Not a morning person? Here’s how to change that. The secret to consistently happy mornings isn’t hard — it just takes a little practice and discipline, said Dr. Michele Leno, a licensed psychologist and the founder of DML Psychological Services in Michigan. Below are four habits to ditch in the mornings — and five you should … Read more
The average American finds happiness in the “little things” 57 times per week, according to new research. The survey of 2,000 general population Americans revealed that, on average, respondents find happiness in small things about eight times per day, adding up to just under 60 per week. To improve their mood throughout the day — and … Read more
Generation Z is still under 30 — but they may be approaching their “mid-life crisis” era. Those born between 1997 and 2012 are already suffering what many don’t experience until middle age — and it’s all thanks to social media, according to the US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. “What’s happening in social media is the … Read more
If you’re happy and you know it, move to Finland. Gallup released the 2024 World Happiness Report and it turns out young people in the United States and Western Europe are becoming less satisfied with their lives. The report, which was conducted over a three-year period, surveyed more than 100,000 people in 143 countries who … Read more
The spring equinox is equinox-ing on March 19, 2024 at 11:06 P.M. EDT and after many months of turtlenecks and gray skies, spring hath sprung in the Northern Hemisphere. The spring, or vernal if you’re nasty, equinox refers to the moment in which the sun crosses the earth’s equator. The vernal equinox coincides with the … Read more
For a number of years now, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world. Don’t get it twisted, warns Frank Martela, a Finnish psychology researcher and philosopher. Finns aren’t born spitting rainbows — and they work hard to earn that title. “It would be more accurate to say that Finland is the country that … Read more
Popular research — now debunked, it seems — has dictated that the average person needs no more than $75,000 a year (slightly adjusted, for recent inflation reasons, of course) to be happy. Having more than that, we’ve been told many times, isn’t necessarily a good thing. Except that some experts say isn’t necessarily true. In search of … Read more
Don’t kettle for just any source of caffeine — green tea has its health benefits, but it could also make you happier. Previous research has shown the positive quali-teas of the drink, such as reducing the risk of fatal heart disease and stroke, and it can reportedly act as a mood booster as well. “Scientifically, … Read more
They’re trying to break the ice in chilly Scandinavia. A city in northern Sweden where the sun barely shines all winter long has come up with a simple way of connecting lonely residents — by asking everyone to say “hello” to each other, the Guardian reported. The idea comes as the planet grapples with post-pandemic … Read more
World got you down? A hit of “dopamine decor” might lift the spirits. The biggest trend in home decorating this fall is an emphasis on happiness, self-expression, color and creativity. Does orange make you smile? Dress your kitchen in the happy hue. Love a variety of styles? Do a mashup. The look goes by many names. Fashion writer Dawnn Karen … Read more
There’s no such thing as too much puppy love. Interactions with dogs, whether it be your own or someone else’s, can actually boost your health — even if they’re brief, Nancy Gee, a psychology professor and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University told NPR. “I think it is safe to say … Read more
Have you ever noticed a boost in your mood during the summer? This is extremely common and there are tons of reasons why. Cold weather has its positive moments, such as the sight of a light dusting of snow over the trees and cozying up by the fireplace at night; but for a lot of … Read more
It’s an age old extensional question: What is the secret to happiness? To unlock the answer, 31-year-old Akso Heart took a four-day happiness masterclass at a beautiful Finnish Lakeland resort — and said the secret lies in nature, fresh food and limiting materialism and societal pressure. “Everything seemed like a natural way of being” and … Read more
Misery finds the most company across these down-and-out nations. Zimbabwe was named the most miserable country on Steve Hanke’s Annual Misery Index (HAMI) this month out of 157 analyzed. The 2022 ranking determined the HAMI score for each country using an equation that considered unemployment, inflation, bank-lending rates and the percentage change in GDP. The … Read more
People who are spiritually fulfilled are nearly twice as likely to believe in the “law of attraction” and that they have control over their own happiness. That’s according to a recent survey of 2,000 Americans, 74% of whom subscribe to the popular new age theory that positive thinking will yield positive experiences. People who identified … Read more
The most popular class at Yale University is called “Life Worth Living” and is taught by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. The overwhelmingly positive reviews of the class might seem surprising, given that it could upend a student’s life direction (or at least the selection of a major — although one student … Read more
Despite the world shutting down for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it apparently hasn’t negatively affected people’s overall happiness. According to a study published in the annual World Happiness Report that surveyed more than 100,000 people in 137 countries, respondents are happier now than before the coronavirus caused worldwide lockdowns and worldwide uncertainty. The … Read more
Dan Lyons was always an over talker: His wife considered chatting with him not a conversation but a one-sided “Danalogue.” His constant blabbering once cost Dan a mountain of cash. He’d been hired at a Silicon Valley IT company and could’ve been awarded stock options, but Lyons was fired before hitting his second anniversary because … Read more
Pick up on these good vibrations. A UK researcher is revealing the songs most likely to make listeners feel happy — and it all boils down to a simple formula. Dr. Michael Bonshor, who teaches music psychology at the University of Sheffield, claims the winning combination for a joyful score is: A major key, 7th chords, … Read more
Hey, bestie! Do you talk to your best friend every day? Well, perhaps you should. Having just one quality conversation with a bud per day could boost your well-being, according to a paper published in SAGE Journals. Scientists identified seven common types of communication: catching up, meaningful talk, joking around, showing care, listening, valuing others … Read more