Make a New Years resolution to look for joy, not doom

Do you know anyone who’s went to Iceland this year or plans to next?

Don’t be surprised if you do.

Iceland certainly hasn’t been immune to the pandemic, and has imposed and eased restrictions in response to the COVID-19 virus like the rest of the world.

But your friends may have been influenced by uplifting online content streamed by the Icelandic tourism department as part of the country’s “joyscrolling” campaign.

The Visit Iceland site features nearly 75 feet of uplifting photos of oceans, animals and relaxing façades in an attempt to curb some of the bad news that would otherwise populate the screen of your tablet or phone.

“Interspersing our negative news consumption with uplifting, inspiring content will help combat [bad] feelings,” Emma Kenny, a psychologist working with Visit Iceland told Lifehacker.

“Taking the time to engage with positive content can have an almost instantaneous impact on our emotional state, so joyscrolling is the perfect antidote.”

There’s no shortage of content available for those more prone to “doomscrolling,” which seems to be the default setting for 2020.

With winter darkness and today’s dreary weather, now would be a good time to turn the page to more hopeful, positive subjects to counteract the winter gloom.

Take a break from politics and conspiracy theories and turn to positive topics that build up yourself and others.

As a wise man once said, “a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”