According to experts, happiness is accessible and possible to teach
The happiest country in the world is the Finlandaccording to the world report of Happiness Since 2024. But without having to cross the ocean, experts agree that there are ways to improve your happiness, regardless of where you live.
“Happiness is a habit”, says Talia Soen, CEO and founder of Happy Things, a platform that helps develop these habits through daily activities.
Talia says that happiness was not always natural for her. His older brother has a basic level of much higher happiness and, when reflecting on this difference, he decided to create an app to improve his life based on Science of happiness.
“Many people see happiness as unreachable or difficult to understand,” he says. “We want to demystify it and make it something truly tombo and accessible.”
Many experts agree that there are steps that can be taken to achieve happiness, regardless of the circumstances of life. Here are some habits that, according to them, happy people tend to maintain:
1. Cultivating a positive mentality
Talia follows the definition of happiness of the researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky, who describes it as “the experience of joy, contentment or positive well -being, combined with the fact that life is good, significant and precious”.
He believes that there is a lot to say about the search for happiness in the small moments of life.
“This is really true, and it is a question of being aware and actively incorporating these things in our daily life, rather than waiting for them to happen,” he says.
A way to actively cultivate happiness is to start a diary of gratitude. Experts agree that the practice of meditation It helps many people to recognize and appreciate the parts of their life that bring joy, large or small.
Likewise, a positive mentality has been associated with the increase in happiness.
“Our brain It has evolved to focus on the negative, since it makes us safe, but this also increases our levels of cortisol, the hormone of stressWhich has negative effects, “explains Talia.
Meditation is a way to learn to change this mentality, but Talia has never been very lucky with this traditional practice. Instead, he finds meditative states a run or practice yoga.
“So it’s not necessarily a matter of sitting in a dark room with candles,” he says.
2. Reduce stress
The absence of stress can be a decisive factor for your level of happiness. Talia says that spending time in nature helps to reduce stress. But even if you don’t have time or outdoor access all year round, you can simulate these benefits by listening to the sounds of nature, for example.
Stress is also related to the time available. Laurie Santos, professor of psychology at Yale University and Podcast host The happiness laboratorywhich examines the science of happiness, explains the concept of “abundance of time”. People who have free time report a greater sense of happiness.
The opposite is “hunger for time”, which, according to Laurie, occurs “when you literally hungry for time. Research shows that the missing time can have an impact on the greater well -being as unemployed”.
A 2021 study, published by the American Association of Psychology, showed that there is a leisure limit: less than two hours of free time was associated with lower happiness levels, while between the two and five hours a day it was Considered ideal for the well -hearing.
Another common factor of stress is money. “If you are really finding financial difficulties, if you can’t put food on the table or maintain a ceiling on your head, then yes, increase your income will make you happier,” says Laurie.
However, a largely cited study of 2010 discovered that happiness tends to stabilize after reaching an annual income of $ 75,000 (would give about R $ 35 thousand per month).
“There are some shades in more recent studies, but what the data really show is that money has a much lower impact on our happiness than we imagine,” says Laurie.
3. Practice exercises
It is not necessary to train for a marathon to obtain the dopamine doses and endorphins which, according to experts, contribute to happiness.
“There are several studies on happiness and exercisesIt is one of the most interesting comparisons of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise with the use of antidepressants, “Laurie’s comments”.
The science behind this is not yet completely clear, but some researchers suspect that exercise improves brain function, which can help manage some mental disorders, leading to greater happiness. In addition, many studies emphasize that even small doses of operating can have this effect.
As mentioned in Talia previously, outdoor physical exercise can bring even more expressive benefits. “Listening to the sounds of nature and fresh air breathing were associated with higher levels of happiness,” he says.
4. Socialize
The feeling of isolation was compared to a health risk similar to that of the smoothness. In March 2024, the United States General Surgeon issued a warning on serious health risks for those who feel isolated.
The opposite is also true: having strong friends, family members and strong social ties, both at work and through voluntary activities, is essential for happiness.
THE Report on world happiness He defines this social support factor as the presence of someone you can trust and resort to in times of necessity.
“All studies on happy people show that they are more sociable,” comments Laurie. “They spend more time with friends and family and are more often surrounded by other people. There is a very clear connection between having more social interactions and feeling happier. That’s why the epidemic of loneliness It is so worrying. “
The Talia app promotes this type of happiness by suggesting that users have found themselves with a job or send a message to an old friend.
“This is not quantity, but quality,” says Talia. “Having two or three people in your life you really trust and you can say to offer support is extremely important.”
This text was originally published in Fortune. It was translated with the help of artificial intelligence tools and revised by our editorial team. Find out more in our artificial intelligence policy.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
