Want to live a happier life? Research points to 10 effective, practical strategies that can make all the difference, even for busy professionals. Here are the first five strategies—tune in tomorrow for the rest.
Invest in family and friends. The research is clear that though our natural impulse may be to buy stuff, we should invest instead in improving our closest relationships by sharing experiences and freeing up time to spend together.
Join a club. The “social capital” you get from voluntarily and regularly associating with other people, whether or not you do so through a formal club, has long been known to foster a sense of belonging and protect against loneliness and isolation.
Be active both mentally and physically. You can make this advice as complicated and expensive as you want. But if you like to keep things simple, just try to walk for an hour and read for an hour (not for work!) each day.
Look beyond the day-to-day. This might sound impractical if you don’t practice religion in the traditional sense, but for the purpose of happiness, religion can be understood more broadly as a spiritual or philosophical path. Search for transcendent truths beyond your individual daily life.
Get physical exercise. This is a slightly souped-up version of the third strategy above: Your daily walk should be supplemented with a deliberate exercise plan. This is consistent with the research showing that regular exercise of all different types enhances mood and social functioning. |
