21 Day Happiness Challenge

We're taking the 21 day happiness challenge. Last weekend was our midsummer staff inservice. Every year, I try to make this day meaningful and inspiring and motivational so that the staff will be energized for the last few weeks of the summer.

I was really struggling with what to do, but my brother actually recommended this and I immediately knew that this would be perfect. We watched the video- http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work?language=en

and it just so happens that 21 days from the date of the inservice is the last day of camp, so the timing seemed perfect.

The challenge is to do the following 5 things every day for 21 days. 

1.     Write down three new things you are grateful for each day.

Research shows this will significantly improve your optimism even 6 months later, and raises your success rates significantly.

2.     Write for 2 minutes a day describing one positive experience you had over the past 24 hours.

This is a strategy to help transform you from a task-based thinker, to a meaning based thinker who scans the world for meaning instead of endless to-dos. This dramatically increases work happiness.

3.     Exercise for 10 minutes a day.

This trains your brain to believe your behavior matters, which causes a cascade of success throughout the rest of the day.

4.     Meditate for 2 minutes, focusing on your breath going in and out.

This will help you undo the negative effects of multitasking. Research shows you get multiple tasks done faster if you do them one at a time. It also decreases stress and raises happiness.

5.     Write one, quick note first thing in the morning thanking or praising a member on your team.

This significantly increases your feeling of social support, which in my study at Harvard was the largest predictor of happiness for the students.

Prior to the inservice, M, A and I made little "happiness challenge kits" for everyone. It included an envelope with 21 pieces of paper for people to write notes to each other, a journal that had a page for each day with places to write down the three things they are grateful for and also a space to write for 2 minutes. Also in the journal were 2 charts to check off when you meditate and when you exercise.

The staff were really receptive and we made it really easy for them with the kit. I have been surprised and pleased with how focused on the positive that I have been. I like taking time to make a specific effort to thank and acknowledge people. I like reflecting on the good things from the day. It really seems to be working and I am proud of challenging the whole staff to do this!