If you aren't prioritizing these 14 things, you'll never fully enjoy your life

Do you enjoy your life?

A woman with long brown hair rests her face on her hands, looking thoughtful and pensive. She is wearing a ring and gazing off to the side against a neutral background.

A good quality of life is about being able to enjoy the world around you. It’s about having enough money to support your lifestyle (however humble that lifestyle might be) and having the time to enjoy your surroundings in the company of people you love.

You might be the richest person in the world but have a far lower quality of life than someone on minimum wage if all you do is work and worry, rather than taking the time to actually enjoy the little things in life.

It’s about enjoying your day-to-day life.

Whatever your idea of that is, there are plenty of ways to improve your enjoyment and quality of life, starting with prioritizing these 14 things.

1. Spending time in nature.

A woman with wavy blonde hair and glasses stands on a sandy beach, wearing a yellow sweater. The ocean waves roll in the background, and the sky is bright and clear.

The fact that many of us live our lives so disconnected from the natural world is, in fact, unnatural.

We’re animals, and we evolved on the African plains. We’re not designed to live in the concrete jungles that are our towns and cities.

So do yourself a favor and reconnect with the natural world. Get out into a green space. Feel the grass between your toes. Hug a tree. Go for a walk. Lie on a blanket with a book.

Just switch off from the hectic modern world completely and immerse yourself in all things natural.

2. Spending the right amount of time with others (for you).

Two friends sit at a wooden bar in a cozy, dimly-lit pub with brick arch ceilings. They are smiling and laughing while holding burgers. A glass of beer is on the counter in front of each of them. Decorative plants and condiments are also on the countertop.

Some of us need more social time than others, and social interaction can be overwhelming for lots of people.

But try to spend as much time as you can with your best friends and family. Quality time with the people you value the most is great medicine for the soul.

On the other hand, don’t feel pressured to be social just for the sake of being social. It can also be a huge boost to your quality of life to say no. If you’d rather stay in with a movie than go to that party you’ve been invited to, then just say no.

Be true to yourself, and use your social energy on the people you care most about.

3. Living in the moment.

An older woman with short gray hair, wearing a pink blouse and beige pants, sits on a couch looking contemplatively out a window. She rests her chin on her hand, with decorative pillows behind her in a softly lit room.

There’s absolutely no point in dwelling on things that happened in the past or worrying about how things might go in the future.

Be present in the moment. Live life with all your senses and revel in what you’re experiencing. You never get to live a day over again, so focus on the here and now.

4. Planning your time well.

A person in a yellow jacket reaches out to turn off a silver analog alarm clock on a wooden table. The clock shows the time as 7:12. The background is slightly blurred, indicating focus on the clock.

Sticking too rigidly to a plan or trying to squeeze too much in can be a negative, but planning your time out sensibly can help you feel less overwhelmed by your to-do list and more in control.

Structure and routine may not sound like good ways to promote a good quality of life, but they are preferable to the stress of a chaotic existence.

Just don’t forget to plan in some downtime too.

5. Your living space.

A smiling couple stands in a partially renovated room, with the woman taking a selfie while the man looks on. They are leaning on a table with building plans, tools, and a level. The room around them shows signs of ongoing construction work.

We spend a lot of time in our homes. Making them as nice as possible can make a huge difference to our quality of life. And it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. You might just need a bit of creativity.

But before you get the paintbrushes out, start by decluttering. Organize your things and donate the unnecessary stuff that’s weighing you down.

Go all Mari Kondo on your home, and you’ll feel all the lighter for it.

6. Practicing gratitude.

A smiling man holds a young child in his arms in a modern kitchen. Both are wearing casual grey shirts, and the child gently touches the man's cheek. The background shows a blurred countertop with kitchen items.

You might not even need to change anything about your life to enjoy a better quality of life. It might just be a matter of changing your perspective.

Make a list of everything you’re thankful for in your life. Or a mini-list of things you’re thankful for at the end of each day.

7. Laughter.

A group of elderly people sitting together in a bright room, laughing and enjoying each other's company. The focus is on two women in the foreground, both smiling widely, while two men in the background also share a laugh.

Get together with your friends for a giggle. Watch a funny movie or listen to a comedy podcast. Book tickets to a stand-up night.

Laughing can lower your stress levels and strengthen your immune system, so the power of laughter should never be underrated.

8. Getting away.

A woman leans close to an airplane window, gazing outside with a serene expression. Sunlight streams through the window, creating a lens flare effect. The window shows a view of the blue sky and white clouds.

If you can, plan a weekend away or even a day trip close by. A change of scene can give a huge boost, and discovering new places is a great stimulant for the mind.

Just be careful you don’t end up resentful of your day-to-day life and just wishing the hours away until your next break.

9. Good quality sleep.

A man with gray hair is sitting on a bus, resting his head on his hand against the window, appearing to be sleeping. He is wearing a light button-up shirt and has a strap across his shoulder. The background shows an unfocused passenger.

Being well-rested is one of the most important things for having good quality of life. It’s vital for your physical and mental health.

If you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t have the energy to sustain active, productive days.

Sleep also regulates the hormones that are connected to your mood and keep you balanced, so a lack of sleep can lead to mood swings or irritability.

10. A healthy, balanced diet (whilst not depriving yourself).

A smiling person with long hair holds a fork with food close to their mouth, sitting at an outdoor cafe. They're wearing a knitted sweater, and the background is blurred, featuring greenery and soft natural lighting.

Alongside sleep, your diet is one of the most fundamental aspects of good quality of life. You really are what you eat, and you need high-quality fuel if you want to feel your best.

If you don’t feel good in yourself, then it’s really hard to enjoy life.

A good diet is brimming with fresh fruit and vegetables and contains minimal processed foods where possible.

On the other hand, being too strict with your diet can take you too far the other way. Enjoying good food, delicious treats, and giving into your cravings now and then will boost your quality of life hugely.

Small things like going to your favorite restaurant or cooking yourself a special breakfast can be really boost your mood.

As with many things in life, maintaining a healthy balance is key.

11. Getting out in the sun.

An elderly couple is walking hand in hand on a forest path. The man uses a walking stick and wears a light shirt and trousers, while the woman wears a striped tank top and white pants. Both are smiling, surrounded by lush green trees.

Our bodies need vitamin D, and the best source of that is direct sunlight. So make sure you spend some time outside every day, even if it’s cloudy, but definitely if it’s sunny.

And, let’s face it, what’s not to love about getting out in the sunshine? It can ease your worries and ground you in the present moment.

12. Moving your body, every day.

A man with gray hair and a black workout outfit is performing a side plank on a white exercise mat in a gym. Nearby, a woman in a pink top is on a treadmill, partially visible. Gym equipment like dumbbells and a yellow exercise ball are in the background.

Exercising improves blood flow and makes you feel more energetic. It makes you feel better in your mind and body. Strengthening your muscles means that you’ll find going about your daily life less of an effort.

If your job is sedentary, you need to prioritize exercise even more. Something as simple as a morning walk can make all the difference to your health and state of mind.

But if you can, a proper heart-pumping workout is the best way to really get those endorphins flowing.

13. A healthy relationship with alcohol.

A woman smiles and holds up a wine glass at a dinner table with four other people. The table is set with plates and a lit candle. The background shows blurred images of faces on the wall.

Enjoying a drink or two here and there on a special occasion or just as a treat can be a boost to your quality of life.

But everything needs to be in moderation. Perhaps try only drinking one or two times a week.

Giving yourself some time off alcohol will help you realize how much of a toll drinking can take on you physically and mentally, and help you develop a healthier relationship with it.

14. A healthy relationship with social media.

A man and woman sit in a living room, each absorbed in their smartphones. The man sits on a dark sofa in the foreground, wearing a light sweater, while the woman is on another sofa in the background, partially obscured by a table and lit lamp.

Social media is terrible for comparisonitis, so spending less time on those platforms can go a long way toward improving your quality of life.

Live life on your terms without worrying about how everyone else has decided to live theirs.

15. Being true to yourself.

A person with short hair and a beard is wearing dark sunglasses and a black leather jacket, standing in a dimly lit outdoor area with a blurred background.

You’ll never be truly happy or at ease until you start being true to yourself without worrying about other people’s opinions.

Listen to your gut on this one – if something doesn’t feel right for you, don’t do it. Don’t bow to peer pressure or let yourself be manipulated in other ways.