International Day of Happiness is here! So what better time to explore the things that make us happy and to explain how Kixx creates happiness at our football academy?
What Is International Day of Happiness?
International Day of Happiness takes place, today, on the 20th of March each year. It was founded by the United Nations in 2012, and was inspired by Bhutan, a country that has prioritised national happiness since the 1970s.
The idea behind having an International Day of Happiness is to recognise the importance of happiness for every individual across the globe. It also aims to promote a more balanced approach to economic growth that improves happiness and well-being.
As part of International Day of Happiness, the UN compiles a World Happiness Report, which uses data to report on happiness levels around the world. In last year’s report, the UK was ranked 19th out of 137 countries.
What Makes Us Happy?
We’re all individuals, so of course, the things that make us happy will vary from person to person. For some people, happiness might come from helping others, while for others it might mean spending time in nature.
However, there are a few things that experts agree can help make us all happier…
Exercising
Everyone knows that exercise is good for you but it isn’t just about improving your physical health. Getting enough physical activity in your day is also great for mental health. Exercise has been shown to help reduce anxiety, depression and stress levels, as well as releasing feel-good chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin, which boost your mood.
Getting Plenty of Sleep
Sleep has a huge effect on how we feel, not just physically but mentally too, so getting enough sleep can help a person feel happier. Adults generally need around seven hours, while children of different ages need anything from eight hours for older teens to sixteen hours for young babies!
Being Outdoors
Spending time outside can help us feel happier. This is because nature helps to decrease stress and anxiety levels and makes us feel calmer.
Spending Time With Loved Ones
Another way to improve happiness is to spend time with the people we love. Whether that’s our friends and family or even our pets! Being around the people we love releases oxytocin, which makes us feel good, and helps us bond with others.
Boosting Self Esteem
Self-esteem and confidence play an important role in happiness. The better we feel about ourselves, the happier we are. There are many different ways to boost confidence and improve self-esteem, including trying new things, spending time doing activities we enjoy and helping others.
Creating Happiness at our Football Academy
So, knowing what we do about happiness, how do we create it at our football academy?
Here at Kixx, we know how important it is to be happy, and that includes everyone involved in our academy, from the children taking part in our football lessons, to our coaches, and to the parents and guardians watching from the sidelines.
Here are just some of the things we do to create a happy environment at Kixx…
Promote a Healthy Lifestyle
Our football lessons encourage children to make healthy choices. Our sessions help to ensure that children get the right amount of exercise and help them understand how factors like sleep and nutrition can affect the way they feel both on and off the pitch.
Build Confidence
Joining a football academy like Kixx is a great way to build confidence, and raise self-esteem. Through football, children are able to build character and improve their resilience. During their lessons, children have the chance to try new things and are supported to master new skills and encouraged to help others, leaving them feeling empowered and ready to tackle whatever life throws at them.
Encourage Teamwork
As part of a football academy, children have to learn how to work together as a team to achieve their goals, which is not only an excellent life lesson but can also boost feelings of social belonging, which are linked to how happy a person feels.
A Supportive Community
At Kixx, we pride ourselves on the positive and welcoming environment we’ve created with our football academy. The Kixx family is a supportive community of people brought together by a love for the game and united in their passion to inspire and encourage the next generation to discover the joy of football.
Happiness For Everyone
At Kixx, we think happiness should be for everyone! That means we want our coaches, parents, carers, grandparents and siblings to be happy too, not just the children taking part in our academy.
Our coaches benefit from the support and experience of #TeamOrange, and career opportunities across the UK. At the same time, Kixx parents and guardians are welcomed to our diverse, positive and welcoming community. They also benefit from our commitment-free introduction to football, with a free Kixx kit and a full refund if your child doesn’t enjoy their first session. We also encourage the whole family to get involved, whether that’s grandparents, carers or siblings!
International Day of Happiness at Our Football Academy
At Kixx, we think it’s important to be happy every day, not just on the International Day of Happiness! We understand how important it is that your child is happy when playing football and we strive to create an environment that promotes happiness both on and off the pitch.
Our football academy is a positive environment that nurtures children’s mental health and aims to build self-esteem so that our players carry themselves with confidence wherever they go.
If you want to find out more about our football academy, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can also give us a call on 01302 618080 or email us at admin@kixx.org.uk.
