What makes for a perfect day? The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council wanted to find out what most people picture as an ideal day. The answers, of course, varied wildly, but the USHBC did find a number of commonalities in participants’ responses.

For most people, it was the little things in life that made for the happiest days. Sleeping in, sunny weather and warm temperatures seemed to be a common thread. People stated that a perfect day would include three hours outside, four hours with family, three hours with friends and then three more hours used to relax in front of the TV. This perfect day would begin around 8:15 a.m., and participants stated that to make the day ideal, they would wake up at that time without the aid of an alarm.

In addition to getting a feel for when the ideal day would begin or end, the USHBC asked participants what would help them move a good day to a perfect one. Once again, the answers were composed largely of the little things in life that too many people overlook. Petting a dog, lying in bed listening to the rain, a hot shower and watching the sunset were all listed by more than a third of participants as being surefire ways to transform a good day into a great day. Nearly half of participants also listed either receiving or performing a small gesture of kindness as another way to lift their mood.

For years, people have been trying to figure out what would be included in the best day of a person’s life. Many of those people seem to focus on big surprises or events. The birth of a child, a wedding or an unexpected monetary windfall all seem to be popular guesses at what would make for a perfect day. The USHBC survey, however, shows that most people actually have everything they need to make every day almost perfect. Anyone can do a good deed, and anyone can appreciate the little things in life. Allowing oneself to savor the first sip of coffee, take a hot shower or exchange a smile with a stranger are all things that can happen any day of the week and were all on the USHBC’s list of mood boosters. It just goes to show that people are generally as happy as they allow themselves to be. As cliché as it may seem, for most people, it really is the little things that make life worth living.