Happiness Exercises

Last week, I shared a Ted Talk by Shawn Achor about how happiness is a choice. This got me thinking about our work here at ICES. As we continue to build a positive environment for our students, it’s important to remember that happiness starts with us. Shawn, a psychologist and best-selling author, has studied the science of happiness, and he offers six simple exercises that can help increase our happiness levels. They don’t take much time, but the impact can be significant.

I share these exercises below. I challenge each of you to see how you can incorporate at least one into your daily routine. This could be for yourself, with your students, or with your team. Imagine the ripple effect we could create by making happiness a habit at ICES. How can we model this for our students and help them discover their own happiness?

Gratitude Exercises
Write down three things you’re grateful for from the past 24 hours. They don’t have to be big—maybe it’s the smell of coffee brewing, the warmth of a sunny day, or a moment when a student grasped a concept. Could this become part of your morning routine with your students? Imagine the positivity it could build as they reflect on their own small wins.

The Doubler
Take one positive experience from the past day and spend two minutes writing down every detail. The more you relive it, the more your brain remembers it as meaningful. You could even ask students to reflect on a good moment from their school day to close the day on a positive note.

The Fun Fifteen
Do 15 minutes of fun cardio, like walking or dancing. Small movements can boost your mood just as effectively as medication. Consider how recess or even a quick brain break could be a “fun fifteen” for you and your students!

Meditation
Take two minutes to focus on your breathing. Try a mindful breathing exercise before or after lunch with your students. This gives both you and them a chance to reset and helps find calm in the day.

Conscious Acts of Kindness
Start each day by sending a short message or email praising someone you know. Could this be a new practice within our ICES community? Sending a quick message to a colleague or parent might brighten their day and yours.

Deepen Social Connections
Spend time with friends and family. Our connections are powerful predictors of success and happiness. How can we, as a school community, deepen our connections? Perhaps it’s sharing a quick check-in during meetings or finding moments to connect with each other outside the classroom.

We all could use a little more happiness in our lives—both for ourselves and for our students. Try one of these out this week, and let’s see how we can bring even more joy into ICES. I’d love to hear what you try and how it impacts your day!