Current:Home > MyWhat's the #1 thing to change to be happier? A top happiness researcher weighs in-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
What's the #1 thing to change to be happier? A top happiness researcher weighs in
View Date:2024-12-23 17:43:11
Happiness can be hard to quantify, because it can mean something different to everyone. But let's say you could change one thing in your life to become a happier person, like your income, a job, your relationships or your health. What would make the biggest difference?
That's the question that Dr. Robert Waldinger has been investigating for decades as the director of the world's longest-running scientific study of happiness. Waldinger says it began as a study of what makes people "thrive."
"We've spent so much time studying what goes wrong in life. And so, this was a study of how people take good paths as they go through life," said Waldinger.
The study followed people through the decades, consulting with their parents and now their children, who are mostly of the baby boomer generation. And Waldinger notes that there are different kinds of happiness.
"We do like that sugar rush high, that 'I'm having fun right now at this party' kind of high. And then there's the happiness that comes from feeling like, 'I'm having a good life, a decent life, a meaningful life," Waldinger explained. "We all want some of both, but some of us really prioritize one kind over the other kind."
So, if people could change one thing in their lives to be happier, what does the data say they should choose?
"They should invest in their relationships with other people."
His study has shown that the strongest predictors for people to maintain their happiness and health throughout the course of their lives were people who described their relationships as having satisfying levels of quality and warmth. And that applies to a wide breadth of interactions in your daily life, from spouses, close friends and colleagues to the barista who makes your morning coffee or the person delivering your mail.
"We get little hits of well-being in all these different kinds of relationships," Waldinger added.
He points to relationships acting as stress regulators in our everyday lives. Chronic stress is linked to a variety of negative health impacts, and can take a toll on people's physical and mental health. Having an effective outlet, like a good friend to rant to after a long day, can help alleviate that pressure. You don't have to be an extrovert to reap those social benefits, either. Waldinger says as long as you feel comfortable and connected, your relationships are benefitting you in many ways.
Waldinger emphasizes the importance of putting effort into friendships, saying that many valuable relationships can wither away from neglect. And even if you find yourself realizing that you may not have the connections you seek, today's as good a day as any to start forming those bonds.
"You know, we've tracked these lives for eight decades. And the wonderful thing about following these life stories is we learn it's never too late," he added. "There were people who thought they were never going to have good relationships, and then found a whole collection of good close friends in their 60s or 70s. There were people who found romance for the first time in their 80s. And so the message that we get from studying these thousands of lives is that it is never too late."
So if you've been prioritizing your well-being lately, and perhaps meaning to reach out to a friend, family member or loved one, it's never too late to send a quick message and catch up.
This article was adapted for the web by Manuela Lopez Restrepo.
veryGood! (713)
Related
- A pregnant woman sues for the right to an abortion in challenge to Kentucky’s near-total ban
- FDA signs off on updated COVID boosters. Here's what to know about the new vaccine shots for fall 2023.
- Former New York City police commissioner Howard Safir dies
- School bus driver suspected of not yielding before crash that killed high school student in car
- What Republicans are saying about Matt Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general
- Watch Messi play tonight with Argentina vs. Bolivia: Time, how to stream online
- Cody Walker Says Late Brother Paul Walker Would Be So Proud of Daughter Meadow
- Argentina beats altitude and Bolivia 3-0 in World Cup qualifier despite no Messi
- Diamond Sports Group can emerge out of bankruptcy after having reorganization plan approved
- Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval Says He Misses Friend Raquel Leviss in Birthday Note
Ranking
- Vermont man is fit to stand trial over shooting of 3 Palestinian college students
- Whatever happened to the project to crack the wealthy world's lock on mRNA vaccines?
- 6 people shot dead in seaside town near Athens, Greece
- Larry Nassar survivor says Michigan State’s latest mess shows it hasn’t learned from past
- Wildfires burn on both coasts. Is climate change to blame?
- Women, doctors announce legal action against abortion bans in 3 states
- Industrial policy, the debate!
- Carmakers doing little to protect the vast amounts of data that vehicles collect, study shows
Recommendation
-
Beyoncé nominated for album of the year at Grammys — again. Will she finally win?
-
Man sentenced to probation after wife recorded fight that ended with her found dead near stadium
-
Colorado man wins $5 million lottery jackpot. His first move? To buy a watermelon and flowers for his wife.
-
Defense attorney for BTK serial killer says his client isn’t involved in teen’s disappearance
-
12 college students charged with hate crimes after assault in Maryland
-
Wisconsin GOP to pursue nonpartisan redistricting to avoid having state justices toss maps
-
Vaccine skeptics dominate South Carolina pandemic preparation meeting as COVID-19 cases rise
-
Ukrainian pilots could be flying F-16s in three months, Air National Guard head says