Happiness Hacks: 20 Simple Strategies For A Brighter, Joy-Filled Life (P)
Here are 20 simple tweaks to mindset, habits and lifestyle to enhance everyday life.
Category: Happiness
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This Is How Long Sadness Lasts After A Major Life Event
The saddest events in life are health problems, bereavement and large financial losses.
The saddest events in life are health problems, bereavement and large financial losses.
It takes around four years for people to recover their well-being after the saddest events in life, such as health problems, bereavement and large financial losses, research finds.
In contrast, the happiest events in life — marriage, childbirth and a major financial gain — typically only provide a boost to happiness for two years.
Many major life events have relatively little effect on happiness, including moving house and getting a new job, the study also revealed.
Dr Nathan Kettlewell, the study’s first author, said:
“Marriage, childbirth and a major financial gain produced the greatest elevation to wellbeing, however they did not lead to long-lasting happiness – the positive effect generally wore off after two years.
However, there was also an anticipatory effect for marriage and childbirth, with wellbeing increasing prior to these events.”
The study tracked the major life events of 14,000 people in Australia over 12 years.
The four most common life events are getting a new job, moving house, pregnancy and injury or illness in a close family member.
The results showed that events that had the greatest negative impact on well-being were large financial losses, health problems and the death of a partner.
Those that had the greatest positive impact were a large financial gain, getting married and having a baby.
In contrast, getting fired, being promoted and moving house had relatively little effect on well-being.
Dr Kettlewell said:
“The life events that saw the deepest plunge in wellbeing were the death of a partner or child, separation, a large financial loss or a health shock.
But even for these negative experiences, on average people recovered to their pre-shock level of wellbeing by around four years.”
The researchers looked at two different types of happiness: feeling good and life satisfaction.
Life satisfaction is how people evaluate their lives overall while happiness refers to emotion felt in the moment.
Life events like marriage and retirement made people more satisfied with their lives, but did not make much difference to felt happiness.
People having children felt quite satisfied in the first year but were significantly less happy.
Dr Kettlewell said:
“While chasing after happiness may be misplaced, the results suggest that the best chances for enhancing wellbeing may lie in protecting against negative shocks, for example by establishing strong relationships, investing in good health and managing financial risks.
And we can take consolation from the fact that, although it takes time, wellbeing can recover from even the worst circumstances.”
The study was published in the journal SSM – Population Health (Kettlewell et al., 2020).
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Here’s Why Materialistic People Are Less Happy and Less Satisfied (M)
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~ Epicurus
Enrol In ‘Activate’ Now: The 10-Week Online Course For Low Mood
Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply not yourself lately? It’s time to reclaim your happiness with PsyBlog’s 10-week online course, included in the Premium Membership.
Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply not yourself lately? It’s time to reclaim your happiness with PsyBlog’s 10-week online course, included in the Premium Membership.
Activate: PsyBlog’s first online course
Activate is PsyBlog’s first online course, which is included in the new Premium Membership.
The course distils years of research and clinical experience into a practical, user-friendly 10-week program designed to help those feeling stuck or overwhelmed find joy again.
With a Premium Membership you will be able to access all 10 weeks of this course, with the first week currently now online.
The remaining parts of the course will be released week by week — keep an eye on the daily email updates for reminders.
A Premium Membership also gives you access to all members-only articles, premium content and other courses, as they become available.
What you will gain from the course
Over the span of 10 weeks, “Activate: How To Find Joy Again By Changing What You Do” will guide you through:
- Understanding Behavioural Activation: Learn the science and principles behind this powerful technique.
- Practical strategies: Discover actionable steps to identify and engage in activities that boost your mood.
- Building positive habits: Develop sustainable habits that promote long-term happiness and well-being.
- Overcoming obstacles: Gain tools to tackle barriers and setbacks, ensuring you stay on track.
- Real-life application: Apply what you learn to your daily life.
What is Behavioural Activation?
Behavioural activation is a powerful approach that emerged from cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), one of the most effective methods for treating depression and improving mental well-being.
While CBT focuses on changing both thoughts and behaviours, behavioural activation zeroes in on actions, making it easier to implement and understand.
By focusing on what you do, rather than what you think, this method helps you gradually build a life filled with activities that bring you joy and satisfaction.
Why Behavioural Activation?
Research has shown that behavioural activation is just as effective as traditional CBT.
The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity and practicality—changing behaviours is often more straightforward than changing thoughts.
As you engage in positive activities, your thoughts and feelings naturally begin to shift towards a more positive outlook.
Why choose this course?
- Expert guidance: Learn from a seasoned professional with extensive knowledge of mental health.
- Flexible learning: Enjoy the convenience of an online course that fits into your busy schedule.
- Proven techniques: Benefit from evidence-based strategies that have helped thousands of people find joy and improve their mental health.
Start your journey to joy today!
Don’t let another day go by feeling less than your best. Take the first step towards a brighter, more joyful future.
Enroll now and unlock the tools you need to transform your life, one joyful activity at a time.
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