How to Add More Whimsy to Your Life (Yes, Even on Workdays)

On a random Wednesday night last month, I pitched a tent in my living room and slept in it. Just for fun. Because I thought, What would make tonight feel a little different and memorable? I woke up and went to work in the morning, as usual.

For 16 days in June, I found ways to add more whimsy to my daily life. It wasn’t aesthetically gorgeous. Sometimes it only took five minutes. And I made it happen on exhausting, long work days.

The result was that life felt more light and joyful. And days that would normally blur together became unique and wonderful with very little effort required.

What Do I Mean By Whimsy?

Quite simply, anything playful, a little different from the norm, silly, light, fun, magical… Look y’all, I don’t have the perfect definition. It’s kind of a vibe. You know when you feel it.

For my self-imposed whimsy challenge, I did not mean anything expensive or that required tons of time or effort.

Why It Matters

Small playful moments break up the sameness of an average week and give your brain something to remember. Think about it: can you recall last Wednesday? Probably not, unless something unusual happened in it. That’s the thing about autopilot days: they blur together.

Taking 10 minutes to glue glitter onto something or spot shapes in the clouds doesn’t necessarily change a hard week, but it does add a little ✨pizzazz.✨ It reminds you that you’re allowed to enjoy your own life in the middle of living it, not just after the work is done.

My Whimsy Challenge

Here’s how I actually did this. I wrote a bunch of ideas on little cards, one idea per card, and kept them in a pile. Each day, I went through the cards and pulled out a few that sounded fun or that I had the time/energy for that day. Each day, I used a sparkly gold star sticker to attach the whimsy card I accomplished to my calendar.

I was hoping to do something for every day of June, but I fell off the whimsy-wagon on the 17th, partially because I was recording my adventures to post on the ‘gram and was over that part. But still! 16 days in a row of intentional whimsy added to daily life was pretty epic!

The Ideas

If you’re looking to add more whimsy to your daily life, here are some of my ideas:

Quick Breaks at Your Desk

• Desk decor — redecorate your workspace a wee bit to make it more fun
• Oracle deck — pull one card before you start work as a little prompt for the day
• Hourly photos close-up — snap one weirdly zoomed-in photo every hour, just to notice something small
• Use fun dishes — eat your lunch off your favorite plate instead of whatever’s closest

Tiny Mood Shifts

• Go slow — pick one task today and do it slower than necessary, on purpose
• Cloud shapes — step outside for five minutes and see what you can find in the sky
• Blow bubbles — keep a bottle in your car or by the door for a quick reset between meetings
• Celebrate something little — finished a report? survived a call? Celebrate it

After-Hours Resets

• Themed dinner — pick a country, decade, or color and build dinner around it
• Proper movie night — popcorn, dim lights, phone away, the whole thing
• Reading nook — set up one cozy spot just for reading
• Paint or doodle — no plan, no goal, just color on paper for ten minutes

Little Adventures

• Color walk — pick a color before you head out and count how many things you spot in that color
• Picnic — eat lunch on a blanket outside instead of at your desk or at the table
• Sidewalk chalk — draw something silly on your driveway or sidewalk
• Kiddie pool — fill one up in the backyard for an instant hot-day reset
• Living room camp-out — pitch a tent indoors and sleep under the ceiling fan for a night
• Backyard stargazing — lay out a blanket and look up, no telescope required

Playful Connection

• Send a card — no occasion needed, just because
• Play date — schedule time with a friend like you would a meeting
• Dance party — three songs, living room, giving it 110%
• Tea party — real or pretend, cute cups required

Small Creative Sparks

• Glitter — add it to literally anything
• Googly eyes — stick them on something in the fridge or on your desk for a laugh
• Paper crown/hat — wear it for no reason at all
• Puzzle — keep one out on a table to chip away at during the week

Try It Yourself

If any of these made you smile, that’s your sign. Pick one, do it this week, and see what happens to an otherwise ordinary day.

Whimsy doesn’t require vacation time. It’s available right now, even on a workday, even in your own living room.