UCI Happiness Week
Welcome to UCI’s 2nd Annual Happiness Week, a campus-wide celebration dedicated to enhancing well-being and resilience during the inevitable stress of the last week of the winter quarter. From March 10-14, 2025, join us for a series of engaging activities and initiatives designed to elevate your spirits, reduce stress, and foster a sense of community.
Led by the Division of Undergraduate Education and joined by almost 400 Social Ecology students taking Positive Psychology and about a dozen campus units, Happiness Week offers a diverse range of events to help you thrive academically and personally. Explore the power of gratitude with acts of kindness, find your inner peace through meditation sessions, and widen your worldview with awe-inspiring experiences. If that’s not enough, you’ll also be able to grab an array of happiness-filled free snacks and diverse activities across campus, and even throw a pie at Dean Michael Dennin in honor of this year’s Pi Day (3/14). With a focus on positive psychology and well-being, Happiness Week is your opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with others in a fun and meaningful way.
Join us and discover the joy of happiness at UCI!
Week at a Glance
Monday, March 10
9am – 4pm: Stress Relief through Coloring and Games
11am – 2pm: Fuel for Finals
12pm: Mindful Meditation
3pm – 4pm: Destress Time with Slime at the LRC
Tuesday, March 11
9am – 4pm: Stress Relief through Coloring and Games
9:30am – 4:30pm: Treats at DCP
11am – 12:30pm: Positive Psychology Interventions
2:30pm – 4:30pm: Stress Relief – Button Making & Paper Crafts
4pm – 5pm: Yoga by the Pool
Wednesday, March 12
9am – 4pm: Stress Relief through Coloring and Games
9:30am – 4:30pm: Treats at DCP
10am: Mindful Yoga
11am – 1pm: End of the Quarter Book Club Party
11am – 2pm: Gratitude & Civic Engagement
11:30am – 12:30pm: Cookies & Crafts
12pm – 1pm: Mindfulness in the Park
2:30pm – 4:30pm: Stress Relief – Button Making & Paper Crafts
Thursday, March 13
9am – 4pm: Stress Relief through Coloring and Games
9:30am – 4:30pm: Treats at DCP
10am-2pm: Study Supplies
10am – 4pm: The Write to Happiness
2pm – 4pm: Spin for Resilience
4:40pm: Flashmob for Mental Health Awareness
Friday, March 14
9am – 4pm: Stress Relief through Coloring and Games
11am – 12:30pm: International Coffee Hour
3pm – 5pm: Pi Day Celebration
5pm – 6:30pm: Cookies and Company
Schedule of Events
DTEI
Cheers & Chuckles: DTEI Happy Hour & Powerpoint Karaoke
DTEI will be hosting CHEERS & CHUCKLES: A Happy Hour and PowerPoint Karaoke event for faculty, graduate students, and staff. Cheers & Chuckles combines the elements of a traditional happy hour with the entertainment of PowerPoint Karaoke, a fun improv game where participants volunteer to give presentations using PowerPoint slides they’ve never seen before. Join us on Monday, March 11th from 3-4:30 PM in AIRB 1030 for snacks, drinks, and laughs!
- Location: Anteater Instruction and Research Building (AIRB) 1030
- Time and Date: Monday March 11th from 3-4:30 PM
UROP
Affirmation Gram Station
UCI students will be able to create a gram for their fellow peers to wish them luck on finals. UROP will provide students with a gram card they can customize with markers/colored pencils as well as candy to attach to their gram.
- Location: Science Library Rotunda (area outside of the main entrance of the Science Library).
- Time and Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024 11:30am to 2:00pm
DUE
PI Day
Come celebrate PI day (3/14) with us for some free pizza, pi digit memorization competitions for prizes, and more!
- Location: The Antrepreneur Center
- Time and Date: Thursday 3/14 at 4pm-5:30pm
WISE PAC
Flowering with WISE
We will be designing tote bags and making paper flower bouquets! The goal of the activity is to have students engage in stress-free arts & crafts event as a form of self-care. Attendees are expected to learn the importance of taking a break during their busy schedule and practice self-care.
- Location: SBSG 1517
- Time and Date: 3/13/24 @ 4 or 5pm (TIME TBD)
Undergraduate/Undeclared Advising
Games, Puzzles, and Coloring Books
Students can drop-in to the U/U student study lounge and partake in stress relieving and fun generating activities. There will be puzzles, games, and coloring books for students to play or do.
- Location: Undergraduate Education Building A, Room 107 (building 231 on the campus map/formerly Summer Session A)
- Time and Date: 9am to 4pm – M, W, Th, and F
Office of Campus Organizations & Volunteer Programs
Joyful Connections
Join the Office of Campus Organizations and Volunteer Programs to discuss the importance and power of maintaining and building nurturing connections through friendships at UCI and beyond. Learn about the connections between happiness and community while making friendship bracelets! We will celebrate the power of support systems and connections in the communities and organizations you are part of. Free snacks provided!
- Location: Dr. White Room, UCI Cross-Cultural Center
- Time and Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Division of Career Pathways
Snacks during Career Pathways Drop-ins
We will have Kind Bar treats for student available as we do our drop-in advising. Please feel free to stop in and have a resume reviewed, ask career related questions, learn about our photo booth and grab a treat!
- Location: Division of Career Pathways lobby
- Time and Date: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12:00-2:00pm
Womxn's Center for Success
Sad Girls Club at UCI & Study Session
Sad Girls Club is our ongoing effort to provide our community with social and emotional support in both the virtual and physical space! Our Sad Girls meet bi-weekly throughout the quarter to talk about a wide range of things. We end each quarter with a fun study session to prepare for finals season!
- Location: Womxn’s Center for Success G458 Student Center
- Time and Date:
- Sad Girls Club: Dates are ongoing and sign up can be found at this link: https://cglink.me/2eo/r1063256
- Sad Girls Club Study Session: March 18th from 12:00pm-2:00pm
International Center
International Coffee Hour: Pets Show and Tell
We serve free coffee, tea, and snacks at the event. Attendees will do pet trivia inspired by different cultures along with a paper craft activity.
- Location: Science Library Terrace (outside of the Science Library)
- Time and Date: Friday, March 15th, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Positive Psychology Class
A range of happiness promoting activities all over campus
Students from positive psychology will be doing happiness boosting activities all over campus
- Location: UCI campus
- Time and Date: Tuesday 11am-12:30pm
Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion
Healing Through 1000 Paper Cranes
Help contribute to the paper crane project! Students follow a wellness writing prompt and write on a piece of paper that will be folded into a paper crane and added to a final display of origami cranes.
- Location: Ring Road
- Time and Date: 3/12 @ 11-2pm
Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion
Sleep Week
Join us for the coinciding Sleep Week. Learn tips and tricks to improved sleep and how better sleep can lead to better moods.
- Location: Ring Road
- Time and Date: 3/13 @ 11-2pm
Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion
Take a Note, Leave a Note
Happiness Week continues! Find our board display with positive inspiration, have the chance to take a note, and to leave a note for someone else as well!
- Location: Ring Road
- Time and Date: 3/14 @ 11-2
Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct
Decision-Making Workshop
The choices we make may directly relate to the happiness of ourselves and those around us. Students are invited to reflect on and advance their decision making skills to assist them making decisions that reduce stress and increase their happiness. In a 50-minute interactive zoom workshop, students will identify personal values, ethics, consequences, and explore steps for making responsible decisions.
- Location: zoom – sign up for zoom link
- Time and Date: March 13 2-3PM
UCI Cross-Cultural Center
TBA
Event Details
Stress Relief through Coloring and Games
Undergraduate/Undeclared Advising
We’ll have coloring books and games set up in our study lounge all week for students to come destress and/or play.
Monday, March 10 – Friday, March 14
9AM – 4PM
Fuel for Finals
UCI Basic Needs Center
We will be providing instant ramen bowls for students to take. Each ramen bowl will come with a note of affirmations for the finals season & some quick “dress up your ramen” tips (e.g. add protein, veggies, etc. for a more well-rounded meal).
Monday, March 10
11AM – 2PM
Mindful Meditation
Veteran Services Center
Open to all UCI students! Mindfulness has been scientifically proven to help us cope with life’s stressors. Some of the benefits include anxiety reduction, enhanced sleep, improved mood, and increased ability to focus. No previous experience necessary and good for beginners.
Each participant will receive an essential oil roller! Register for the event.
Monday, March 10
12PM
Destress Time with Slime at the LRC
UCI Latinx Resource Center
Feeling exhausted? Need a break to recharge and de-stress? Come celebrate Happiness Week with the Latinx Resource Center in making slime to provide a soothing sensory experience that can calm the mind and body. Take a moment for yourself and learn some fun, practical ways to cope with stress and promote happiness! Materials will be provided.
Monday, March 10
3 – 4PM
Treats at DCP
Division of Career Pathways
Providing individually wrapped snacks such as candy bars or bags of chips to students who visit our facility
Tuesday, March 11 – Thursday, March 13
11AM – 2PM
Positive Psychology Interventions
Positive Psychology Class – Winter 2025
Join the Positive Psychology class for a variety of joyful activities on Ring Road and all over campus! From pet therapy, to acts of kindness, to face painting, you’ll find something for everyone! Bring your friends and discover new ways to promote wellbeing through positive psychology!
Tuesday, March 11
11AM – 12:30PM
Stress Relief – Button Making & Paper Crafts
UCI Libraries
Take a study break and stop by the Libraries! Enjoy some snacks, and relax by designing your own buttons and making paper crafts!
Tuesday, March 11 – Wednesday, March 12
2:30pm – 4:30PM
Yoga by the Pool
UCI Recreation
Class Information
Join us for a transformative one-hour yoga session Tuesday March 11th, at 4:00pm by the pool at the ARC. This class is designed to enhance your stress resilience through scientifically-backed practices. This class focuses on gentle yoga poses, mindful breathing, and meditation techniques that have been shown to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
Recent scientific research highlights the numerous benefits of yoga in fostering stress resilience. Studies indicate that regular yoga practice can lower cortisol levels, the body’s primary stress hormone, while increasing the production of endorphins, which are natural mood elevators. Yoga has also been found to enhance heart rate variability, a key indicator of the body’s ability to adapt to stress.
In this class, you will:
- Engage in a series of calming poses that promote relaxation and flexibility.
- Practice deep breathing exercises proven to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress responses.
- Experience guided meditation to cultivate mindfulness and present-moment awareness, crucial for managing stress effectively.
- Whether you’re new to yoga or an experienced practitioner, this class offers valuable insights into how yoga can be a powerful tool in building resilience against stress. Discover the scientific principles behind the practice and leave feeling rejuvenated and empowered to handle life’s challenges with greater ease.
Note: Please bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing. All levels are welcome.
Tuesday, March 11
4PM – 5PM
Mindful Yoga
Veterans Services Center
Join the Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion and Veteran Services Center for a free, guided yoga session! Open to all UCI students. Open to all levels (beginners to experts). Mats and materials will be provided. Register for the event.
Wednesday, March 12
10:00am
End of the Quarter Book Club Party
ANTreprenur Center
Whether you joined winter book club or just love books, we are so excited to announce our book club party in honor of Happiness Week! Join us for snacks, reading the last chapter of “The Mountain Is You”, time to network with each other and other fun actives that promote healthy human connect and spreading the love of reading. We will also be choosing what book to read for Spring. Do not miss out!
Wednesday, March 12
11AM – 1PM
Gratitude & Civic Engagement
Office of Civic Engagement
Tabling activity where students can write messages of gratitude to their local, state, or federal representatives. In many cases, people write and call their representatives with concerns or problems. We want to flip this during Happiness Week to encourage folks to consider what their representatives do well or how they are supported. Education on how to find out more about representatives will also be provided.
Wednesday, March 12
11AM – 2PM
Cookies & Crafts
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
Come take a break from studying and destress with us! We’ll be providing cookies, snacks, and other light refreshments to snack on. Make a friendship bracelet, color some mandalas, or make an essential oil blend to relax!
Wednesday, March 12
11:30AM – 12:30PM
Mindfulness in the Park
Wellness Initiative in Social Ecology Peer Advisory Collective (WISE PAC) Culture Cluster
WISE will be conducting a group guided meditation led by the WISE Culture Cluster in Aldrich Park. This mindfulness meditation will be a way for students to unwind and destress during the midst of finals season. Snacks, drinks, and self-care items will also be provided for students to enjoy. We encourage students to bring their own blankets for extra comfort!
Wednesday, March 12
12PM – 1PM
Study Supplies
Sorority & Fraternity Life
Students can visit the table to grab study supplies like blue books, scantrons, pens/pencils, quotes, and giveaways like snacks.
Thursday, March 13
10am – 2pm
The Write to Happiness
Center for Excellence in Writing and Communication
Join the Writing Center team for some light refreshments and writing activities! Choose between “Positive Affirmations Mad Libs” where you fill in the blanks of pre-written prompts with adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs that encourage confidence, or “Sticking Together” where you can give confidence to others by writing down a compliment or describing something/someone that makes you happy, then add your contribution to the kindness chain.
Thursday, March 13
10AM – 4PM
Spin for Resilience
Associated Student UCI (ASUCI)
Create a large and colorful “mood wheel” with different emotions listed on it. Students will take turns spinning the wheel, depending on what mood it lands on, then student would have to share a coping strategy for when dealing with that emotion. This highlights the importance of emotional management for mental resilience
Thursday, March 13
2PM – 4PM
Flashmob for Mental Health Awareness
Psychological Sciences Class
We will be leading a “flashmob” where you can dance (or spectate) as we have fun for a few minutes between classes. If you’re so inclined, the suggested attire is jeans and a dark shirt… but come as you are!
After the dance, folks are invited to join my class to watch a series of 3-minute public service announcements related to the topic of mental health created by my students.
Thursday, March 13
4:40pm
International Coffee Hour
International Student Center
International Coffee Hour is a drop-in social event that happens every Friday in front of the Science Library from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Attendees can grab free coffee, tea, and snacks while sharing their happy memories.
Friday, March 14
11AM – 12:30PM
Pi Day Celebration
Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching & Learning
Join the departments that make up OVPTL to learn about what we do and how we can support you while enjoying pizza pie, games, and the annual Pi reciting contest.
Learn more about Pi Day Celebration!
Friday, March 14
3PM – 5PM
Cookies and Company
Wellness Initiative in Social Ecology Peer Advisory Collective (WISE PAC) Self-Care Cluster
WISE PAC will be hosting an event called Cookies n’ Company on March 14, from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, where students can decorate cookies and de-stress before the upcoming finals.
Friday, March 14
5PM – 6:30PM
Thank you to our Campus Partners
ANTrepreneur Center
Associated Student UC Irvine (ASUCI)
Center for Excellence in Writing and Communication
Division of Career Pathways
International Center
Office of Civic Engagement
Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching & Learning
Positive Psychology Class Winter 2025
Sorority & Fraternity Life
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
UCI Basic Needs Center
UCI Libraries
UCI Recreation
Undergraduate/Undeclared Advising
Wellness Initiative in Social Ecology Peer Advisory Collective (WISE PAC) Culture Cluster
Veteran Services Center
