Photo by Shelley Pauls on Unsplash

A very happy Friday to you! In this edition of Link Love, I share a collection of articles about systems, habits, and beliefs that can help us feel happier—plus a couple of unrelated minor delights. Enjoy!

I love the two-minute system Neil Pasrischa uses when anxiety spikes. Click here to learn more about “Rose, Rose, Thorn, Bud.” 

I’m practicing several of these slow living habits. 

Why does Finland consistently rank as the happiest country in the world? Here are six habits and beliefs that contribute. (I especially found it interesting that “happiness” for Finns is more about contentment and life satisfaction than feelings of “overwhelming happiness.”) 

In the face of setbacks and hard times, how do you keep calm and carry on? Here are some great answers to that question. 

Spending too much time online makes me unhappy, so I’ve been trying to cut down on mindlessly scrolling on my phone. “The Real Secret to Reducing Screen Time” has some helpful suggestions; click through to see the details, but “The real secret to reducing screen time is to shift your focus from controlling your phone to forgetting all about it.” 

Reading is a source of joy for me, but I can get caught up in trying to read more books at the cost of a deeper, more rewarding reading experience. Reading faster doesn’t mean reading better. In “What we lose when we gamify reading,” Marissa Levien discusses how we can take goal setting around reading too far, to our own detriment. 

In February, Larry the cat celebrated 15 years as the British government’s official rodent-catcher and unofficial first feline. His duties include “greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defenses and testing antique furniture for napping quality.” He’s been known to say hello to world leaders and photobomb visitors as they enter the front door of No. 10 Downing Street. 

This is a beautiful version of Elton John’s “Your Song.” 

Have a great weekend!

Peaceful mornings

Watching leaf shadows dance on the walls and floor of my new home office. Photos coming soon when I’m finished with the last bit of unpacking (see below).

Sifting through the last box of research and other files from my old home office, deciding what to keep and what to let go of. 

Office helper

Developing new morning, afternoon, and evening routines to avoid the doomscroll and to fill time I used to spend on Tank. 

Taking Luna on “sniffari” in our yard, since it’s not fenced and she has to stay on leash when outside.

Enjoying quiet instead of comfort TV playing in the background, because it doesn’t hurt as much to think.

Savoring the calm before the kitchen remodeling storm.

Digging deeper into organizing at home and preparing for emergencies (I’m looking at you, hurricane season) so I can be more proactive than reactive.

Watching Lightning hockey—their first Stanley Cup playoff game is this weekend!

Taking hot baths before bed and going to sleep early.

Feeling inspired by the Artemis II astronauts and mission, and loving the beautiful photos from space. 

Reading lots of great books. (Currently: Flashlight, by Susan Choi and Vesper Flights, by Helen Macdonald. These will probably be my two favorites in this month’s Happy Little Thoughts newsletter—subscribe here.)   

It’s such a little, ordinary life, but one filled with delightful moments—simple pleasures and even a few everyday adventures.  I like it like that. I don’t want a loud, public life. I want a quiet, satisfying, gentle one. After a prolonged time of stress, I’m rejoicing in a stretch of peaceful days. I know I’m very lucky that life right now looks pretty good, and I’m grateful for it.

What does life look like for you right now? What’s bringing you delight? What’s challenging you?

Photo by Trent Erwin on Unsplash

During the last few months of 2024 and almost the whole of 2025, I spent all my time randomly ping ponging around, putting out metaphorical fire after fire. These included dealing with the aftermath of a major hurricane, moving, maintaining and selling our family home while not living in it, unpacking, renovations, and the death of my horse. I set no goals (is “surviving” a goal?) and made no real plans for myself, other than trying to get fully unpacked and settled in to our new and smaller home. The entire year of 2025 is basically a blur.

And while 2026 is shaping up to be a much calmer year overall (fingers crossed), I didn’t start it by setting a bunch of big goals for myself. I did fill out a “26 in 26” list, and set a word for the year, a phrase, actually, “mend and tend,” and that has been my focus during the first three months of 2026. 

It feels good to have the breathing room to putter around fixing and cleaning and rearranging. When I got tired, I retreated to the couch. 

And though we’re only into the second quarter of the year, I’m thinking about finishing. Finishing the renovations (kitchen and second bathroom are up next and they’re the last ones), finishing several courses I’ve signed up for but haven’t had the time or mental bandwidth to complete, finishing the unpacking (I only have a box or two left). Even finishing the sketchbook I took to France in 2018! 

It feels like closing tabs in my brain, and that feels good.

You are enough

I still feel the urge to Make Big Plans, but I know they have to be the right ones, ones that come from my heart. I read something in a newsletter from Jenna Kutcher last week that resonated with me:

“What if we just stopped? Like what if the most radical thing we did heading into Q2 wasn’t a new strategy or a rebrand or another launch plan, but a single, quiet decision to stop shrinking, to stop performing wellness and actually live it, to stop building something that looks right and start building something that feels true.

“You don't need a birthday or a milestone or a sign from the universe to give yourself permission to recalibrate. The end of a quarter is enough. This moment is enough. You are enough.”   

What has the first quarter of 2026 been like for you?

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Photo by Jon Gibbins on Unsplash

What makes you happy?

Today’s a good day to ponder that, because it’s not only the first day of spring—generally a happy time for most—it’s also the International Day of Happiness. 

Everyone wants to be happy

Happiness is not a small or unimportant thing. Even the United Nations has recognized that happiness is a human right and worth celebrating, and they have proclaimed March 20 the annual International Day of Happiness. This proclamation was intended to remind and encourage governments to consider the value of citizens’ happiness and wellbeing as well as economic opportunity and growth when creating public policy. Sadly, I think we have a long way to go before this is the case, but I appreciate the gesture. 

Social media and happiness

This year’s focus is on happiness and social media. According to U.N. International Day of Happiness partner Action for Happiness, “There’s no one ‘right’ way to use social media, but small, thoughtful choices about how we use it and how we treat each other online can make a real difference.”

I’ve fought my own battles with allowing social media to take up too much time and attention. Too much Instagram (my social media of choice) can definitely affect my happiness, so I appreciated these three suggestions from Action for Happiness to help us build a happier relationship with social media: 

First, choose when and how much time you spend on social media. If you want to spend less time scrolling, create a list of alternate activities, set a timer to limit use, and/or try a “digital sabbath.”

Second, don’t let scrolling social media take the place of in-real-life connection. It’s great to connect with friends and meaningful communities online—just be sure you also make in-person plans, and pick up the phone to call friends and family members when you can.

Third, curate your social media experience to support your wellbeing. Follow positive accounts, share uplifting stories and ideas, and don’t spread misinformation. And always, always be kind and respectful when commenting on other people’s posts.

Stop to appreciate what makes you happy

While social media often doesn’t make us happy, what does? Why not stop today and appreciate what makes you happy? I’ll go first. Things making me happy today include:

• Open windows bringing in fresh air
• Vlad the Inhaler helping me clean the house 
• Meeting a teacher friend for brunch
• Petting my purring cat

It’s impossible to ignore the conflict and suffering taking place in the world—and we shouldn’t ignore it—but let’s not forget what does contribute to happiness and wellbeing, for ourselves and for others. Will my happiness, or yours, hurt anyone? Unlikely. My being a grouchy jerk might, though. If I’m lucky enough to have the choice, I choose happiness. I hope you do, too.  

What’s making you happy today?