4 Ways to Improve Your Mood: International Day of Happiness

Not only does the 20th of March mark the first day of spring, it is also International Day of Happiness. With signs of spring appearing and in celebration of International Day of Happiness, we’ve put together our top four ways to bring more positivity in your day-to-day life.

1. Connect with People

The last twelve months haven’t been easy for many of us, especially when a key part to finding happiness is through our connections and relationships with other people. Whether it’s over the phone, video call, email, or in person, make sure that you are still keeping connected to your loved ones. As highlighted by Action for Happiness, our family and friends provide us with love and support, increasing our sense of belonging and self-worth – as a result, this increases our overall happiness too.

Feel connected to your loved ones, even if you can’t see them, through the power of photo. Last year, we asked behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings why photos are so important when it comes to our daily wellbeing. She noted that having photos in our home of the people, places and activities we love “provides regular psychological positive reinforcement by reminding us of ‘social bond enhancement’ – essentially what and who are important to us!”

Top tip: Have your favourite memories with your loved ones or closest friends preserved as a Framed Print to display around your living space. Seeing their faces and the joy they bring will help increase your happiness every time you walk into the room.

2. Spend Time Outdoors and Exercise

With the weather starting to improve and the days getting longer, we are presented with more time to make the most of nature and being outdoors. It’s the perfect opportunity to simply get outside and move! We’re not talking running a marathon here (although if that’s what you want to do, go for it!), but a gentle stroll is also great to get the heart pumping. Take in a few deep breaths of the fresh air whilst you’re out and about too – perfect for lowering stress levels and feeling calm. It’s a no brainer when, according to Action for Happiness, “being active makes us happier as well as being good for our physical health.”

Top tip: Bring the outdoors in with your own Wall Art display of your favourite landscape or nature shots. Choose a photo you’re proud of that you captured on your last holiday or remember to take photos when you’re out and about this spring.

3. The Art of Giving

The art of giving and doing something good for others is not only beneficial for them, it also increases your happiness too! When it feels good for both involved, why don’t we do more of it? It doesn’t have to be in the form of a physical gift – you can simply exchange a compliment or an act of kindness, or simply dedicate more time and energy to that particular person. Your added effort won’t go unnoticed!

Having said this, physical gifts still play a significant role and are a wonderful way to show your loved ones how much you appreciate them. From a small token to a grand gesture, create your gifts from scratch to create a thoughtful keepsake they’ll love, such as a CEWE PHOTOBOOK filled with the fond memories you share. Not only will you love creating it, you’ll also get so much joy from giving them this special gift. What’s more, they’ll also receive a dose of happy hormones too, including oxytocin, dopamine and endorphins, as they look back on your favourite photos together.

Top tip: You can add text to your CEWE PHOTOBOOK, such as motivational quotes and happy anecdotes that will bring a smile to anyone’s face when they read through. Why not create a motivational photo book for your loved ones this International Day of Happiness?

4. Become More Mindful

A great way to improve your mental wellbeing and happiness is to live more mindfully. This involves becoming more aware of everything around you and taking a moment to appreciate life for what it is. As simply put by Action for Happiness, “we just need to stop and take notice.” Whether it’s on your daily commute to work, a walk in the park or spending time with friends and family, remember to pause for a moment to take it all in – a perfect example of what it means to live in the present!

We are strong advocates for capturing those little moments on camera, but it is just as important to experience the things you see with your own eyes and not just through your screen or camera lens. As Jo Hemmings suggests, “we may be in danger of losing actual recognition and detail” by taking too many photos. With many of us still choosing to take photos and preserve our memories either digitally or in print, remember to step back from the camera and take in those moments for yourself too.

In our "Pause For A Moment" campaign last year, we discovered that 56% of people feel happy when they look through their photos, with 31% saying it makes them feel relaxed. Proven to provide feelings of happiness, what better way to embrace International Day of Happiness than with a collection of your favourite memories as Photo Prints? Take your mind straight back to your happiest moments as you reminisce through your photos for an instant boost of happiness! Happy Happiness Day!

Make the most of March 20th to celebrate all the things that make you happy this International Day of Happiness. We hope you’ve found some inspiration from our simple ways pay attention to your happiness in your day-to-day life and how to live more mindfully. Share the photos that make you happy with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram– we can’t wait to see!