International Day of Happiness

With all the doom and gloom around we need a day to share what makes us smile and luckily for us today is International Happiness Day! This is where we can support ourselves and others with contageous smiles across social platforms and in our own homes.

Under Covid-19 circumstances, most of us will be homebound and worrying about how we are going to handle being stuck in the four walls that we call home. I have put together some of ideas the which brighten up my day and how i am putting my own positive twist on such a hard time.

Well let's share what brings joy to our hearts, laughter to our stomachs and what forces a smile to our faces through social media and leave some comments and stories that will spread the happiness.

Pets

The people that know me would probably catogorise me as 'a crazy cat lady' and know how much my two kids, i mean cats have helped me and my mental health. Well if the names Tequilla and Sambucca hasn't already put a little grin on your face, it has probably sent you into a trauma from your last night out buying one too many shots... we have all been there.

Before i have even opened my eyes i have Sambucca nibbling at my fingers to wake me up and Tequilla purring and kneeding into my shoulder (Tequilla also plays fetch so often i will wake up with a toy on my face) they are so affecionate and get my full attention in the morning when i am running late- which is probably almost all the time.

Having pets is very thearputic for many, there are websites like Borrow My Doggy which allows owners to let others walk their dogs and give someone else that companionship and puppy love if you are not in the position to have a pet. It is proven that having an animal in the home actually will unwind and de-stress you and i fully support it. The purring and affection can be really soothing.

Talk, talk and talk

Being stuck in does put some restrictions on us, but honestly social media and our phones do everything for us these days. I just ended a Facetime call with a friend, having a cup of coffee and motivating eachother. I left that call smiling away and i will make sure it a priority to talk to family/ friends in the days of self-isolating. For International Happiness Day i am going to put together funny memories that i have had with my friends or family that i will probably spend about ten minutes laughing about to myself before typing it- but i hope once it reaches the other end it will give them the same feeling even if it is embarrising.

Officially there is only one day to celebrate happiness worldwide but i have always kept a notes page of all my favourite quotes that are either hilarious, drunken or just so silly from my friends that i look back on to capture that moment again.

Look back on memories

If you are like me i have folders dotted everywhere on my laptop of photos over the past couple of years, but everytime i click on an album accidently i can reasure you i'm never dissapointed. We are lucky to have such a variety of ways to take photographs because we never miss a special moment and when we take a glance we're able to relive it. I am going to go through my photos today and make an album prioritising happy memories that i can share with the people that take me back to the happy times.

If you are smiling or laughing, often it will make someone else smile without even using any words. As a photographer i have always said a photo can say and make you feel so much more than a thousand words.

Here is some that make me smile

Listen to the radio

I would say listen to your favourite playlist on Spotify or listen to your favourite songs, but often i find myself stressing because i have to think of what i want to listen to next or end up driving myself crazy singing the same four lyrics over and over to try until i remember the song. But if you are decisive unlike me, listening to music will always make you make you hum along or sing at the top of your lungs which is all a great way to let out some feelings and almost certainly will bring you happiness.

I have been listening to different radio station's to sit back and relax without having to think too hard about what's coming next. At the moment i have been loving Radio 1! Their energy and high spirit really is booming through the speakers and the presenters infectious laughs has been refreshing this week taking listeners minds of our unfortuante circumstances.

Give it a go and tell me what station you would reccomend.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_one

Exercise

Even if it is a little run around the block, a ten minute at home workout you will always leave you feeling relieved and happy that you have done something to better yourself. At this time there are so many personal trainers doing live classes across social media from their homes because they know how important exercise is and how crucial it is to staying happy, release those endorphins!

Do something you havent done before

Try something new! Start learning a new language, learn how to knit, pet your cat, read something you haven't read or read something you have and enjoy it again. Go out of comfort zone and challange yourself.

Try and make a your own mini dream catcher from Roma Dream Art which could be fun for all ages or something to do with the little ones while you are homebound.