Happiness and the Environment is a data story that tells us what the data is, what it means and how to use it to make decisions in our life. It is based on the Happiness Alliance's Gross National Happiness Index and data gathered since 2010.

1. Our Environment & Happiness
happiness data stories
you can use to make
decisions in your life.

2. Let’s take a trip down data lane.

3. Sense of belonging in community
100 = very strong sense of community
0 = no sense of community
Young people are hurting when it comes to
feeling a sense of community, but none of
us are doing very well.

4. Why does a sense of community matter?
Research says that the stronger your sense of
community, the more you feel good about your life.
Cramm & Neiboer, 2014; Farrell, Aubry, & Coulombe, 2004; Sum, Mathews, Pourghasen, & Hughes, 2009

5. Satisfaction with air quality
100 = very satisfied with the air quality
0 = not at all satisfied with the air quality
Young people are least satisfied with our air
quality but no body is very satisfied with it.

6. How does air quality impact our happiness?
Research tells us that you feel unhappy when your air
quality is bad, and that you are willing to trade a higher
income for a healthier environment.
Levinson, 2009

7. How healthy I feel my environment is
100 = feel my environment is very healthy
0 = feel my environment is not at all healthy
Young people feel the environment is not
more than somewhat healthy. No one feels
their environment is very healthy.

8. How does the health of our environment impact our happiness?
Happiness data collected by the Mappiness project
says that you are happiest when in nature.
MacKerron & Mourato, 2013

9. Satisfaction with preservation of nature
in one’s neighborhood
100 = very satisfied
0 = not at all satisfied
Young people are least satisfied with the
preservation of nature in their neighborhood
but nobody is very satisfied with it.

10. How does the preservation of nature impact our happiness?
Research indicates your happiness in inextricably linked to
the integrity and health of nature’s ecosystems (natural
resources).
Summers et. al., 2012

11. How often I volunteer
100 = volunteer at least once a month
0 = never volunteer
Young people volunteer less than once every
six months, whereas as we age, we volunteer
more frequently.

12. What does volunteering have to do with happiness?
Science tells us that when you volunteer, you get a long
lasting happiness effect.
Post, 2005; Borgonovi, 2008

13. I feel positive about myself
Young people feel marginally positive about
themselves. Most of us don’t feel that positive
or negative about ourselves.
100 = feel very positive
0 = do not feel at all positive

14. What are the connections between feeling positive
about yourself and your happiness?
Science tells us that when you feel positive about yourself,
your work performance is better, your relationships are better,
and you feel happier.
Sedikids et al, in Frogas, 2006

15. I feel optimistic about my future
Young people feel more optimistic about their
future than older people, but no one
completely agrees that they feel optimistic
about their future.
100 = feel very optimistic
0 = do not feel at all optimistic

16. How much does your happiness depend on optimism?
Science tells us that the more optimistic you are, the happier
you are.
Lyubomirshy, 2001

17. Life decisions, programs and
policies the data suggests
Next

18. Half Farmer – Half X Lifestyle
Started in Japan by N. Shiomi, Half Farmer Half X means
balancing your time between substance farming for you and
your family with work you are passionate about. Some
examples are Half-Farmer Half Writer, Half Farmer Half
Singer, Half Farmer Half Childcare worker.

19. Join an Community Garden (or the like)
Volunteer regularly at a community garden, urban farm
collective, community supported agriculture farm or other
garden. Some offer bartering opportunities for the time you
spend. Search online or ask farmers your local farmers
market to find the farm for you.

20. Start or join a rooftop garden
If you live in a multi-unit dwelling, the city may have
ordinances allowing for rooftop gardens and give
your building owner incentives for a rooftop garden.
Start small, and build community and beds as you
grow. There are lots of resources for building
rooftop gardens online. Most suggest starting with
herbs in container pots.

21. Plant an Edible Forest
In your front yard or parking strip. For the really
adventurous, join with your neighbors and convert a
parking strip or the garden area around a local
government facility into an edible forest! Focus on native
edibles that are water-wise. Put up signs to let your
neighbors know that you want to share the bounty.
for you, for your neighbors, for critters and for the six legged fellows.

22. And for the more adventurous…
Convert a vacant lot into a pocket park. This
requires lots of community development, working
with your city, grant writing and project
management and tolerance for uncertainty, but
converting a vacant lot in your neighborhood can
be incredibly rewarding for your community.
Create a Pocket Park

23. You are the Happiness Movement
happycounts.org