The simplicity of these science-backed happiness habits – and how easy they are to incorporate in your life – may surprise you.
Easy steps to happiness
These simple happiness habits are backed by science – and can easily be incorporated into your life.
Give money away
Donating $500 has the same effect on how wealthy you feel as earning an extra $10,000 in income, a Harvard Business School study found last year. Other studies have found that donating much smaller amounts of money makes people feel pleasure. Whether it’s spare change or a higher-than-expected tax return, consider giving to a favourite charity to be happier.
Think of buying an “experience”
Earlier studies had found that spending money on experiences (ie, concert tickets, a trip) increases happiness more than shelling out for material goods; now new research show this mood lift can come from simply drafting your list. A 2014 Cornell study found that people who merely anticipate making an upcoming experiential purchase, such as ski lessons, report higher levels of happiness than those who plan to buy, say, a new tech gadget.
Discover the two years that you’ll be happiest in your life, according to science.