Why International Day of Happiness is about more than 24 hours of faking it

For Laughologists, International Day of Happiness (IDoH) is like Christmas and birthday all rolled into one. It’s our excuse to celebrate all the things we stand for – happiness, wellbeing, laughter, positivity, inclusivity, diversity, and equality.

Personally, I get up dead early, yell ‘Alexa, play Happy by Pharrell Williams’, put on my Wonder Woman knickers and my fluffy unicorn jumper (nothing else), tell jokes and laugh manically for the next 18 hours before collapsing with a rictus grin burnt into my gurning mug. Okay, I’m exaggerating quite a lot, but for comedy effect.  

But, sadly, this is what some people think IDoH is all about. An excuse to be fake happy for 24 hours, before returning to life as normal. It’s not. It goes much deeper than that. In fact, it’s quite a serious affair, ironically. 

And I’m going to be talking about why we need to take it more seriously during our Virtually Happy webinar on Monday 21st March (okay so it’s the day after IDoH but for happiness maximisation, a Sunday may not have worked).

What is the International Day of Happiness?

The concept was established by the United Nations in 2012 after all 193 UN member states adopted a resolution calling for happiness to be given greater priority. The first United Nations International Day of Happiness was held on March 20, 2013, and falls on the same day each year.

The day recognises that happiness is a fundamental human need and aims to promote the idea that societal progress is not only about increasing bottom lines and encouraging economic growth, but is also reliant on wellbeing and happiness as well.

We have an opportunity to change for good

The post-Covid world offers a golden opportunity to hardwire happiness and wellbeing into the new systems, processes and patterns of our lives. 

In June 2020, the Prince of Wales and the head of the annual Davos Summit launched an initiative calling for the pandemic to be a chance for what they called a ‘Great Reset’ of the global economy (before conspiracists subverted the term). 

Prof Klaus Schwab, head of the World Economic Forum explained: "The pandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world to create a healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous future."

With these ambitions in mind, the principles and aims of IDoH this year have never been more salient and achievable. Lives have changed. Priorities have changed. Patterns of work have changed. 

Here are 10 little actions you can take that lead to big happiness outcomes

1. Be kind
2. Lead with empathy
3. Build workplaces and spaces that contribute to society and do good
4. Be inclusive
5. Be actively anti-racist
6. Ask people if they’re okay and give them time to respond
7. Create environments where people feel they can talk comfortably
8. Make time for people
9. Make time for fun and laughter in teams
10. Play to people’s strengths

None of these cost money. They’re small adjustments people, leaders and organisations can make. The most important thing is to adopt them consistently and make them part of day-to-day practice. 

You can make these simple changes in your workplace too.  To find out how, book our 60-minute webinar on The Science of Happiness for up to 100 people. It’s only £725 plus VAT.  Go on, do it and be part of the workplace happiness revolution.

Let’s create a happiness revolution

As this societal shift continues and with a little bit of effort, we could see a happiness revolution in which organisations place wellbeing at the centre of their cultures. It’s not a frivolous ambition either, because science proves that happy people are healthier, more engaged and more productive.

The question is, will we rise to the challenge and make meaningful change? Or will we just revert to the old ways of doing things and miss the best chance of positive change in a generation? 

The good news is that affecting change does not have to mean a fundamental cultural overhaul. It’s also not about piecemeal superficial things such as Pizza Friday and office sleep pods. Change starts at the top, with managers and leaders setting examples and checking in on teams, caring about them and communicating.

So, this International Happiness Day, we at Laughology will be acknowledging the sentiments but more importantly, we’ll continue making happiness and wellbeing a year-round priority, not just for one day. 

Just gives me an excuse to wear my Wonder Woman pants year-round too - result!

Our spotlight keynote for International Day of Happiness is The Science of Happiness - you can book this for your teams by contacting doug@laughology.co.uk