7 Ways to Add Whimsy to Your Day (Even When Life Feels Heavy)

There’s a moment in my favorite movie that takes my breath away, no matter how many times I see it.

Inside the quaint clockmaker’s shop, every alarm has been set to the same time. In 37 seconds, they will all sound together. The young supporting character, full of mischief and hope, smiles and says, “Now, we wait.”

The main character, an eccentric, wise older man, gently corrects her…

“No. We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat, our minds create, our souls ingest. Thirty-seven seconds well used is a lifetime.”

The movie is called Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, and I watch it any time I need to remember how to live more whimsically, reconnect with the magic that’s hidden all around us, and believe in color again when life starts to feel gray.

Last month, I was buried in gray.

As I sat crying at my desk, teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown, I looked around my office and saw reminders I placed in my space during whimsical moments—a tiara sparkling on top of a glittery purple pillow, my umbrella tree “Stanley” stretching toward the window, the rainbow glow cast by the lights in my keyboard.

Each one, in its own quiet way, whispered, “Life is as magic as you make it.”

Even now, as I write a blog about feeling magical, I catch myself wondering if this is really where my focus should be. When life is shaking you with urgency, overwhelm, and grief, trying to be whimsical feels indulgent, maybe even borderline irresponsible.

But that is exactly when it’s needed most.

When we return to our joy, our spark, and our softness, it helps us find our place in the world and reclaim our magic.

And we all have magic.

Here are 7 ways to live more whimsically this week:

Name and talk to your plants.

My husband will tell you I name everything, including plants. I’ve worked from home for more than 10 years. It started out as a cute little quirk I could use to talk about my office mate (aka the plant). Then I learned there’s scientific evidence that speaking positively to plants helps their growth and vitality. As someone with dark past in plant homicide, I figured there was no harm.

Now I have thriving 5-foot-tall umbrella tree named “Stanley,” who I bought as a 5-inch plant in the grocery store. I’ve kept him alive for almost 9 years. This trick was just silly enough to work! And it makes me smile every morning when I greet my leafy office mate and bring him his morning coffee (aka water him).

Leave encouraging notes for strangers.

Hiding notes of encouragement and kind compliments for others to find helps seed joy into the world. You’re going to change someone’s day for the better… and that thought is so empowering.

Leave a note on your grocery cart, on a public bench, or on a bathroom mirror, and then picture that note bringing a smile to the person who finds it. This is especially fun to do with friends and kids!

Dance, literally any where.

Nothing raises your vibe quite like dancing. The best part is you can do it anywhere. If music is playing, just dance—at your desk, in the grocery store, in an elevator, in your car. Dance like no one is watching. And if people are watching? You just might bring a smile to their face.

If you don’t hear music, sing to yourself. Cosmic bonus points if you have the guts to sing out loud.

Rename your to-do list to something that inspires you.

It’s way more fun to fill out quest logs, take magical journeys, and turn your to-dos into ta-das. If you’re a person who likes lists, add some sparkle and make those tasks more fun to cross off.

Oh and when you cross something off, make a fun sound effect or ring a little bell. It fires off extra dopamine that makes your whole being feel good.

Invent a holiday and celebrate it.

Life is better with celebrations. Declare today “National Skip Down the Hallway Day” or “Wear Your Favorite Socks to Feel Powerful Day.” Eat cake. Wear a crown. No explanation needed.

If you’re really feeling the need to be extra, then talk about the holiday like it’s always existed:

“What do you mean you’ve never heard of National Race Your Office Chairs Down the Hallway Day? I hope you’re ready for this afternoon’s race. We can’t let Debra in accounting win again!”

Narrate your actions in whimsical descriptions.

Reinvent the phrases you use daily to describe your actions. You’re not “going to bed,” you’re “flying off to dreamland.” You’re not “taking a shower,” you’re “stepping into the waterfall of renewal and clarity.” You no longer “pay the bills,” you’re now “sending treasure to the gatekeepers in exchange for light, warmth, and Wi-Fi.”

This is your life, and you can narrate it however you please. You may not always be able to escape the mundane parts of life, but you can choose to make them more fun.

Create a signature move.

Carlton has his dance. Beyoncé has her hair flip. Elle Woods, from Legally Blonde, invented the “bend and snap.” What could be your signature move?

Maybe it’s a royal wave when you exit Zoom calls or a dramatic coffee stir that declares you’re officially on the clock and ready to conquer with flair. Have fun figuring out what your move is. A little theatricality turns the mundane into magic.

Adding whimsy into your day won’t fix your overflowing inbox or clean your kitchen on its own, but it will remind you in the most beautiful way that you’re still capable of creating joy.

It’s just enough to pull you out of the gray and place you gently back in a life where coloring outside the lines is encouraged. Let this be your invitation to find some magic today.

Be a little weird, live a little softer, and let life surprise you again. If you’ve been waiting for a sign… this is it.

Which of these ideas called to your heart? Drop it in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on! And, if you loved this blog, share it with a friend who needs a reminder that life is magical.