The International Day of Happiness
How Happy Are You Feeling?
Did you know that there's a day once a year that celebrates happiness?
Yes, it's true. Really. Here's a link to prove it.
https://www.dayofhappiness.net/
The international day of happiness is tomorrow, March 20th, 2026. This year will focus on the relationship between well-being and social media. It explores how technology can be used while being mindful, and encourages us to think about using good digital habits.
The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to recognize well-being and happiness as universal goals for everyone. Being happy is a fundamental human right. By promoting it together with well-being, can lead to a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Technology and mental health are two hot topics right now, and it's important to think about how we use technology like social media and gaming in our lives.
How many hours do you spend on social media every day?
How many hours do you spend having real-life conversations with people?
Can you see how social media has impacted your life, and maybe eat into your time with your loved ones? Do you have a technology - life balance?
Technology is all around us, and with a smart phone at our fingertips, we can do almost anything from ordering a new kitchen faucet to buying a flight to Mexico.
Technology is addictive and most of us spend more time than we realize on devices. Yep, I'm guilty here, too because I'm a writer. I spend time on my computer researching and writing my novels. I still make sure that I have plenty of time with my family.
With Technology Power comes Responsibility
We have a responsibility to our health and well-being to use technology without it taking over our lives. Technology is great and it can enhance our lives in many ways, but it shouldn't affect our well-being and real connections with others.
There's been a lot of talk and debates about "doom scrolling" for content just because it exists. How much of what we read and watch online are helping us? How much is just extra fluff?
People talk about "bloom scrolling" as a better way to use social media in a positive way, by connecting with loved ones and following accounts that are good for us.
I work with young teenagers, and there are always trends and memes online that's the latest chat on the grapevine. It spreads like wildfire and if you're not in the know, you risk missing out.
FOMO - (fear of missing out) is real for most young people and those who follow social media trends and accounts. It can be hard to keep up with social trends when you need to spend time on homework and hobbies. Many kids will be taking exams soon.
Adults with families and work commitments, find it even harder to follow trends because there's too much that need attention before we can start scrolling. (Yet, we find the time).
Do you know what your kids are watching / doing online? Do you have filters and settings to limit what they can and can't watch?
We keep an eye on what websites our kids access at home, but not every parent does this for their kids and it then becomes harder to monitor what they access.
All online content isn't good for us, and we need to limit our exposure to these. I know from a personal point of view that I'm sensitive to certain things because I'm a trauma survivor, so I stay away from content that I know will trigger me.
I have a good relationship with my kids, and I talk to them about what they see and hear, online and in school. I know not all kids have good relationships with their parents, and that's why it's important that we all pay attention to each other and give our support.
This is how you can help
This year, for International Happiness Day, there are some technology activities that we can all do to spread joy to the world.
1. Spread happiness. Share a happy story online that will lift people up. Notice how you feel after sharing a nice story that will make someone happy after reading. Building positive interactions with people is much better than being lonely and doom-scrolling content. Promoting happiness through kindness is a great tool to foster good relationships both at home and at work.
2. Celebrate happiness. Support your community, and share the joy with people. Who could do with some help in your neighborhood? This is all about connecting with people and building stronger relationships to make a more inclusive world in our time of uncertainty.
3. Take some time for yourself and reflect on what makes you happy. Mindfulness and journaling can do wonders for your mental health.
4. Learn about happiness, and what the science says about how happiness affects our mind and body. Tell people about what you have learned.
Remember that everything starts with you. Happiness has the power to change our lives for the better and make our world a more positive place to live in.
Where will your happiness take you?
My name is Lizzy. I'm a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher and an author.
If you like reading my posts then please follow me.
Here's another article about 10 Keys to Happiness: https://medium.com/p/bd59a9e912f0
For more about me: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com
Support your fellow writer and buy me a coffee:
https://ko-fi.com/elizabe69245484

About the Creator
Elizabeth Woods
My name is Lizzy and I'm a mom, an author, school teacher and an MFA creative writing graduate. I write emotion-filled fiction narratives and mental health articles. This is my website: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com



Comments (1)
Thank you for this reminder. 🙂