The International Day of Happiness is coming up, and on that day, we should all take a moment to reflect on what makes us happy, and think about how we can do more to bring happiness into our lives. In this article, we hope to help you manage that, as we believe that happiness is learning something new. We’ll review with you:
- What is the International Day of Happiness?
- The history of the International Day of Happiness, why we celebrate, and why it’s so important
- 6 simple ways technology and the Internet can make you happier
Read on to learn more about the day, and what you can do to celebrate and make yourself happy!
What is the International Day of Happiness?
The International Day of Happiness is March 20th annually, and a day that was created to celebrate worldwide happiness, the enrichment of lives, and bringing people together. Created by the United Nations, it is a day to celebrate being happy, and focusing on that in our lives which makes us happier.
The history of the International Day of Happiness, why we celebrate, and why it’s so important
The International Day of Happiness was a United Nations resolution made by Action for Happiness, beginning in 2012. It was based upon the idea that human progress is not just about economical growth, but about prioritizing human happiness and wellbeing. All 193 United Nations states resolved to give a greater priority to happiness at the 2012 UN Conference on Happiness. The holiday was then celebrated for the first time in 2013.
It is so important for us to take time out of our lives to focus on what makes us happy, rather than always focussing on the things we think ‘need to be done.’ Really, we should do this more than once a year, but if you’ve been feeling stressed lately, remember to take some time to think about the things that make you happy.
Here at TechBoomers.com, we believe that learning something new can bring a lot of happiness into your life, especially if you tend to struggle with technology, or using the Internet, which is why we think this is how you should choose to celebrate this year. We provide free online articles and courses that explain how to use technology to help people like you – and that makes us happy! Technology can improve your life in so many ways, and we hope we can help to make your life easier.
6 simple ways technology and the Internet can make you happier:
1. Become more social with friends and family.
Using the Internet, you can more easily connect with your friends and family, and keep up-to-date with exactly what’s going on in their lives. Whether it’s creating a Facebook account so you can see their recent photos and life events, or having video calls over Skype, the Internet helps you connect with your loved ones far better than any other communication method (aside from actually seeing them in real life of course!).
2. Find free or cheap entertainment to make you laugh.
The Internet is full of great websites that can make you laugh, and keep you entertained for hours. If you want to see videos of almost anything you can think of, try YouTube. For addictive lists and fun facts, try Buzzfeed. And if you want to stream your favourite shows and movies for one low monthly price, try Netflix. Or you can check out this list of great websites for your entertainment, and how to use them here.
3. Organize your life.
If you have trouble keeping on top of everything, there are plenty of apps out there that can really help you stay organized, and keep all of your reminders in one place. You could try Evernote or Wunderlist for task management, and for storing important documents, or you should check out Lifehacker for tips and tricks on making your life much simpler – especially when it comes to everyday tasks.
4. Find like-minded people and make new friends who share your interests.
The Internet makes it so much easier to connect with people you don’t know, which isn’t always a bad thing. It’s so easy to find people who share your interests, and you can even find people who may want to do the things that you like, so you can make new friends and don’t always have to do your hobbies solo. Websites like Meetup and Eventbrite, are great for this, or you can checkout this list of great social sites and apps, and how to use them here.
5. Share your passions with the world.
If you have things you love to do that make you happy, and you want to share them with others, the Internet is the place to do it. Consider starting your own website with Wix or Weebly, showcasing your artwork on Tumblr or DeviantArt. If you’re into photography, or want a place to share your artistic photos, try Instagram or Flickr.
6. Centralize all of your tasks, make them automatic, and cut out recurring errands.
Using the Internet can make life much more convenient, as it cuts out many errands you may often run, and can help centralize everything; a week’s worth of errands can all be done sitting at home in your pyjamas! You can set yourself up with online banking, book travel, even do all of your shopping (including groceries) on a website like Amazon.com.
If all of this sounds interesting to you, be sure to check out TechBoomers.com, or if you’re more of a visual learner, check out our YouTube channel with instructional, step-by-step videos. In the mean time, check out our list of the best ways to celebrate the International Day of Happiness below!
5 ways to celebrate the International Day of Happiness
1. Learn something new, increase your knowledge, and find your passion in life.
As we noted above, there are plenty of ways you can increase your knowledge about technology and the Internet, but there’s also other things that might bring you joy to learn about. Go out and research a topic you’ve always been interested in. You’ll feel better once you’ve increased your knowledge, and you may even want to act on the new things you’ve learned!
2. Consider becoming a volunteer for a cause you believe in.
There are many great causes out there that you can volunteer for, and it’s important to make a difference in the world. If you are tech-savvy, consider volunteering for a digital literacy organization like the NDIA (National Digital Inclusion Alliance), or teaching tech at your local library – all volunteering is helpful, and it will bring you happiness to help others.
3. Do something meaningful to help others.
A simple gesture of kindness can go a long way, and can be much more meaningful to the person you’re helping than you could possibly know. One great way to do this is to teach a friend or family member what you know about technology, to help them improve their own life with digital literacy. It feels great to help others, so you, and the person you help, will feel much happier!
4. Do something for yourself, and relax.
Make sure to take some time out just for you, and do the things you love. Read a book for pleasure, go for a walk, take a bubble bath; anything that makes you happy – just go for it. Try not to stress about the things in life that are weighing you down, and for even just one day, let them go.
5. Visit the official websites and increase your knowledge about International Happiness Day.
Check out the websites for the International Day of Happiness, at dayofhappiness.net, actionforhappiness.org, or happinessday.org. You can learn more about the cause, and start learning how to stay happy!
If you also want to learn more ways to be happy, check out this article from Action for Happiness on the 10 keys to happier living.
If you’re interested in learning more about any of the popular websites and apps we listed in this article, or you’re resolved to learn something new and start becoming an Internet pro, check out the rest of TechBoomers, where we have over 100 free online courses for you to choose from. We also have an amazing Ultimate Guide to Digital Literacy, which can start you on the path to online mastery. Start your digital learning today!
