I’ve been feeling uncharacteristically out of sorts all day. I slept badly and my head is foggy as a result. A sniffle has turned into a full-on cold. My to-do list feels overwhelming. Even the weather seems to be against me. Every time I step out of the house it starts raining. No one really bad thing and most days I would simply shrug them off, but today, combined, they have left me struggling to smile.
It’s on days like these that we need to look a little harder for happiness, even though probably things are not really any different from yesterday when we were perfectly happy, or tomorrow when we will most likely be happy again. In order to find a little chink of happiness in this otherwise grey day, I’ve decided that today’s the day I’m going to join the #100DaysHappy challenge.
Perhaps you’ve seen the #100DaysHappy hashtag on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? Maybe you’ve already started the #100DaysHappy challenge? Or, quite possibly, you’ve already got 100 days of happiness under your belt and you’re wondering what took me so long (I am somewhat late to the party).
If you have no clue what I’m talking about, the idea behind 100 Happy Days is that our increasingly busy lives are stopping us from enjoying happy moments thoughout the day and that, by making an effort to notice what has made us happy every day, we will start to appreciate our lives more and in turn become happier. Sounds good, right?!
All you have to do is register at the website and then post a picture of what made you happy every day for 100 days, tagging it #100HappyDays or creating your own happy hashtag. You can share your photographs on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or email them to the 100 Happy Days website if social media’s not your thing. Apparently 71% of people tried and failed to complete the challenge, blaming lack of time. No time to be happy? How terribly sad.
I figure that by telling you all that I’m taking the #100DaysHappy challenge I’ll be extra-motivated to keep going, even if I have a not-so happy day. I’ll be posting my pictures on Instagram here. I’m excited to see what makes me happy over the coming months. In fact I’m feeling happier already. Yay!
Have you taken the #100DaysHappy challenge? How’s it going? Were you surprised to discover what made you happy? Any tips for continuing when you have a bad day? Inspired to join me on my #100DaysHappy journey? Leave a comment below!
I’m on day 70 of #100happydays and I think evryone should do it! I was dubious before I started, but it really focuses you to reflect on what makes you smile each day – even the worst days have snippets of happiness in, that just seem to be too easy to overlook.
I find that most days I leave it until the end of the day to post but I try to take the time to take a photo of everything that makes me happy throughout the day and I then have loads of happy snaps to choose from (and I then remember all of the happy things I’ve seen or done that I didn’t photograph). It sounds corny, I get why people would give up, but I find this so good for the soul.
My happy things vary wildly, from yummy food, my dogs, my fiance, make-up, the weather, hearts in the froth on my coffee, good gym workouts….I love it and I’m not stopping after 100 days.
Such a good idea to snap everything that makes you happy throughout the day and then pick one to post at the end of the day Cat, I’m totally going to do that – I did a two part post for day one and I wasn’t sure if I was breaking the rules! It’s great to hear that you’ve found it such a positive experience that you’re going to keep going. I think food, coffee hearts and good workouts will feature more than once in my 100 days!
I’m going to be very controversial here…. I think it is such a shame that a website has had to make people be happy and isnt it just fake happiness? Looking for happiness when maybe you are just having an off day – not unreasonble to have the odd one. And another thing… arent you missing out on the happy thing by being the other end of camera…. I think it is a shame some people miss out on things by being so keen to photo it / fb / tweet it that they arent seeing the “real thing”…… #waitsforthebacklash !!!
I actually agree with this in part Victoria. I do think it’s a shame everything has to be captured and shared just to exist and be valid or important these days. On the other hand, if it makes people feel better, then I’m all for it (I can feel fence between my legs ;)) x
I think it’s a really nice idea, I’m all for documenting lovely memories and having a “project” that you enjoy, no backlash though Victoria, I can very much see your point too, I do feel (because of my job/role) that I have to think “crap, I really should have instagrammed today!” where as it shouldn’t be that way – if I forget then it’s because I’m far too busy enjoying the actual moment as it is at that point.
I used to feel very attached to my phone, now I often find it’s been shoved behind one of Mabel’s blankets down the sofa for a few hours…. (!)
I take your point Victoria but I’m hoping that the 100 days challenge works in a similar way to keeping a gratitude diary would and, that by taking note of what makes me happy, I can make sure I do more of it!
I’m one of the 71%! But it wasn’t lack of time that prevented me from posting, it was more the feeling that I was posting for the sake of it and that made me LESS happy/ Maybe I’m just a generally happy person but I definitely felt that being told to pick something every day was counterproductive.
Some days are off days and that’s OK.
I also don’t like being attached to my phone/ipad etc every day of the week so, even though I spent whole days/weekends doing things that made me happy, I was too busy doing them to even take a picture, let alone post it to instagram 🙂
Oh dear, that’s really not what I hope will happen Claire. Of course if it does start to feel like a chore or something I’m doing for the sake of it then I’ll stop.
This is just what I need to see today! I am feeling very overwhelmed lately. Firstly, planning a wedding – which is hurtling towards me. Plus, we bought a house which needed total renovation and an extension building. 2.5 years later and it’s still a total building site with no light at the end of the tunnel.
I find it difficult sometimes to have the motivation to even tackle the little things, hoovering, shopping or even the washing! Then there’s trying to fit in keeping everyone else happy, seeing my Mum & Dad, fitting in bridesmaids duties and making sure I’m spending enough time with my fiance too. Personally I think that anything that forces me to stop, breathe and appreciate something that makes me smile will do me good. Plus I enjoy documenting things, and love having things to look back on, then they can make me smile all over again!
I agree that blasting your every move all over social media for other peoples benefit probably is a bit of a false economy, but as with most things, if you’re doing it for you, who cares what anyone else thinks!? I think the point is that for a lot of people it’s not just ‘the odd off day’. It can be easily to slip into a rut of waking up and feeling overwhelmed with everyday life demanding all of your time and attention, leaving nothing for yourself. I have just signed up and I’m feeling more positive already!
Stop, and smell the roses, then snap them and post it to Instagram!
[…] my 100 days happy challenge (if you have no idea what I’m talking about you can read all about it here). Looking back over the past month there are definite themes emerging. Perhaps surprisingly, the […]