The 50 little things that make us happy
Published: 10:00, 11 July 2016
Being bought flowers and finding a tenner in your pocket are among life’s happiest moments, according to new research.
A study of 2000 UK adults revealed the little things which make them happy – including being told you’ve lost weight and getting a good deal when shopping.
Seeing the sunshine, getting into a bed with fresh sheets, and the smell of bacon also help to brighten our day.
Other happy moments include seeing a dog with their head sticking out of the car window, being surprised with flowers or chocolates and the first coffee of the day.
The research was commissioned by Spirini, a new mobile phone app for deal hunters.
A spokesman for Spirini, Chris Needham said: “The results show how we get a little bit of joy from the littlest of things. Many of us lead really busy lives and sometimes things can get a bit overwhelming so it’s really important that we get a bit of happiness whenever we can.
“From getting a compliment to seeing something that makes us giggle it often the small things that make us happiest.”
Also in the top 50 is seeing an old couple holding hands, watching funny animal videos and the smell of freshly cut grass.
Having a good hair day features high in the list, along with seeing a baby smile and waking-up at the weekend and realising you don’t have to go to work.
The top 50 little things that make us happy
Perfectly toasted toast, the lift arriving the second you push the button and getting some juicy gossip from a pal also feature.
Unfortunately for many, the hustle and bustle of everyday life means the average person is only happy for 5 hours 33 minutes on a typical day. While the research found that UK adults are typically happy four times a day and we are at our happiest when we are 26 years old.
Chris Needham from Spirini said: “We don’t always have the time to scour the high streets for a good price – or know where to begin when we want to be spontaneous.
“That’s where the Spirini app can help – it’s like having a local expert in your pocket who knows all the best places to go”.
TOP 50 LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE US HAPPY
1 Getting a bargain
2 Getting into a bed with freshly ironed sheets
3 Seeing the sunshine
4 Finding a forgotten tenner in your pocket
5 Being told you’ve lost weight
6 Funny animal videos
7 Someone telling you that you look nice
8 Seeing a baby’s smile
9 Smell of freshly cut grass
10 Seeing an old couple holding hands
11 When daffodils come into bloom
12 A lie in
13 When your favourite song comes on the radio
14 The smell of bacon
15 Having a good hair day
16 Being surprised with flowers or chocolate
17 Someone thinking you’re younger than you actually are
18 A spontaneous hug/kiss/I love you from your kids
19 Being spontaneous
20 Waking up at the weekend (or Bank Holiday) and realising you don’t have to go to work
21 First coffee or tea of the morning
22 Home time after a day at work
23 Hearing one of your children has been super polite
24 Seeing your children win something
25 Being greeted by your dog
26 When a pen writes nicely
27 Perfectly toasted toast
28 Finding a really comfy bra
29 Seeing dogs stick their head out of car windows
30 Getting asked for ID even though you’re clearly old enough to drink
31 The lift arriving the second you push the button
32 When your cake rises
33 Catching your train in time
34 Getting some juicy gossip from a friend
35 Seeing people fall over
36 Finding a forgotten bottle of booze in the fridge/cupboard
37 Feeling particularly energetic at a sports class
38 Beating the traffic and speedily getting to work
39 Falling asleep in front of the TV
40 Getting new make-up/cosmetics
41 Sound of champagne corks popping
42 Pouring a perfect beer
43 Putting on a new pair of socks
44 Taking a nice selfie
45 Overtaking a smart Alec on the motorway
46 Seeing a celebrity you don’t like get caught out
47 Having just enough milk for a bowl of cereal
48 Managing to perfectly mow lines into your garden lawn
49 Peeling an apple in one long peel
50 Overtaking another runner when you’re out for a jog