Happiness survey + a bad week

A week or so ago, my post about happiness and distraction referenced data gathered via a "happiness app." Turns out the app is not designed to make you happy, but is a twice-a-day survey notification sent by phone. Although you are not supposed to answer questions while driving, the message that "you have a survey to complete"stops me in my tracks, even if I am headed out to work or about to make a phone call.

I have had a run of bad luck in the past week; no one is sick or homeless, but my car is dead (transmission gone), my beloved manager fired, and my favorite laying hen eaten by one of my own dogs. As I answer these survey questions, I wonder how my happiness results would differ on a good, or better yet, a normal week. In other words, how closely are my feelings tied to my current situation?

So far, it seems that I feel the best outdoors, talking to one person, and when I'm not at home or at work. I have completed 44% of my surveys, at the end of which I receive a happiness report, which comes with this disclaimer (among others):

Your report is based on a random sample of moments, over a specific period of time. Any conclusions you might draw should be tentative. If you’d reported on different moments, or done it a month earlier or later, you might see different results.

I am curious to see the report, and am hoping that this week's results make up for last week's. Until then, I plan to be outside talking to one person as much as possible.

Getting my feet wet

I chose the Simple template for my blog, not because of the name, but because I liked it for its lack of clutter. In fact, I removed a couple of elements that I deemed unnecessary -- and that is what I am striving for in my life. Nothing extra. Only what is truly needed and makes me happy.

Over the years I have made many steps toward decluttering and streamlining, donating kids' toys that would not be (and were not) missed, packing lunches the night before, employing the crockpot, trying to say "no," curbing my obsessive and time-consuming daily running habit....

But now it time to simplify in a bigger way, with the end goal being happy, or at least content. Lofty, I know. With this blog I intend to get my feet wet, reach of to other like-minded people, learn a lot, make mistakes, and ever day get one step closer.

Wish me luck.