--- title: "Tech Talk: Happify Makes the Science of Happiness Fun and Accessible" description: "Finding the right version of a tech tool can be a Goldilocks experience. Sometimes, some experimenting is necessary. Lisa Hess finds the \"just right\" version of Happify." --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/10/01/tech-talk-happify-makes-the-science-of-happiness-fun-and-accessible#) [MEDIA](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/media) # Tech Talk: Happify Makes the Science of Happiness Fun and Accessible Oct 1, 2015 7:00:50 AM  |  by [Lisa Hess](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-hess) [![tech talk redesign](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/tech-talk-redesign1-95.png?width=720&height=340&name=tech-talk-redesign1-95.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/tech-talk-redesign1-95.png)This semester, I’m trying to help college freshmen articulate their ideas about success and happiness. When I found the Happify app, I thought it would be worth checking out, so I dutifully downloaded it. Twice. No — no problems with the download or with accessing the features. After playing with it for a bit, I intentionally deleted it, then, later on wondered if perhaps I’d dismissed it too hastily, so I re-installed it (it was free, after all). As it turned out, I liked taking the survey (twice), but I didn’t like the app itself any better the second time. It’s not a bad app — it just wasn’t the right fit for for me. Sure, I wanted more information on the subject of happiness, but I wasn’t interested in setting goals and establishing action steps. To me, that just sort of sucked the happiness right out of it. It made it feel very intense and overwhelming. Then again, I’m more of a spontaneous, global person than a step-by-step detail girl. As it turns out, though, Happify had something to offer me that *was *the right fit. Their email newsletter, Happify Daily, is just perfect. Its contents, a short informational video, a quote of the day on a pretty, social-media-shareable background and a short, smile-inspiring video like [this one](http://my.happify.com/hd/baby-gorilla-hide-and-seek-with-boy/), are like a menu of happiness booster shots; you may not want all three of them, but chances are good that at least one of them will be worth your time.   ![my.happify.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/happify-ring.jpg?width=116&height=115&name=happify-ring.jpg) my.happify.com   With experts like Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D. (*The How of Happiness*) and Shawn Achor (who gives a very entertaining [TED Talk](http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work/transcript?language=en)) behind it, Happify is science-based without being sciencey. And acronyms like [STAGE](http://www.happify.com/hd/the-5-skills-that-will-increase-your-happiness/) (savor, thank, aspire, give, and empathize), make it clear that science and spirituality aren’t mutually exclusive. And after all, who can't use a shot of happiness each day? The Happify app is available for iOS and Android. Visit [Happify.com](https://www.happify.com) to get started. *Copyright 2015 Lisa Hess. All rights reserved.* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F01%2Ftech-talk-happify-makes-the-science-of-happiness-fun-and-accessible%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F01%2Ftech-talk-happify-makes-the-science-of-happiness-fun-and-accessible%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F01%2Ftech-talk-happify-makes-the-science-of-happiness-fun-and-accessible%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Tech%20Talk%3A%20Happify%20Makes%20the%20Science%20of%20Happiness%20Fun%20and%20Accessible) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F01%2Ftech-talk-happify-makes-the-science-of-happiness-fun-and-accessible%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F01%2Ftech-talk-happify-makes-the-science-of-happiness-fun-and-accessible%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Lisa Hess](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lisa%20Lawmaster%20Hess.jpg) ### [Lisa Hess](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-hess) Transplanted Jersey girl Lisa Lawmaster Hess is the author of a blog compilation, three novels, and three non-fiction books, including the award-winning Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff. A retired elementary school counselor, Lisa is an adjunct professor of psychology at York College of Pennsylvania. She blogs at [The Porch Swing Chronicles](http://l2hess.blogspot.com/), [Organizing by STYLE](http://www.orgbystyle.blogspot.com/), and here at Catholicmom.com. [Read all articles by Lisa Hess](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-hess). [**](https://www.facebook.com/L2Hess/) [**](https://twitter.com/orgbystyle) ## Related Blog Articles [ Oatmeal Breakfast Recipe — Fast Superfood Version! Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/01/14/oatmeal-breakfast-recipe-fast-superfood-version) [ Be You in 2025! Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/be-you-in-2025) [ Does Everybody Need a Planner? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/does-everybody-need-a-planner) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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