Smile! Today Is International Happiness Day: Here Are 10 Easy Ways You Can Spread The Joy

Smile! It’s the United Nation’s International Day of Happiness. Yes, today is a day for laughter, having the craic and being kind to yourself and your fellow people. Sounds good, right?

So what’s the International Day of Happiness all about then? Well according to the United Nations, today is about recognising that ‘progress’ should be about increasing levels of happiness and wellbeing for the world, rather than just focussing on growing the economy.  

March 20th has been declared as the International Day of Happiness and the UN hopes that it will inspire us to crack a smile, do a good deed and pay our happiness forward.

One of the easiest ways that you can get happy and pass on your smile to others is to perform a random act of kindness. No matter how small it is, your small action could have a major impact on the life of another person. Why not try doing one of the following today? You never know, you could completely change someone’s day from horrible to happy in an instant...

____________________

10 Easy Random Acts Of Kindness

Pay for the person behind you when you're in the coffee shop

1. Drink it up: When you’re in the cafe doing a coffee run for the office, why not pay for the person behind you? They’ll be thrilled when they get to the till only to discover that their cup of tea or their latte has already been paid for.

2. Donate your money: Even the smallest donation can make a massive difference to any charity. If you have a fiver or a tenner to spare, why not get in touch with your local animal centre or with another charity and donate it? The chairty will be overjoyed and you can bet that people/animals will benefit from your generosity.

3. Write a letter: Pen a positive, uplifting letter to a stranger, go to your local library and put it inside a book. Your letter could change the perspective of the next person who rents out that book. Alternatively, go to your local park and place your letter on a bench, where you know someone will find it.

Go one step further and write thoughtful letters to your family and friends, telling them how much they mean to you. Pay them a visit and before you leave, hand them the letter. If you can’t meet them face-to-face, pop the letter in the post and spread the happiness.

4. Sharing is caring: When you’re making your dinner, make a little extra and deliver it to your elderly neighbour. They’ll appreciate the gesture. Alternatively, call around to them for a chat. When you’re there, ask them if there’s anything that they need done.

Offer to mind your friends' child if you know they could do with a night out

5. Become a babysitter: If you know a stressed-out couple who have a new baby, call around to their house and offer to babysit their child for one night so they can get out of the house. You’ll be a hero.

6. Recycle the kind way: Don’t throw away all your old magazines, instead bring them to your local doctor’s surgery or nursing home and ask if they would like them instead.

7. Be a kind motorist: Instead of ignoring the person who is trying to edge their way out in front of you, let them out. They’ll be happier and for the sake of adding a minute to your journey, it’s a small price to pay.

8. Smile at eveyone: For the rest of the day, take the time to smile at everyone you meet. Not only will you feel happier but you’d be surprised at the amount of smiles you’ll get back in return.

Pick up the phone and get in touch with someone you haven't spoken to in a while

9. Give someone a call: Your mother, your friend who’s super-stressed out, your sister – whoever. If you haven’t spokento them in a while, give them a ring and have a chat. They’ll be delighted to hear from you, especially if they’ve been having a bad day.

10. Be supermarket smart: When you’re standing in the line at the supermarket, let the person behind you go in front of you. Everyone appreciates this kind of gesture and you’re guaranteed to get a ‘thank you’ in return.

For more information about the United Nation’s International Day of Happiness, visit their website by clicking here.