The Happiness Blog

4 days 7 hours ago

Laura Collacott contemplates how career fits into the Happiness philosophy.

The Happy City philosophy can be a slippery fish. It’s not idealistic – there are clear advantages and practical applications – but it can be hard at first glance to understand how ‘happiness economics’ can walk in step with the financial realities of normal life.

Happiness Champions - Bristol's full of them!

4 weeks 4 days ago

Bristol launched the UK's first Happy City List today in association with The Bristol Post, BBC Radio Bristol, Bristol 247 and the Independent on Sunday. Over the past month, members of the public have been nominating others who they think make Bristol a happier place.

The power of listening

7 weeks 6 days ago

By Stacy Yelland, Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management

Fitter. Bendier. Happier.

8 weeks 3 days ago

By Hannah Stuart-Leach

When I first tried yoga, about three years ago, I was working long hours in an office and felt perpetually tired and stressed. I didn’t think I had time for socialising or to do hobbies I already had, let alone take up a new activity. A friend recommended I try yoga - “You don’t have time not to do it”, they said. I thought they were talking rubbish, frankly, but keen to get out of a rut I thought I might as well give it a go.

Finding a Happier Balance for the Budget

8 weeks 5 days ago

It's highly appropriate that George Osborne announces his budget on the United Nations International Day of Happiness. The UN celebration is rooted in the idea of Gross National Happiness – the indicator which looks likely to succeed GDP as our preferred measure of prosperity.

Opportunity

9 weeks 7 hours ago

By Miguel Mendonça

Mindful Shopping

9 weeks 3 days ago

Who enjoys food shopping? I mean, who really enjoys it? Please don’t confuse this question with who enjoys food. I love food. However, food shopping used to be one of my least favourite activities, down there with ironing and oven cleaning. Unlike ironing and oven cleaning which can be avoided a lot of the time, food shopping needs to be done on a regular basis. Once upon a time I used to go to one of the usual big supermarkets, chuck things mindlessly into a trolley as if on autopilot, and rarely engaging with what I was doing. I used to plug in my

Rebranding Happiness

12 weeks 14 hours ago

By Laura Collacott

Reasons to be Happy

12 weeks 5 days ago

Up Our Street is a community management organisation working to improve the Easton and Lawrence Hill neighbourhood. Driven by resident volunteers, it is shaping a happier, more engaged district. Up Our Street team member Stacy Yelland reveals how organisations such as hers can collaborate with Happy City to further the wellbeing agenda.

Not so Baby Steps

13 weeks 10 hours ago

By Laura Collacott

Loving Connections

13 weeks 1 day ago

By Miriam Akhtar

WorkHappy SuperBooster Service

13 weeks 5 days ago

The Happy City Initiative has been offering informal support to people looking for new direction, starting ventures, scaling up, or dealing with big challenges ever since we opened our doors. All the positive feedback has encouraged us to offer 1:1 sessions, designed to help you to flourish whilst supporting Happy City in its mission. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, activist, consultant, policy maker or just have a good idea, we can help.

Beat the Blues

17 weeks 14 hours ago

By Hannah Stuart-Leach

Local illustrators Drawn in Bristol are giving us reason to smile this January, whatever gloomy weather we face, with their ‘Beat the Blues’ exhibition at theatmospheric St George's concert hall.

Hannah's got the Bends...

18 weeks 4 days ago

Happy City resident journalist Hannah Stuart-Leach has successfully finished her first week of Bristol City Yoga’s January Challenge – to complete it, she must do a minimum of four classes a week throughout January. So far she’s sweated it out at a vigorous Ashtanga class, luxuriated in a relaxing Yoga Gently class and tried both Hatha and Vinyasa Flow classes. Check back soon to see if all that bending about has her feeling healthier and happier for 2013…

A new dawn for economics?

21 weeks 3 days ago

By Laura Collacott

How to have a Happy Christmas

21 weeks 3 days ago

By Jo Priest

A Light Box Happiness Project / Happy City event – The Galleries, Saturday 15th December, Tuesday 18th December 2012

NEWSLETTER #85

21 weeks 6 days ago

By Annabel Reddick

Everyone knows that happiness is contagious – now it looks like the study of happiness is also catching on, which is great news for people like Happy City who think it’s worth studying. Last week the Guardian reported that the mayor of Somerville in Massachusetts thought it was so important that the city became the first in the US to commission a Happiness Survey alongside its regular census.

Newsletter #84

22 weeks 6 days ago

By Annabel Reddick

'How to Have A Happy Christmas'

22 weeks 6 days ago

A special event brought to you by The Happiness Project with Happy City Initiative.

Saturday 15th December drop-in between 11-4 and Tuesday 18th December drop-in between 11-4

Come along and make your contribution to the 12 scrolls of Christmas, that will hold the secrets to the most enjoyable festive season ever.

A typewriting elf will help you compose your vintage letter of thanks, and post it for you too. Create a Christmas card and Hand-make your own Christmas Cracker.

A Diary of Contentment

23 weeks 3 days ago

By Laura Collacott

The Five Ways to Wellbeing are an evidence-based list of simple actions shown to improve wellbeing. We at Happy City are firmly behind them, but how easy are they to follow on a day-to-day basis? One of our volunteers spent a week actively logging their happy progress to see if following these principles really does make a difference.

1. Connect