Have you ever found yourself wondering, “What do I even like anymore?”
Maybe life has changed—your kids are grown, you’ve retired, or a major life shift has left you feeling like you’re starting from scratch.
I have spent my life learning how to be a soccer coach and a dance Mum. Yes, that is not just on TV, that is how I have spent many hours of my life. Did I enjoy those things, of course. I loved supporting my children and watching them learn. Is that what I want to do when it isn’t my children – no way
Enter: The Joy Experiment.
It’s not a formal study. There are no white coats or lab rats. This is a personal, playful invitation to explore your life through one simple question:
“What brings me joy?”
Not what’s productive. Not what looks good on Facebook. Not what other people (including your children) think you should be doing. Just joy—for its own delicious, soul-nourishing sake.
Let’s explore how you can run your very own Joy Experiment, and why it might just be the reset your heart has been craving.
What Is the Joy Experiment?
The Joy Experiment is about giving yourself permission to explore what feels good, exciting, meaningful, or simply fun—without needing it to be useful, profitable, or perfect.
It’s a self-led, open-ended adventure in curiosity. It might look like:
- Trying out new hobbies with zero pressure to be “good” at them. Writing, machine embroidery, pickle ball, photography???
- Saying yes to spontaneous outings or invitations. Kayaking, weekends trips away, cruising??
- Making a joy list (more on that below)
- Reconnecting with past interests you forgot you loved. Knitting, sewing, playing the piano
- Allowing play, silliness, and creativity into your day. This is especially fun with the grandchildren. Dance party computer game is my latest.
Think of it as a light-hearted experiment with one goal: more joy. Not someday. Not when things settle down. Right now.
Why We Need It—Especially Now
Many of us—especially women over 50—have spent decades being everything for everyone. Careers. Caregiving. Parenting. Keeping everything afloat. And somewhere along the way, we lose touch with what makes us feel alive.
We get so good at being responsible that we forget how to be joyful.
The Joy Experiment is a way to gently, playfully reconnect with ourselves. It’s a way to ask: What feels good to me? What brings me energy? What makes me laugh, dance, or breathe a little deeper?
And here’s the magic: the more joy you let in, the more you begin to trust yourself again. Life starts to feel more colourful. Opportunities feel more possible. Your days get a little lighter.
How to Start Your Own Joy Experiment
You don’t need a big plan or a perfect journal. All you need is a willingness to be curious.
- Make a “Joy List”
Set a timer for 10 minutes and write down everything that brings you joy—or even mild delight. Big or small. Bubble baths. Dancing in your kitchen. Walking by the ocean. Watching birds. Painting. Napping. Reading fiction.
Don’t censor it. Just capture what lights you up.
- Pick One Joyful Action Per Day (or Week)
Choose something from your list and do it—without guilt or justification. Even if it’s just for five minutes. Notice how it feels. This is your data-gathering phase!
- Stay Open to Surprises
Joy often hides in unexpected places. Say yes to something new. Let yourself follow a whim. You don’t have to know how it’ll go—just stay open.
- Reflect Without Judgment
Ask yourself:
- Did this bring me joy?
- What part of it did I love?
- What would I like to try next?
There’s no failing in this experiment. Every answer, even “meh,” is useful information.
- Celebrate the Wins
Did you smile more this week? Feel lighter? Laugh unexpectedly? That’s success. This isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about shifting the daily emotional landscape from grey to golden.
What Gets in the Way (And How to Gently Move Through It)
Let’s be honest joy isn’t always easy. You might bump into resistance like:
- “I don’t have time for this.”
Start small. One joyful minute is better than none. - “I should be doing something more useful.”
Joy is useful. It fuels your energy, creativity, and resilience. - “What if I try and still feel empty?”
That’s okay. This is an experiment, not a fix-it plan. You’re gathering clues, gently turning the dial toward aliveness.
Be kind to yourself. This isn’t a performance. It’s a homecoming.
The Deeper Magic of the Joy Experiment
When you start focusing on joy, you begin to shift how you show up in the world. You become more present. More connected to what matters. You remember who you are—not just who you’ve been for others.
And maybe, most importantly: you give yourself permission to evolve.
The Joy Experiment isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about coming alive again, on your own terms.
Ready to Begin?
If you’ve been feeling a little lost, stuck, or dull… this is your invitation to experiment with joy. Not to fix yourself, but to reconnect with the real you.
Try something playful this week. Let yourself explore without expectations. Your joy doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It just needs to feel true to you.
Because joy isn’t a luxury—it’s fuel for the next beautiful chapter of your life.
What’s the first thing you’d try in your own Joy Experiment? Leave a comment—I’d love to cheer you on.
Kay x