Begin your #66happy journey today!!!

 Before you question why this challenge is 66 days long, we want to inform you that this length is strategic! According to a research study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes approximately 66 days for a new action to become automatic and habitual. With this, we have purposefully designed #66happy with the intention of challenging you to turn our five daily commitments into habits by the end of the challenge. By committing to this challenge, you are not only investing in increasing your happiness for the next 66 days, but you are creating habits to invest in a lifetime full of happiness! 

 At Hit of Happiness, everything we do is backed by the science of happiness. Various studies show that engaging in mindfulness, being active, practicing gratitude, partaking in an inspirational activity, and connecting with others are all correlated with higher levels of individual happiness. If you commit to all five at the same time…. you will truly experience the MAGIC in your life! 

 Mindfulness is important because it cultivates a heightened awareness of the present moment, allowing individuals to better manage stress, improve mental well-being, and make more intentional choices. It promotes a deeper understanding of one's thoughts and emotions, leading to greater self-acceptance and overall life satisfaction. We recommend meditating for at least three minutes per day. 

 You can do anything for three minutes! The average screen time for an American is 7 hours and 4 minutes. You can easily cut off 3 minutes of that screen time and make that your meditation time. To be mindful, we have partnered with Unplug to provide you with three months free of unlimited meditations on the app! Follow the link to access your free three-month trial! 

1. Click on this link to register for Unplug and redeem your free 3 months. 

2. Confirm your email address by clicking on the link sent to your email address that you registered with above.

3. Download the Unplug app to your personal device. 

4. Log in with your email address and password from the first step and enjoy three months free!

When you are engaging in some type of physical activity (run, walk, biking, boxing, dancing, yoga, Pilates, hike, swim, etc.), your heart pumps much more oxygenated blood to your brain. Higher levels of oxygen in the brain help decrease levels of anxiety and depression. Also, physical activity releases endorphins by stimulating the body's nervous system and triggering the release of these natural painkillers in response to the stress or discomfort experienced during exercise, resulting in natural happiness. 

Engaging in just 15 minutes of physical activity per day can provide numerous health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, increased energy levels, enhanced mood, and better weight management, making it an accessible and manageable way to incorporate exercise into one's daily routine. 

 According to Harvard Health, practicing gratitude is strongly correlated to higher levels of happiness!  Practicing gratitude makes you happier because it shifts your focus from what you lack or negative aspects of life to what you appreciate and are thankful for, fostering a more positive outlook. This shift in perspective can reduce stress, enhance overall well-being, and promote a greater sense of contentment and happiness. 

Coming up with something different to be grateful for every day can be beneficial because it encourages a broader and more nuanced appreciation of life. This practice helps individuals notice and acknowledge the variety of positive aspects in their lives, preventing complacency and promoting a deeper sense of gratitude. Additionally, it can enhance creativity and mindfulness, as people actively seek out new things to be grateful for, further enriching their overall well-being. 

 Engaging in something that inspires you or elicits a sense of awe every day is important for happiness because it nourishes your spirit and provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment. These experiences can stimulate feelings of wonder and gratitude, elevate your mood, and foster a deeper connection to the world around you. Consistently incorporating such moments into your daily life can contribute to a more positive and meaningful overall outlook, enhancing your overall happiness and well-being. 

Engaging in creative activities that stimulate the mind, such as:

The Wordle

Daily Crossword Puzzle

Reading a book 

Free drawing or participating in any other art form including playing music, painting, writing a poem, etc.

Journal 

Play with Play-Doh or a Yo-Yo

Listening to the podcast of your choice. Here are some of our favorites:

Hit of Happiness Podcast

Rich Roll Podcast

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

The Science of Success

The Happiness Lab

How to Fail with Elizabeth Day

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

Listening to inspiring speeches. Here are some of our favorites:

Steve Jobs 

Oprah

President Obama

Read Inspiring blog posts or books. Here are some of our favorites:

Hit of Happiness Blog

Think Simple Now 

The Alchemist

Shoe Dog

The Four Agreements

Big Magic

Atomic Habits

Human connection is vital for happiness as it satisfies our need for belonging, emotional support, and positive interactions, releasing happiness-inducing hormones and reducing stress. Strong social bonds offer a support system and enhance life satisfaction, playing a crucial role in our overall happiness. Reaching out to another person, whether it’s a friend, family member, loved one, or a peer, or simply waving to a stranger or contacting someone you used to have trouble with will inherently bring you joy.  

Send a text message letting a friend or family member know you are thinking about them. Better yet, give someone a phone call, video call, send an email, write a letter, meet for a coffee chat or meal date, go for a walk, etc.  

Yes, Hit of Happiness offers a variety of resources and tools related to their blog topics, including free whitepapers, webinars, and infographics. These resources can be found on the 'Resources' page.

 To become the best version of yourself you didn’t know existed. While #66happy is a “challenge,” it can also be thought of as a roadmap to lead you to the highest and happiest version of yourself. 

Also, you are MORE than worthy and deserving of reaching YOUR ultimate happiness. No matter what stage of life you are in, it’s your time to be happy! Over the course of these next 66 days, you will accomplish five commitments to yourself that will become habitual additions to your daily routine. These tasks encourage you to tap into your physical health, connect with others, act with gratitude, practice mindfulness, and stimulate your mind, inherently allowing you to unlock your full happiness potential. At Hit of Happiness, we know that tapping into these five buckets everyday, for 66 days, allows you to reach an elevated feeling of happiness and feel the MAGIC!