Why Pleasure Isn’t a Luxury, It’s a Daily Skill

We talk a lot about rest. But what if what we really need is to lean into pleasure instead?

Not in a fluffy, self-care-as-a-face-mask way. I mean true, sensory, body-and-mind pleasure. The kind that lets your nervous system breathe. The kind that gives your brain space to reset and your creativity room to wander. In a digital culture that pushes us to keep producing, pleasure can be the pause that brings us back to ourselves.

As a Cyberpsychologist, I see how our relationship with tech is often designed around urgency. Reply quickly. Scroll endlessly. Stay on. That pressure doesn’t just wear us down, it flattens our experience of joy.

As a Wellness and Lifestyle Futurist, I believe we need more than just balance. We need to rebuild a rhythm that includes moments of presence, joy and yes, pleasure.

This isn't about indulgence. It’s about integration.

We thrive when our days include things that light us up. A proper lunch away from the screen. A walk without a podcast in your ears. A cup of tea with full attention. These small acts are powerful. They signal to our systems that we are safe, that we can slow down and that we don’t need to prove our worth through exhaustion.

The research backs it. Positive emotion expands cognitive function. Sensory presence reduces cortisol. Stepping into small pleasures increases our ability to connect, lead, and perform.

And it’s timely. Many of us are feeling the slow creep of digital fatigue. We’re tired, distracted, and overstimulated. We tell ourselves to rest, but real restoration often begins with permission to feel good again.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot as I plan and look at what’s on my plate for August. It’s a return to reflection, reconnection and rhythm - and I’ll be creating space for what feels nourishing. Because I believe (and know) that pleasure isn’t a luxury. It’s a daily skill. One that helps us show up in our lives and work with more presence, clarity and creativity.

What have you said yes to lately that felt joyful? How might you weave a little more pleasure into your day?