By Deborah Dobbs, MA

Stop the cycle of ambitious, often-failed New Year’s resolutions. This year, ditch the 10 goals, the extreme challenges, and the 5 a.m. wakeups. For 2026, we propose a radical resolution: just more joy, every single day.

We’re all too busy, too tired, and constantly “doom-scrolling“. Joy has become a fleeting luxury. However, the key to unlocking consistent happiness lies in a simple, intentional shift that creates an “upward spiral“.

🧠 Joy Starts with Neurochemically Incompatible Gratitude

The most powerful ingredient for daily joy is gratitude.

Did you know your brain is chemically incapable of feeling anger and gratitude at the same time? They are neurochemically incompatible. By intentionally shifting your focus to gratitude, you can diminish anger. Even a simple routine, like writing what you’re grateful for in a journal before bed, can noticeably improve your mood and energy within days. Remember: the gratitude must be authentic for this to work.

Feeling stuck? Your brain can’t feel anger and gratitude at the same time. Choose gratitude—it’s the simplest and most powerful tool to trigger joy today!

The Power of Handwriting Your Thanks

To give your gratitude a power-boost, try writing it by hand. Handwriting forces you to slow down, allowing you to truly feel and remember good moments more deeply than typing. Functional MRIs reveal that handwriting lights up more areas tied to emotion and memory. This process makes the joy you derive from gratitude “stick” longer.

Scientific Proof: A 2016 brain-imaging study showed that writing a single gratitude letter can create a lasting mark on the brain. Three months later, the brains of those who wrote the letters showed a stronger lighting up of reward centers when they expressed thanks, compared to those who didn’t.

Stop typing and start writing! ✍️ Handwriting slows you down, making gratitude a focused, mindful ritual that actually makes the joy stick longer. Functional MRIs confirm it lights up your brain’s memory centers more deeply!

⬆️ Ten Simple Tips for Building the Upward Spiral of Happiness

Researchers like Barbara Fredrickson highlight that one spark of joy widens our world, makes us braver, kinder, more creative, and happier. This naturally leads to more joy, until it comes effortlessly.

Here are ten simple, reader-submitted ways to intentionally add joy to your life today:

• Open the Windows (in the car or your home)

• Watch Reels of Babies Laughing

• Gaze at the Clouds

• Spend Time in Nature (Stand Barefoot in the Grass)

• Dance Spontaneously

• Scream Sing in the Car

• Overtip a Server

• Order the Fancy Drink

• Take the Long Way Home (Notice Something Beautiful)

• Do/Wear Something Special (without waiting for a Special Occasion)

🎯 Set Yourself Up for Joyful Success

Don’t leave joy to chance. Set yourself up for success by creating reminders:

• Use sticky notes on the fridge and bathroom mirror.

• Add “More Joy” to your daily calendar.

• Keep a running list of what works best for you.

By next December, you’ll have a whole diary proving that, despite life’s challenges, you consistently chose a better, more joyful existence.

Now, there’s a resolution that can actually stick.

Love this content? visit Richardson Life Magazine to read more article like this.