15 Ways to Happy
15 Ways to Happy
Jonathan Clements | July 11, 2020
WE DON’T PURSUE money just to put food on the table and a roof over our head. Instead, the hope is to enhance our life. On that score, it seems we aren’t doing terribly well: Our reported level of happiness is no higher than it was half a century ago.
Could we do better? I believe so. There’s been extensive research on happiness in recent decades. For those who want to dig into the details, you can find a great summary here. Want the Reader’s Digest version? These 15 steps could help your happiness:
1. Build wealth. Those with more income and greater wealth typically report higher levels of happiness, though there remains much debate about the precise relationship. Does the impact of money on happiness cap out at some income level? Does more money really improve day-to-day happiness—or only when we think about our standing relative to others? Whatever the case, money seems to help, so go ahead and save a little more. Your future self will thank you.
2. Avoid comparisons. While those with great wealth may get a warm glow when they ponder their bank balance, the rest of us need to tread more carefully: We may feel discontent with our lot in life if we know others have more. This is a reason to avoid living in a town where we’ll have rich neighbors, to skip restaurants we can’t really afford and to steer clear of salary discussions at the office.
3. Invest in friendship. Regularly seeing friends can give a big boost to happiness. Similarly, marriage seems to be a plus for happiness. But it appears divorce also helps, while widowhood can be devastating.
4. Get religion. Those who are religious tend to report higher levels of happiness, though the connection seems to be strongest among those with lower incomes or who live in less prosperous countries.
5. Work on your health. There’s some evidence that we adapt, at least in part, to debilitating medical conditions. Still, those in good health often report higher levels of happiness. Indeed, it appears to be a virtuous circle: Healthier people are happier—and happier people are more likely to take care of their health.
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