Creating Happiness at BaseKit
International Day of Happiness came about in 2013, where the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which recognised happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and called for “a more inclusive approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples”.
It is now a global celebration and is coordinated by Action for Happiness, a non-profit movement of people from 160 countries, supported by a partnership of like-minded organisations.
At BaseKit, we believe in the idea that happiness comes from feeling connected to others and being part of something bigger. We always strive to ensure that the whole team has the opportunity to feel this way and there are four ways in which we try and promote happiness.
Connect with people
It’s well known that social interaction can help lower anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, and lead to higher self-esteem and empathy.
As the majority of our team work remotely , we are aware of the fact that this could increase feelings of loneliness and isolation, so we are always trying to ensure everyone has the chance to connect with others.
We do this through weekly stand ups which include a quiz and the sharing of good news, ‘happy hours’, where someone from the team surprises us with a fun activity or game, and also monthly ‘all hands’ meetings where people from around the business talk about achievements within the team.
Although these are only a part of someone’s day, we believe that small micro-interactions are really important to staying happy and content.
Tennille, who works remotely from Australia says, “BaseKit have always made a conscious effort to focus on inclusion regardless of where in the world you might reside. For example when we have monthly company meetings and lunch is provided, my doorbell rings and it’s an Uber eats delivery from BaseKit. It’s small gestures such as these that make me feel valued and included and a part of the overall team, even if I am 9,461 miles away!”
In your daily life, try and make the most of every interaction, whether this is virtually, or in person. Having a conversation can lead to learning something new, and you never know, could help improve something about your day!
Spend time outdoors
With International Day of Happiness coinciding with the first day of spring, getting outside couldn’t be easier with the longer, and hopefully drier days! It is also super important, and here at BaseKit the whole team is offered a fully flexible day to be able to enjoy our free time outside. So when our calendars are free, we’re able to take our breaks as and when we want. This allows us to be able to get outside and spend time doing the things we enjoy.
As a team we also try to incorporate this whilst we’re together in the office, from going to play five-a-side football, to setting step challenges for ourselves.
Set yourself a goal, as the days get longer and brighter, to spend more time outside, whether it’s enjoying your morning cuppa, or going for a short walk, as it can really improve your wellbeing.
The art of giving
The art of giving and doing something good for others is not only beneficial for them, it also increases your happiness too! It doesn’t have to be in the form of a physical gift – you can simply give someone a compliment or simply dedicate more time and energy to that particular person.
Here at BaseKit, we’ve implemented a reward system through Bonusly, whereby the team can give each other ‘bucks’ as a thank you, gift or well done to something they have done. It’s a great way to share appreciation throughout the team, and is a great way of spreading happiness.
Be more mindful
We’re really passionate about mindfulness and wellbeing at BaseKit and want to continue exploring ways to help our team keep their mind present and staying happy.
Rae, our Wellbeing Champion says “We have introduced Mindfulness Workshops once a month, including activities like origami, cake decorating and crafting – this has given us another avenue of wellbeing to explore and engage in together.”
Through these workshops it not only gives everyone the chance to take a step back and appreciate a bit of quiet time from their working day, but allows us to reconnect as a team and chat about other things which we may otherwise miss if we’re spending time on our own.
A great way to improve your mental wellbeing and happiness is to live more mindfully. This could be taking notice of the things around you, being more present and just taking a moment to appreciate what you have. This could be on your commute, whilst you’re out on a walk, or with friends and family. Or make sure you try and schedule time in your day to take part in mindfulness activities like we do here at BaseKit.
As a team we only share our ideas of what helps here at BaseKit, but we’re not professionals and there are so many other tips, advice, and guides which could help you. Take a look to see what might help you stay happy!