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10 ways to spread joy around you

Words by Smiley Team

Over the past month, there's been a lot of sadness in the media and social media. According to to a poll by Axios, Americans are less optimistic and more nervous about what 2022 has in store for the world than they were heading into 2021.

We're in the second year of a global pandemic, and although the numbers are starting to trend down, many are pessimistic that things will go back to how they were pre-Covid. 

Our job is to change the morale meter and help you find joy in an unenjoyable situation. We've done our research and found there there are ways to find and spread joy, even during tough times. 

We've also been inspired by Project Happiness, a US nonprofit empowering people with the resources to create greater happiness within themselves and the world. Their goal is to impact 10,000,000 lives. "Kindness, mindfulness, and all the other tools we can use are not just niceties – they are key to bringing out the best in us, and our society," they say.

[Also read: how sympathy cards show loved ones you care]

Check out these 10 joy-spreading tips to help you see the glass half full – and inspire others to do the same. 

Volunteer to read to children at a local school. Children are instant joy-spreaders and the minute they know someone’s coming to read them a book, there is instant excitement. This crowd will definitely turn your frown upside down. 

Let the person behind you in the store check out before you. A small gesture can make a huge difference. You never know what a person is going though and this may be just the thing they need to restore their faith in humanity.

Send handmade cards to family members. Social media has made everything impersonal. Sending a card may be old-fashioned, but your loved ones will appreciate the thought that you put into the card.

Donate blood at your local hospital or Red Cross

Wellbeing News

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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