Comments on: Being Happy: Enjoyable Activities Beat Improved Life Circumstances

By: Garrick

Garrick — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:59:00 +0000

For Octavius. I don't wanna shoot you down. But this brings up the question, "what is real living?" Isn't living what you spend you're time doing.
For a person with bad circumstances, in the end they don't have to say "I lived in squalor all my life." or something they like that. They could say "I lived my life as a musician." or "i lived my life as a soccer player" or something like that. But this kind of sidetracks the point of this article. Anyways, cool article guy!

By: Dean

Dean — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:15:00 +0000

Willingness to engage in an activity is key here. Many a depressed person won't budge off the couch. I'm not sure that makes the study bias. It's a definite variable to consider though.

By: Octavius

Octavius — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:15:00 +0000

Lets not forget that 'shopping' is, in fact, an activity. And for alot of people already in debt, nothing beats the temporary distraction accorded to them by a weekend afternoon spent buying stuff at the mall.

The point I'd make is that using activities to boost happiness is ultimately sidestepping the real problem with a momentary distraction. None of these articles have anything to do with real living or happiness.

By: Laara

Laara — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:28:00 +0000

What is the first thing you are told when you begin to get depressed, or when your circumstances change for the worse? DO SOMETHING! Finding a new activity to enjoy -- that's the cure. If you do it sooner rather than later, the chances are you can keep happiness levels up by enjoying some tennis or reading or yoga or blogging...if you procrastinate or develop unhealthy habits instead, then next thing you know you need anti-depressants.
That's how I see it.
The only flaw in the study is that you can't make a depressed person happy by offering a new activity.

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 10:09:00 +0000

David, I take your point - which the authors do acknowledge - but I think your conclusions are somewhat harsh. And, as I say in the post, the authors have now done a study with random allocation to the groups.

Anon, you're welcome.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:39:00 +0000

Your article makes perfect sense. Activities provide immediate relief from problems. Changing circumstances could take years. I am currently in a "circumstance" that could take years to change. But doing my favorite activities increases my happiness a lot. Thank you for this article. It has warded off potential depression.

By: David Myers

David Myers — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:11:00 +0000

The study's methodology is radically flawed and the results are completely invalid. People who are depressed are much less likely to engage in new forms of activity. Selecting only those who were already engaging in new activities of their own accord radically biased the sample.

I'm surprised the study was even published.

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:02:00 +0000

Thank you Anon and Lana!

By: Lana

Lana — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:53:00 +0000

First visit to your blog. Great stuff! I linked to this post and put you on my blogroll. I'll be back...

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 19:08:00 +0000

This article explains why I enjoy traveling so much. I'll be sure to read more from this blogger as the subjects of happiness and depression interest me.

The article was a GOOD READ.