Every year, March 20th is the International Day of Happiness. This isn’t some random thing – it is a United Nations-backed initiative. Luckily, as bakers, we can transport ourselves to a place of perfect bliss with some ingredients and locking ourselves in the kitchen for hours! Many people are not that lucky.
In this article, we’ll learn about the origins of this day dedicated to the promotion of happiness and well-being… as we face an unprecedented global crisis.
The International Day of Happiness of the United Nations is an annual celebration. It fosters the belief that happiness is a universal human right.
Many of the world’s major religions and philosophies regard positive feelings as essential to the well-being of humanity. They might consider happiness just an integral part of living. On the other hand, the idea of a dedicated day of observance of the principle seems pertinent for many around the world, especially at this difficult time.
The International Day of Happiness is 20 March 2021.
‘Keep it calm. Stay Wise’ is the theme of this year’s International Day of Happiness.
This year’s International Day of Happiness is an opportunity to find uplifting ways to look after one another –as we face an unprecedented global crisis together.
Actions that you can take to become and remain happy:
• Keep your composure. There are a lot of factors beyond our control, especially at the moment. Let us remember to take a deep breath and focus on what really matters, so that we can react effectively.
• Keep learning. Everyone benefits from making good decisions. Let us choose constructive acts that promote our well-being, while also helping others to do so.
• Kindness is essential to us. Even when we’re pulled apart, we’re all in it together. Let’s keep in touch and reach out to those who might be in need.
Why do we really like giving gifts so much?
Giving a gift to someone fills us with joy. It makes us happy to see someone else happy; that’s human nature.
Buying gifts for others makes us feel more social, more connected and more happy. In many ways it reinforces the value we can give to others.
According to researchers, it feels good because our brains have a built-in reward system – oxytocin – that manages how we interact with others. When we spend money to make our friends and family happy, our brains reward us and make us feel good. We’re also getting a bit of a dopamine hit by doing something nice that we enjoy.
Does baking make us happy?
Take a pinch of mindfulness, a pinch of imagination, and a pinch of concentration. Gently fold the ingredients together, bake in a low oven, and watch your spirits soar!
Yes, spending time in the kitchen will boost your mood and improve mental health. Cooking is increasingly being recognised as a way of cultivating the mind, in addition to fulfilling the body’s need for sustenance.
The therapeutic qualities of cooking as a hobby were investigated in a study published in the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Cooking increases a person’s health and is linked to life satisfaction, according to the researchers.
The researchers also discovered that the greatest indicator of subjective satisfaction was cooking. For certain people, spending time in the kitchen baking and cooking could be the perfect formula for relaxation and mental well-being.
Get creative with your baking!
The kitchen is brimming with possibilities for expressing your imagination and finding your flow. Have you ever noticed how two people can make the same recipe but get completely different results? The answer is present in every recipe – imagination and creativity.
Cooking will make you feel happier if you have anxiety or are in a bad mood. According to the findings, spending time in the kitchen can reduce stress and anxiety while also improving mindfulness. Seems like a no-brainer!
Time to have your cake (and eat it!)
Not only does the act of cooking and baking boost one’s mood, but the sense of accomplishment often contributes to happiness. You’re making something tangible to share with others.
Cooking, according to psychological therapist Annie Gurton, can provide more than a sense of accomplishment; it can also fulfil our emotional need for reason and meaning in our lives. “Cooking is an activity that necessitates a variety of skills: comprehension and preparation, attention to detail, recalling and imagining, physical dexterity, ingenuity, and style.”
In the kitchen, there are three easy steps to achieving baking bliss:
Get good at one thing. Master a simple baking recipe that you enjoy. Then progress to more challenging recipes.
Improve your range. Try new things. Picking new herbs and vegetables and incorporating them into your baking gives you an even greater sense of pride and achievement.
Mindfulness. Be present in the moment while you are baking. Smell the ingredients, feel the texture, and observing what happens when you combine different foods. Pay attention to all of your senses.
In conclusion, it looks like cooking and baking are a guaranteed route to happiness.
People who are happy with their lives live longer and have fewer health problems.
People who are happier are less likely to experience high blood pressure or heart problems.
One thing is sure: we still have a lot to learn about this field of study and the many benefits of a well-lived life.
Given the stresses of the last year, we hope that the International Day of Happiness will help us all to be more content in 2021 and beyond.
