From March 10-14, 2025, UC Irvine celebrated its second-annual Happiness Week, a campuswide celebration dedicated to enhancing student well-being and resilience leading into Winter Quarter finals. Led by the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) and supported by over a dozen campus partners, Happiness Week provided students opportunities to connect, recharge, and improve their mental and physical health with engaging activities, free snacks, and moments of joy.
“Making the time to care for yourself, especially during times of high stress, is a great way to improve focus and productivity,” explained Sarah Pressman, DUE Associate Dean and Professor of Psychological Science. “Finals are a stressful time for many, and while academic performance is always a major concern, we want to remind students that it’s just as important to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional health. This is why we were so excited to partner with units across campus to bring UC Irvine Happiness Week back for its second year!”
Each day of Happiness Week, students were invited to participate in various activities to relieve stress, boost their mood, and feed their bodies and souls. Popular activities included arts and crafts, games, yoga classes, and meditation sessions. In addition to encouraging students to de-stress and have fun, Happiness Week asked students to reflect positively on their lives by creating personal affirmations, writing messages of gratitude, and sharing helpful coping mechanisms with their peers. Students also enjoyed several free giveaways, including ramen bowls, snacks, and study supplies. Finally, to foster stronger connections, Happiness Week featured community-building events such as a book club party, a social coffee hour, and even a flash mob for mental health awareness. Check out the flash mob below!
Visit the Happiness Week website to learn more about this fun campus event and mark your calendars! UC Irvine Happiness Week will be back next year!