March 20th is the International Day of Happiness. Providing a moment of pause to focus on something powerful: happiness.
This year's theme is Caring and Sharing. A reminder that lasting joy doesn't live in the big moments, but in the small, deliberate ways we show up for each other, and ourselves. It's a theme so close to our hearts at The Biskery.
But here's the thing: happiness isn't something you switch on for a single day. It's a muscle that needs to be trained.
Why practising matters
Research from the Big Joy Project — a study analysing 17,598 people across 169 countries — found that just seven days of small, intentional acts of joy led to measurably higher emotional well-being, lower stress, and improved sleep. Seven days. Imagine what ten or more can do.
And the ripple doesn't stop with your happiness. Studies consistently show that acts of kindness boost happiness in both the giver and the receiver.
And here's the part that surprises most people: givers routinely underestimate how much their gesture means to the person receiving it. That cup of coffee. That unexpected note. That box of biscuits arriving at someone's home. It lands harder than you think.
Your 10-day happiness warm-up
Think of this as your personal kindness training plan, leading up to March 20th. None of these take more than a few minutes — but all of them count.
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Day 1–2 | Notice: Pay attention to who around you might need a lift. A colleague who's been quiet. A friend who's been juggling too much.
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Day 3–4 | Write it down: Send a voice note, a message, or a handwritten card to someone you haven't checked in with in a while.
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Day 5–6 | Go offline: Do something kind in person. Hold a door, make someone a tea, say thank you don't just think it.
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Day 7–8 | Think bigger: Who in your network deserves to feel celebrated out loud? Plan how you'll make them feel it on the 20th of March.
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Day 9 | Prep your happiness moment: Order something meaningful to give (biscuits, flowers, a book).
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Day 10 | Show up fully: Be the reason someone smiles today. And then do it again.
The science is on your side
Consistent acts of kindness — especially informal, personal ones — are linked to reductions in anxiety and depression, as well as genuine boosts in mental health. And this year's Caring and Sharing theme isn't just a warm idea; it's a call to act collectively, to build what the UN describes as "a happier, kinder world, online and offline".
You already know this, of course. Every time you send biscuits to someone you appreciate, you're doing exactly that.
Make it count on the 20th
Want to make sure the person you're thinking of actually feels it on International Day of Happiness? Order their biscuits today! We make every box to order, with all the love they deserves — and they land right on cue.
