The “Joymaxxing” Trend Could Actually Improve Your Life
Photographed by Sophie Hur.
Everywhere you look online, there seems to be a new wave of “maxxing” – from sleepmaxxing to fibremaxxing – each hoping to optimise another corner of our lives. These trends highlight how online discourse intertwines with strategies of self-improvement, personal control, and self-reinvention – all of which can easily be taken to unhealthy extremes or cause unnecessary overwhelm. But in a sea of information overload and the relentless pursuit to “max” ourselves, smaller online communities are encouraging something slightly different. Say hello to slowmaxxing, which invites us to slow down and savour life’s small moments, and the quietly growing trend of joymaxxing, a practice of actively seeking out and immersing ourselves in experiences that bring us joy.
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As a psychologist, I see the latter of these trends as a valuable reminder that taking care of our wellbeing doesn’t always have to mean doing more. It can also mean noticing and creating moments that let us fully soak in life and reconnect with our inner child. As we age, cartwheels become rare, hobbies can fade, and our days can feel like they’re racing by – perhaps what we need is a more conscious way of inviting joy into our day. Joy is a positive emotional state that often arises when we feel connected, safe, or deeply engaged in something meaningful. From a psychological perspective, it’s not just about excitement or pleasure - joy can also show up as moments of calm contentment, appreciation, or connection with others.
Experiences of joy can activate reward pathways in the brain and support the release of neurochemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, which are linked with motivation, bonding and positive mood. Joyful experiences can also help regulate the nervous system by shifting us toward a more relaxed, “rest and digest” state. Research suggests that regularly experiencing brief moments of joy (laughter, connection or gratitude) can contribute to a greater sense of overall life satisfaction and emotional wellbeing over time. Higher levels of wellbeing are associated with benefits such as stronger relationships, greater resilience to stress, and improved physical health outcomes. Importantly, happiness isn’t about feeling positive all the time — it is about having a balance of emotions and the capacity to experience meaning, connection and positive moments alongside life’s challenges.
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What brings joy to people’s lives is different for everyone, so I spoke with four incredible women to discover the ways they intentionally bring joy into their day.
Kitiya Palaskas, Designer and artist (@kitiyapalaskas)
Photo: Courtesy of Kitiya Palaska.
“Joy is one of the most powerful and transformative emotions we can feel as humans, and it can be found anywhere if you're open to letting it in. I have a daily slow morning routine that sets me up for the day and fills me with joy: a coffee in the morning sun, incense and candles to set my intentions for the day, playing with my cats, pottering, journalling, and dancing to a vibrant song to get my day started with good energy.
My entire house was meticulously curated to bring me joy — all my favourite ornaments and decor pieces are out on display, each room has a different colour theme to invoke different moods, ambient lighting and lamps to set the tone (I have a strict ban on the main house lights ever being on), colourful textiles, photos of friends and loved ones to remind me of all the great adventures we've been on together. My studio space is an explosion of colour and filled with trinkets and all the wild and wonderful artifacts and collectables that I've accumulated over the years.
One of my core purposes in my career is to spread joy, delight, and whimsy through my work. The world can be a dark place, but art has the power to uplift, transform your outlook, and fill your heart with joy. That's what I love so much about it. I'm the most happy when hyper focusing on my creative hobbies and pursuits. Studies have proven that engaging in handmade pursuits has an extremely positive effect on mental wellbeing, and I can't agree more. The feeling of satisfaction, pride, and joy that you get from connecting in a tangible way with a creative project is unmatched!
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If I’m feeling overwhelmed, it's great to remove myself from the bubble of my stress and get some perspective by going outside. Going for a walk outside and noticing the little glimmers that the wider world is always offering us, if we choose to take notice. A tiny perfect flower growing through the cement on the footpath, a flock of birds flying across a clear sky, the way the river sparkles in the sun, the sounds of trees speaking to each other as the wind blows, the reflection of the sunset in the windows of a building… these tiny magical moments are around us all the time, but when we're trapped in a vortex of stress and overwhelm, it can be really hard to remember they are there.”
Annika Nielsen, Curve model and creator (@whoeverannikais)
Photo: Courtesy of Annika Nielsen.
“For me, joy means taking yourself out of a "content" state and knowing every moment has the opportunity to bring laughter, adventure, and happiness. When we acknowledge and understand what makes us happy, it's easier to purposefully and intentionally integrate them. I've identified a few activities that I can slot into my life based on time.
I love cooking an elaborate breakfast when I have the time. I will happily take an hour to come up with some recipe that usually include a ridiculous amount of garlic! I know going to my favourite op shop or seeing a friend for coffee won't take much time out of the day, but will infinitely improve my week.
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My wardrobe and what I wear is a big source of joy for me too. I've been lucky to have access to beautiful clothes and accessories that make me feel so good when wearing them! I don't introduce anything into my wardrobe that I don't absolutely love, which makes it easy to enjoy the simple process of getting ready.
Sometimes if I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it’s the simplest moments of joy that mean the most. I love seeing our dogs Frank and Stacey at the end of the day. Being with them on the couch or playing in the backyard and seeing how excited they are to see me is everything.”
K.A Rung, community service worker and content creator (@k_ay_ee)
Photo: Courtesy of K.A. Rung.
“Joy is a form of resistance. Being queer, biracial, dating someone who is trans, being a villager in a very important village, all of the joy I experience is a form of resistance. The current world climate means it's getting harder and harder to find these pockets. But it's vital, not a choice, but a vital part [of] survival. Joy is survival.
Joy for me can look like our dogs, my partner, eating yummy food, snacking on lollies, putting my clothes away, deciding what to wear the next day, online shopping. But also moments where I allow my ancestors to fill spaces in my soul.
I hate diet culture, I despise anything to do with having to appear smaller particularly for the male gaze — so it was a huge shock and surprise for me when I realised that I loved going to the gym. I attend group classes with my partner, attending these types of spaces are typically a no-go mainly because it can feel like an unsafe space to exist in for trans and queer folks. BUT, despite all that, we have found our space. We have made friends with so many queer people at the GYM, wild I know. They are some of our closest friends now and we often do brekkie clubs, coffee catch ups and monthly dinners. That place has healed the part of me that society worked so hard to break. My confidence. I am not working to be smaller, I am stronger and fitter than I have ever been! 36 and the fittest version of myself. I still hate it at times, but it brings me a lot of joy.
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I don’t always make time for joyful activities when life is busy and I need to be honest about this. You will hear people speak on the necessity of self-discipline, but what if your brain is literally wired to not ever understand that concept? It’s unfair to push something so “neurotypical”. Joyful activities for me are small actions that I do when I am feeling neutral and not in a rush! Maybe it's eating chocolate for breakfast or voice noting your friend when your day has been shitty or even sending memes to your friend who would relate.
The older I get the more I encourage play. My inner child needs a space to explore hobbies I couldn't as a child. Trauma that isn’t transformed is trauma that's transferred, so I owe it to myself to find ways that regulate me and slow down my heightened nervous system. I am not an arts and craft girl, I find it so tedious and insulting. Instead, I really enjoy fashion, combining colours, mixing styles of clothing that shouldn’t typically be styled together in my brain. I love creating a space in our home that’s really cool to look at etc. I like junk journaling every now and then I suppose. But my hobby is mainly fashion, and boy does it bring me pure happiness.”
Rose Ruiz, Accredited Practising Dietitian (@dietitianrose)
Photo: Courtesy of Rose Ruiz.
"I intentionally bring joy into my day through small food rituals — cooking something I actually enjoy, sitting down and sharing meals with people I love, or simply slowing down enough to enjoy what I’m eating, when I can.
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As a dietitian, I think it’s important to remember that food isn’t just fuel; it can also be comfort, connection and celebration. I also try to finish the day doing something that helps me unwind, whether that’s a walk along the beach or some gentle movement, which helps me reset and bring a sense of balance, especially to my work days.”
How do you start joymaxxing?
Express gratitude regularly
Research from positive psychology suggests that noticing what is going well (through reflection, journaling or conversation), can strengthen positive emotional states and broaden our perspective.
Spend time in nature
Studies consistently show that natural environments can support emotional regulation, reduce stress responses and increase feelings of calm and enjoyment.
Engage the body as well as the mind
Gentle movement, stretching, dancing or walking can help regulate the nervous system and support the release of mood-enhancing neurochemicals.
Create intentional “micro-moments” of joy
Small rituals such as morning sunlight, music, making a favourite drink, or pausing to appreciate something beautiful can add meaningful moments of positive emotion throughout the day.
Practice mindful awareness
Mindfulness teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh often spoke about “washing the dishes to wash the dishes”, which is bringing full attention to everyday moments to increase appreciation and quiet mental busyness.
Cultivate loving-kindness
Meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg has shown through loving-kindness practices that intentionally generating feelings of goodwill toward ourselves and others can increase positive emotions and social connection.
Prioritise connection
Research in positive psychology consistently shows that close relationships are one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing. Moments of shared laughter, meaningful conversation, or simple companionship can significantly boost feelings of joy.
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How do you find joy?
If you’re unsure what joy looks like for you, start by noticing the small moments that make you feel a little lighter, calmer, or more connected — those moments are often where joy quietly begins. We don’t want to turn joy into just another item on our to-do list or create a “joy schedule” that ends up adding more stress than happiness. Instead, consider this a gentle reminder to make space for it in your life. What genuinely brings you joy, and how can you intentionally weave it into your routine? For me, joymaxxing is all about recognising those moments and giving them the priority they deserve.
Bec McWilliam (@psychologistbec) is a qualified psychologist specialising in mental health and wellbeing, corporate wellness and burnout, neurodivergence and invisible illness, and personal development. Her practice is centred on interconnectedness, exploring how relationships, work, health, past experiences collectively shape wellbeing.
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