It’s the simple pleasures that matter.

For some, building a new career or returning to work isn’t an option. However, rather than sitting around and doing nothing, the small everyday pleasures in life can sustain us and improve our health and quality of life.

Everyday life is everything relevant to us, from the minute we wake up: (e.g., exercise, pets, food, cooking, shopping with a friend, music, sex, play, work, travel, relationships, caring for ourselves and looking to the future). Our interests, relationships, responsibilities, daily routines, expectations and the people we invite into our lives, make us who we are. A healthy life is about pursuing daily life and living it in an interesting and creative way.

For John, life is about daily responsibilities and the small things, rather than the bigger picture (e.g. finding work or buying a home). Simple everyday pleasures, like walking, swimming, having coffee with a friend, and going to the art gallery, re-energise him.

John: I have always looked after myself and got on with living in my own way. That might be walking my dog, swimming or talking to someone. Do something that gets you out of the house. Explore the city - its parks, gardens and galleries. If you sit around and do nothing for twelve years you become increasingly depressed. It’s the simple pleasures that matter.

For Robert, keeping an appointment diary is his connection to daily life and his motivation to get up each day and get out of the house. Living creatively is also important, especially when it comes to his health and caring for himself.

Robert: Having a diary with some appointments in it is essential. Without this, it’s incredibly hard to get up or to feel good about myself. You know, like an appointment to meet a friend for coffee or to get my hair cut – everyday things that are a part of living.

I get up each day and I make myself have breakfast. I can skip meals because I never want to eat. It’s a whole creative endeavour to look after myself, but I feel good because I’ve been willing to put that much work into it. So, I have the juice and I’ll make an affirmation. I have to look after myself and I do this by taking control and creating my life in an interesting way. Here’s another day, what sort of day do I want it to be?

And for Daniel, Yoga is a way to find calmness, refresh and re-energise, and a path to self-awareness.

Daniel: I’ve been doing Yoga for over twelve years. I was always drawn to it. Yoga interested me when I wanted to make some changes in my life. When I first started, I thought it was all about the physical - another step up from aerobics. But once you start doing Yoga you realise it’s more than the postures, though so many of the postures are very healing. It’s more than self-improvement. It’s self-awareness.

• Enjoy life’s ordinary pleasures. They can improve our health and quality of life. Simple everyday pleasures, like walking, swimming or having coffee with a friend can re-energise you.

• Keeping a diary can help us structure our week.