A positive psychologist has shared simple 'joy missions' using proven happiness strategies to help adults close the 'joy gap' after research found 29% of people cannot remember the last time they experienced genuine joy.
Joy Experiment Reveals Missing Happiness
Psychologist Lowri Walsh conducted a 'joy' experiment and revealed how to discover happiness in the 'little things' after more than half of adults admitted that financial and workplace stress have replaced joy.
From offering someone a compliment to having a boogie, positive psychologist Lowri Walsh has revealed her expert recommendations for incorporating tiny bursts of joy into hectic schedules, which require just a few additional minutes daily.
Everyday Actions Bring Joy
Making time to eat tasty, but wholesome, meals is another easy way to remind yourself that joy often starts in the everyday. Embracing the saying 'dance like no one is watching' forms part of Walsh's 'joy missions', explaining how movement can interrupt the survival mode we often find ourselves in, helping loosen tension and reconnect with an unfiltered version of ourselves.
These recommendations were developed with Arla LactoFREE following a social experiment exploring how adults respond when invited to choose joy over routine, restraint, or practicality, revealing how quickly many people default to compromise.
Bridging the Joy Gap
Walsh created the collection of missions – which are grounded in positive psychology and the research behind emotional wellness – to bridge the 'joy gap', and move people away from going about their days on autopilot. The 'gap' describes the space between the amount of happiness we can get to and how often we actually allow ourselves to feel it.
It also follows research of 2,000 adults which revealed work pressures, financial concerns and family obligations mean 29% cannot recall the last time they felt true happiness. A further 34% confessed they regularly sacrifice the things that bring them joy.
Lowri Walsh said: "Many of us live in permanent 'survival mode' as we try to manage the constant stresses of modern living. In this state, we tend to prioritise productivity, efficiency and coping, while viewing joy as childish, indulgent or unnecessary.
"The good news is being joyful is not a fixed trait, it's a daily practice we can all access when we know how. Through a few simple 'missions', people can feel uplifted, lighter and reconnect with what makes them genuinely happy."
Factors Affecting Wellbeing
The study also uncovered the main factors causing adults to sacrifice their wellbeing, including insufficient sleep (35%) and their mental health (30%). Some 27% wish they could adopt a more childlike approach to decision-making, selecting something 'fun' 'just because'. Though 31% struggle to prioritise their own wellbeing.
However, the OnePoll.com findings also highlighted the things people refuse to sacrifice, including a morning brew, switching into comfortable clothing once the day finishes, and a Saturday morning lie-in.
Popular Joy-Boosting Methods
Popular methods to ignite joy included listening to music (50%), spending quality time with loved ones (46%) and going for a walk or run (41%).
Stuart Ibberson at Arla LactoFREE said: "As we get older, joy can start to feel like something we have to earn rather than something we can make space for every day.
"Work, family life and money worries all add up, and it's often the small things that get pushed aside first, but joy doesn't have to mean doing something big or extravagant.
"It can come from everyday habits that help you feel more like yourself again - whether that's connecting with a colleague or friend during a workday, taking a few minutes to enjoy something delicious, or simply saying yes to something that lifts your mood."
Lowri Walsh's Top Tips to Close the Joy Gap
Mind
Give someone a compliment: Telling someone that you like their coat or that they have a nice smile can create a brief, but powerful experience of shared emotion that boosts connection and lifts your mood.
Body
Dance it out: Movement can help us feel lighter by bringing us back into our bodies – and dancing is a great way to do this. Interrupt the survival mode we often find ourselves in, loosen tension and reconnect with a more instinctive, unfiltered version of yourself.
Tummy
Eat something nourishing: This can break the cycle of stress and bring a sense of comfort. Choose something that offers both taste and nutritional goodness to carve out a small but meaningful moment to reset.
