out with the carby and sweet comfort breakfast. I love a Finnish pancake as an occasional treat. It’s not as coma-inducing as a regular pancake, but it’s still a great vehicle for real maple syrup.

 

4. Using your brain in a stress-free way.
I’m trying to learn chess. I have yet to win a game against my man-friend, so the process has a been a little hard on my ego, but I still enjoy flexing my brain in a fresh way.

 

5. A good book.
I’m reading The Goldfinch now. It’s a beautiful, sad story about an orphaned boy in New York City.

 

6. Cocktail hour.
A simple Old Fashioned will do just fine.

 

7. Quality nosh.
I gotta have some nibbles with the drink. I’ll never say no to rich, creamy cheese and crackers.

 

8. A simple dinner.
I love cooking, but sometimes it’s nice to take the night off and pick up some takeout. I got some chicken sausage, roasted golden beets and fennel from the Bklyn Larder and threw it together with some Israeli couscous.

 

9. Some “dope time.”
After a super-relaxing day of comfort foods and listening to the rain, I had Portland on my mind. It was time to wind down with some sketch comedy. (Ok, I make an exception to my no-device rule for Netflix.)

 

10. The sound of the rain.
This is especially glorious when there’s nowhere in particular to be, and when it’s time to drift off into peaceful sleep.

So, what little things bring you joy on a gloomy day?

xo
Rebecca

 

Top image via Death to Stock Photo
Illustrations by Rebecca Pollock