From small acts of kindness to favorite treats and self-care activities, one thing is for sure: it's truly the little things that make women happy. Sure, the extravagant can too–but thoughtful things can make just as much impact.
If you want to do something to bring a smile to the face of a special woman in your life (a friend, a spouse, a sister or mom) and make her feel loved, these sweet and simple ideas will make her day. These are 25 responses to the question, "What simple things make you happy?", according to women. (And if you're curious, here are 12 things that make guys happy.)
1. "Fresh sheets." – reall0ve
2. "Unconscious midnight hug from my husband." – Linorelai
3. "Ugh, had a bad mental health day yesterday and in the middle of the night my husband rolled over and spooned me in his sleep. I almost cried, it was so nice." – CouchFeelings
4. "The sound of rain." – User Unknown
5. "Clocking out of work on the last day of the work week. Sleeping in the next day." – starrlight_storm
6. "Getting to light a candle after cleaning the whole house. Feels like a lil reward." – Legitimate_Ranger583
woman sitting on sofa while holding food for dog
Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash
7. "When friends reach out first, hot boiling shower, when a guy opens the car door for me, nice tidy room, food, another girl complimenting my outfit or earrings, rainy days, cloudy days, and accomplishing a good morning routine." – slushpuppyyyzzz
8. "Cheese, it's fascinating." – frankenspider
9. "Sometimes in the middle of the night I feel a big thud near my head. My cat will lay down as close as possible to my head and flop on his side and go to sleep. Idc what time it wakes me up, the sleep after that is a million times better. He just recently started doing this and it makes me so happy." – User Unknown
10. "A tight hug. A blanket fresh out of the dryer. Tea." – HoneyGirlLZ
11. "Time spent outside, especially in a forest. I don't think anything else makes me feel better so quickly." – User Unknown
12. "Training. Nothing makes me more happier than getting better and fitter." – retardedhummingbird
man kissing woman's forehead while lying on bed
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
13. "Forehead kiss." – -Blink182-
14. "Waking up to snow outside." – User Unknown
15. "A good coffee after/during a hectic or tiring day." – vegarhoalpha
16. "Donuts, chocolate, christmas lights, cheeseburgers, cute dog youtube videos, cute cat youtube videos, marshmallow or cream filling, pudding." – AnnoyedDuckling
17. "Sitting in a sauna, steam room or a hot spring. Preferably a hot spring." – Salad_and_wine_diet
woman in body of water
Photo by Craventure Media on Unsplash
18. "Just after a food shop when the fridge and cupboards are full, and then can sit down and rest with a cup of tea / coffee." –Evening-School-8556
19. "'I was already at the store so I grabbed you this [snack/candy/drink] just because'." – breakfastfordinner11
20. "Being the only person in the house who is awake." – Moonflowerbloom
21. "Drinking a sparkling water and just staring off into space, for some weird reason." – User Unknown
22. "There’s a 100 little things that make me happy but this…. Someone leaving a quarter in the cart at ALDI." – LegitimateStar7034
23. "Sitting alone on a bench around midnight, no people around. Just enjoying the cool nippy air, watching the moon and the stars." – AroEon
24. "Hearing a baby laugh. There's just something magical about it. It has the ability to instantly improve my mood." – BigRedKetoGirl
25. "Diet coke." – WanderingGirl18
Representative Image: The work-from-home tools get the job done, even if you still can't find the mute button. 
Furry friends are importantRepresentative image via Canva
Couple has annoying conversation
The one phrase people most want to ban forever—and 20 more that drive us all nuts
If you’ve ever cringed at hearing “It is what it is” or rolled your eyes at someone saying “No offense…” before delivering something totally offensive, you’re definitely not alone. Some expressions are so irritating, so overused, or so grammatically cursed that hearing them once more might just push us over the edge.
We asked our Facebook audience, “ If you could ban one annoying phrase from existence forever, what would it be?” and holy moly, did the floodgates open. Typically, a given question might rack up around 5,000 comments—but this one? Over 14,000. People shared responses that were funny, petty, brutally honest, and occasionally downright poignant. From phrases that try (and fail) to sound wise, to those so overused they've lost all meaning entirely—here are the top contenders folks are completely done with.
The one phrase nearly everyone wants to vanish
By far the most repeated offender was:
Over and over, users cited this as the ultimate non-response. It’s dismissive, it ends conversations, and it offers exactly zero comfort or help.
Another big category? Expressions meant to comfort that end up being painful or insulting. These include:
Many commenters explained that these phrases, while often well-intentioned, feel dismissive in times of grief or hardship.
Grammar gripes and word crimes
Grammar lovers had a lot of feelings. Some of the most-cited “please stop saying this” phrases included:
And let’s not forget the collective rage over “pacifically” when people mean “specifically.”
Words that reveal more than they intend
Several users took issue with phrases that feel passive-aggressive or intellectually lazy, such as:
As user Jacqueline C. put it, “'To be honest...' What does that mean? That you're not honest any other time?”
Phrases tied to racism, sexism, or toxic positivity
A significant number of respondents took aim at harmful or politically charged phrases. Among them:
These comments weren’t just about annoyance—they were about the emotional weight and social impact of language.
James G. didn’t mince words when he wrote: “‘Go back to your country, then’ 🤬. The epitome of racist. I love my country, plus my ancestors did not ASK to be brought here the way they were.”
Corporate speak and empty buzzwords
You knew these were coming.
These phrases sparked a different kind of rage—one reserved for staff meetings and marketing emails.
Iris H. summed it up: “Most corporate speak. Downsizing. Low hanging fruit. Pivot. etc…..” Just say what you mean, please.
Why this resonated so deeply
There’s something unifying about shared irritation. These phrases might seem harmless or routine, but for many people, they’re like verbal paper cuts—tiny annoyances that, over time, sting a lot more than they should.
Whether it’s poor grammar, dismissive condolences, or flat-out hate speech in disguise, we’re collectively craving language that’s thoughtful, clear, and kind.
So the next time you find yourself reaching for one of these expressions, take a beat. Maybe there’s a better way to say what you mean. Or maybe… just don’t say anything at all.
And if you’ve got your own phrase that should be banished from existence? Don’t worry—there’s still time to add to the list.
Got another phrase that needs to go? Drop it in the comments on our original Facebook post.
Bonus: The top five most hated phrases from our poll
Let’s make 2025 the year we finally stop saying all of them.