20 Facts About Happiness
Have you ever wondered what makes us happy? What causes happiness? Can we show prove what makes people happy?
If you, like me, are data-driven and like to have scientific facts and statistics, then this list is for you, my friend! Read on for some of the most interesting results of research on happiness.
1 – People who spend six to seven hours each day with their friends and family are 12 times as likely to feel joyful than anxious and stressed. (Gallup)
2 – Gratitude journals, where you write down things you are grateful for, lead to higher levels of optimism and overall satisfaction with life. (Harvard Medical School)
3 – Forgiving people we feel have done us wrong helps us feel better about ourselves, sustain more positive emotions, and experience a deeper connection to others. (Journal of Health and Psychology)
4 – After reaching an annual salary of $75,000, making more money doesn’t have a significant effect on your daily happiness. (Princeton University)
5 – The practice of savoring positive feelings as we experience them impacts how much of a mood boost we get. (The Journal of Neuroscience)
6 – Spending money on others causes higher happiness levels than spending money on yourself. (University of British Columbia)
7 – Exercising regularly results in increased happiness, higher self-esteem, decreased anxiety, and reduced levels of stress. (The How of Happiness)
8 – Listening to music causes the release of dopamine, one of the chemicals that triggers happiness. (McGill University)
9 – Getting one extra hour of sleep can have a more significant impact on happiness than a $60,000 raise. (Norbert Schwarz, Ph. D)
10 – Optimism is a skill that can be cultivated by consciously challenging negative thoughts. (Learned Optimism)
11 – Older people who are positive experience a lower risk of heart disease than those who are pessimistic. (Boston University School of Medicine)
12 – Practicing mindfulness can lead to a strengthened immune system, greater happiness levels, and decreased anxiety. (Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley)
13 – Seventy percent of dog parents say their fur baby has made them happier. (Barkbox)
14 – A deeper connection to nature causes an increase in positive emotions, vitality, and overall life satisfaction. (National Institute of Health)
15 – The highest performing teams in the workplace give each other six positive comments for every negative comment. (Harvard Business Review)
16 – Happy employees are 20 percent more productive than unhappy ones. (Social Market Foundation)
17 – Certain foods are scientifically proven to make you happier. A few of those foods include salmon, butternut squash, watermelon, garlic, jalapeños, and grapefruit. (mindbodygreen)
18 – The richest, happiest, and most productive lives are characterized by the ability to fully engage in the challenge at hand, but also to disengage periodically and seek renewal. (Loehr and Schwarz, The Power of Full Engagement)
19 – Having regular contact with ten or more friends leads has a substantial impact on one’s happiness level. (Science Daily)
20 – Adults who have sex 2-3x a week experience 55% higher levels of happiness than those who don’t. (The University of Colorado)
Great tips, Carrie!
Thanks, Erin! I’m glad you liked it.