Happiness Habits is a secular, science-based course created by Action for Happiness. It combines expert-led insights, practical exercises, and supportive group discussions.
Our courses feature groups that meet up (online or in person) for 6 weeks of structured content and exercises, led by pairs of trained volunteers, to help you:
- Build Daily Well-Being: Explore six key themes—Gratitude, Self-Care, Relationships, Resilience, Kindness, and Meaning—one each week.
- Be Part of a Supportive Community: Connect with like-minded people who want to nurture happiness for themselves and others.
- Life Changes that Last: Take home simple, personalised actions to integrate into your routine—so changes stick beyond the course.
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About the Course:
Happiness Habits is a secular, science-based course for anyone ready to explore what matters most in life, connect more deeply with others, and take small steps toward greater well-being—both for themselves and the people around them.
On the course, you will:
- Learn: Engage with expert-led videos, mindfulness practices, and guided exercises that bring evidence-based insights into your daily routine.
- Connect: Meet like-minded people, explore key life themes, and discover fresh perspectives through shared discussions.
- Apply: After each session, choose simple, practical actions to embed these habits into your everyday life—building a foundation for lasting change.
By the end of six weeks, you’ll have delved into several important areas of life—from gratitude and self-care to finding meaning. Past participants often call it “life-changing” because of how it reshapes their approach to daily challenges and relationships.
What does the course cover?
Over the course of six weeks, you’ll explore the following foundational aspects of a happy and meaningful life:
- Week 1. Gratitude
- Week 2. Self-Care
- Week 3. Relationships
- Week 4. Resilience
- Week 5. Kindness
- Week 6. Meaning
Each 2-hour session features expert videos, mindfulness practices, group discussions, and small, self-chosen actions to help you build life-enhancing habits. You’ll get to see exclusive video content from some of the world’s leading researchers and thinkers, including:
Vanessa King
Head of Psychology, Action for Happiness
"What can we learn about happiness?"
Shawn Achor
Bestselling Positive Psychology Author
"How can we become happier?"
Kristen Neff
Professor of Psychology, University of Texas
"How can we be kinder to ourselves?"
Robert Waldinger
Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
"Why are relationships important for our happiness?"
Tal Ben-Shahar
Positive Psychologist, Harvard University
"How can we be more resilient?"
Matthieu Ricard
Buddhist Monk and Author
"How can we become kinder?"
Gretchen Rubin
Bestselling Author
"What makes life meaningful?"
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Professor of Medicine, University of Massachusetts
"What should be the purpose of our lives?"
…and many more!
Who is the course for?
This course is open to adults of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience:
- Rebuilding Your Well-Being? Whether you’re facing tough times or simply feeling stuck, our gentle approach helps you take small, steady steps toward renewed resilience.
- Curious to Learn the Latest Science? If you’re keen to dive deeper into cutting-edge happiness research, we’ll share insights and frameworks from top experts in the field.
- Looking for Connection? Join a supportive group that believes in uplifting each other—and make lasting friendships along the way.
- Ready to Pay It Forward? Discover meaningful ways to support friends, family, and even your wider community, with resources to become a volunteer or facilitator.
Please note: This course is not a form of group therapy. If you are experiencing severe challenges or mental health issues, we recommend seeking professional support.
What commitment does it involve?
We understand that six weekly sessions can sound like a lot. Think of it, however, as dedicating just two hours a week to your mental and emotional well-being—a structured yet flexible journey. Many participants say this regular schedule helps them build lasting habits rather than feeling overwhelmed by a quick fix.
If you can’t attend every session, don’t worry. We understand life happens. You’ll still benefit from the group discussions and course materials. Each week’s topic stands on its own but also builds on previous themes—helping you gradually deepen your insights.
Why donation-based?
Our mission is to make this course accessible to everyone, regardless of financial situation. That’s why we rely on a “donate what you can” model, with a suggested donation to guide your choice. If the suggested donation isn't comfortable for you right now, any amount is genuinely welcome, and no one is ever turned away for lack of funds.
Where Your Donation Goes:
- Keeping It Accessible: Your contribution covers administrative costs so everyone can join, regardless of financial hardship.
- Volunteer Training & Support: Our facilitators generously give their time; donations help us train and equip them.
- Developing Resources into the Future: Ensuring the content remains fresh, evidence-based, and impactful.
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Frequently Asked Questions
“I’m worried I won’t keep up with six sessions…”
We’ve designed this course so each week offers small, actionable steps and friendly group support—perfect for building momentum. Missing an occasional session is okay; the course is flexible, and many participants find they can catch up comfortably.
“I feel awkward donating less than the suggested amount. Is that really okay?”
Yes! The suggested donation is just a guideline. We genuinely welcome any amount—our priority is making sure the course is accessible. If times are tough, pay what you can or join for free. If you can give more, you’ll help someone else who can’t.
“Couldn’t I just spend my time and money on other well-being activities?”
Absolutely, and we encourage you to explore all avenues that support your happiness. Our unique approach combines expert insights, group discussion, and real-world applications, creating a sense of shared purpose and deeper transformation. Many participants find doing the Happiness Habits course both cost-effective and personally enriching.
"How big will the group be and what sort of people will I meet?"
Course group sizes can vary depending on their timing, them being online or in-person, and where they are located. Typically they have around 12 people, ensuring a balance between diversity of experience and giving everyone the chance to share and connect. Participants come from all walks of life, but share a commitment to creating more happiness for themselves and others.
"Who developed this course and how do I know it is legit?"
Happiness Habits was developed by the Action for Happiness team who together have decades of experience in developing wellbeing interventions.
It is based on the earlier ‘Exploring What Matters’ course which impacted thousands of participants from 2015-2020 and shown to significantly raise wellbeing and pro-social behaviour when evaluated by Oxford University and the London School of Economics.
Happiness Habits keeps the core model of the previous course:
- Tune In: use mindfulness exercises, expert speakers and personal reflections to help ground participants in the topic.
- Connect: use group and paired discussions to benefit from collective wisdom and feel supported by others.
- Take Action: commitment to taking action outside the sessions to practice and get first-hand experience.
And improves up on it by making it easier to access, making the focus more practical than philosophical and bringing all the content up to date.
"Who will be leading my course and how do I know they are any good?"
As with the previous course all individual courses are run locally by pairs of trained and selected volunteers.
All our volunteers have been through our volunteer training programme and are individually vetted and supported through calls with our volunteer manager.
The volunteers are there as facilitators rather than experts and the course has been specifically designed to maximise participant involvement - with volunteers in place just to guide things along.
Whilst they are not there to ‘teach’ on the course, we ensure all our volunteers are well briefed on the content, skilled in managing groups and are warm and compassionate people.
Happiness Habits – because small weekly steps can lead to big, lasting changes in your life and the world around you.
"I wholeheartedly support the course and hope that many thousands will benefit from it and be inspired to take their own action to create a happier world"
Patron
“I almost didn’t sign up because six weeks felt like a huge commitment. But once I started, I discovered how each session gave me small, practical steps—and the group support kept me motivated.”
Participant
“More or less everything is a highlight as it is mightily well researched and factual.”
Participant
“I felt awkward about giving less than the suggested amount, but the team assured me it was truly okay. I donated what I could and the course was still an incredible experience.”
Participant
“Being able to believe that I could be brave enough to change my circumstances/life, in order to be happier/make others happier around me.”
Participant
