Interesting Facts

According to research funded by Butterkist popcorn, the average British adult feels a true 'wave of happiness' eight times a week. (The main source of happiness was cuddling with a partner on the sofa.  Awww. How sweet. Unsurprisingly only 16% of respondents said that work made them happy.) Source

Norway has been named the world’s happiest country, according to the World Happiness Report 2017 . (Norway moved up 4 places, and knocked Denmark off the top spot into second place, by ranking highly on the main factors found to contribute to happiness: “caring, freedom, generosity, honesty, health, income and good governance”. Iceland and Switzerland rounded out the top four. Sadly The UK sits in 19th place, beaten by Germany in 16th and the US in 14th. Poor old France is a miserable 31st in the standings. So much for Hygge. Although I guess to really experience Hygge, this sort of thing shouldn't matter.)

20th March International Day of Happiness

According to a survey run by Age Partnership, to find out what key lifestyle changes can best improve your mood, women are made happier by getting a dog or cat, while men’s positivity is boosted by joining a club or buying a new car. (For Brits over 55 a pub lunch was viewed as an easy way of improving your mood. The three most affordable options were eating out once a month, going on a monthly organised day trip and being in a club. The three least affordable lifestyle changes are getting a conservatory, buying a new car or buying a campervan – all of which are impossible to afford on the state pension alone, and if money were no object, the most effective happiness promoter for the over-55s would be to go on holiday.) Source

According to a survey commissioned by broadband provider Plusnet, 1 in 10 people believe that it only takes a small thing to salvage a bad day. (The top 10 things that make us cheerful are:- Doing a good deed for somebody (47 per cent)  Random acts of kindness from strangers (44 per cent)  Stumbling across a bargain (42 per cent) Spontaneous hug (40 per cent) A compliment from a stranger (39 per cent) A car stopping so you can cross the road (36 per cent) Being greeted by a pet (35 per cent) Getting a hand written letter in the post (31 per cent) Your favourite song coming on the radio (31 per cent) A stranger saying hello (30 per cent) Make my day. Try to do / experience at least 5 of these things today.)

A few years ago a survey confirmed what everyone already knew, that Monday is the most miserable day of the week in the UK, but a new survey, has pinned it down to a particular time. (The survey, commissioned by broadband provider Plusnet, found that 11:17am on Mondays is the most miserable time of the week. Even worse, less than a quarter of Brits feel happy before midday, but the good news is we have cheered up by 2.35pm. I have the perfect solution, move to a different time zone.)

Doenertier82  at the  German language Wikipedia Hammocks make hamsters happy. (Yes, forget the hamster wheel, according to studies carried out at Liverpool John Moores University hamsters love nothing more than to chillax in a hammock, and an enriched environment made them more optimistic. How can you tell if a hamster is happy?)

The top 5 countries in the Global Wellbeing Index, published by the United Nations, are Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Canada. (The researchers believe that the differences in happiness can be explained by 6 factors: levels of gross domestic product (GDP), life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom and level of corruption. The US is 15th, the UK is 21st, but Germany is only 26th.) Source

According to a survey by recruitment firm Portfolio Payroll, only 1 in 10 workers in the UK is happy with their job. (Nearly 40% of respondents were looking for a new post while 54%  were considering a move.   They also found that 70% would leave 'without hesitation' for a pay rise regardless of the job. The reasons for such unhappiness were poor wages, stress and long hours.)

According to research published in the Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry if you are suffering from depression, walking like a happy person can help you to think more positively. (No wonder my mum always kept saying "chin up".) Source

According to the Cabinet Office publicans are in the unhappiest occupation, closely followed by brickies and debt collectors. (The happiest jobs, the research suggests, are vicar and priest. There's got to be a moral in there somewhere.)

Bernie Ecclestone says he doesn't know what happiness is. (The billionaire controller of Formula One says that fame and fortune have not brought him joy. Hi is currently being charged with bribing a banker to undervalue Formula One shares, and now faces prison in a German court. Maybe that will teach him what unhappiness is.)

According to Dr Cliff Arnall, a happiness coach for celebrities and business leaders (make of that what you will), the third Friday in June 2013 will the happiest day of the year for Brits. (His formula is O + (N x S) + Cpm/T + He. P (outdoors (O) plus nature (N) multiplied by social interaction (S), added to childhood summer memories and positive thoughts (Cpm) divided by temperature (T), and added to holiday excitement (He). The International Day of Happiness is officially March 20th, according to the United Nations, but we  like to be perverse. )

Today - June 21st 2013 is the happiest day of the year in the UK.  (See Interesting Fact.)

According to the ONS (Office for National Statistics) Britons in their late 60s are happier and more carefree than any other age group, including young people. (Incidence of anxiety and depression in the UK drops by almost a third between the early 50s and late 60s.  It must be the 1960s that did it.)

According to the Office for National Statistics in the UK, retirement makes people feel happier and healthier than they have done at any point since their mid-30s. (The statistics, part of the national happiness study, showed that people's sense of health and well-being goes down from their teens until late middle age and then there is a sudden bounce when they hit their 60s. Retirement experts said that for some people the relief of finally retiring made them feel happier. I can't wait to find out.)

According to the "Happy at Home" survey, run by www.rightmove.co.uk/, Harrow has been ranked as one of the unhappiest places to live in the UK. (I recently heard that if your called Ian, you are one of the unappiest people in Britain, so what happens if you're called Ian and you live in Harrow?)

According to a British couple, Harry and Floss Lucas, who have been married for over 70 years, the secret to a happy marriage is to argue every day. (The bickering pensioners claim they have notched up around 25,550 quarrels since they got married in October 1942., but they also say they always kiss and make up before they go to bed.  I don't think this would work for me as I hate confrontation.) Source

According to a report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 16 to 17-year-olds are, the most optimistic about the future, the least anxious and the “most satisfied” with life than any other age group in the UK. (Despite high youth unemployment and the prospect of tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year young people in the UK seem to be very optimistic.  Well good for them, although I do wonder what they're putting in the water.)

A study by the University of Warwick has found that people who eat seven – rather than the government recommended five – portions of fruit and veg a day are the happiest in the UK. (They found mental well-being rose with the number of daily portions of fruit and vegetables people ate. Well-being peaked at seven portions a day.  I wonder if it's something to do with being regular?)