Science

Science says happier people have these 9 things in common

Kevin Loria

2016-07-25T14:35:00Z

smile smiley people happy — Students stand in formation on a field as they form a smiley face in an attempt to break a world record in celebration of the 110th anniversary of their university in Nanjing, Jiangsu province April 27, 2012. A total of 3,110 students from Nanjing Agricultural University broke the Guinness World Record for World Largest Smiley Face on Friday, overtaking the last world record of 2,961 volunteers in Canada on July 2011, local media reported. REUTERS/Sean Yong

Everybody wants to be happy.

That's why the science of happiness has taken off in recent years, with the skyrocketing popularity of positive psychology, which focuses on what makes individuals and communities thrive. Researchers have even started to produce reports on happiness around the globe.

At this point, we actually know a fair amount about how certain behaviors, attitudes, and choices relate to happiness.

Most research on the topic can only find correlations — if we absolutely knew that one certain thing made everyone happier, psychologists' jobs would be a lot easier. But researchers do think that as a rough estimate, something like 40% of our happiness is under our own control (with the rest being determined by genetics and external factors). That means there's a lot we can do to control our own happiness.

Here are nine happiness-promoting behaviors that are backed by science.

1. Relationships are essential: A major study that followed hundreds of men for more than 70 years found the happiest (and healthiest) were those who cultivated strong relationships with people they trusted to support them.

Source: The Harvard Study of Adult Development

2. Time beats money: A number of studies have found happier people would prefer to have more time in their lives than more money, and even trying to think that way seems to make people more content.

woman backpacking travel alone mountains hiking

Source: Tech Insider

3. But you need enough money to pay the bills without stress: People's well-being rises with income up to about $75,000, studies have found. (That number probably varies depending on your cost of living.)

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

4. Stop to smell the roses: People who slow down to reflect on good things in their lives report being more satisfied.

Source: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

5. Perform acts of kindness: Give your friends a ride to the airport or spend an afternoon volunteering. Some research has shown that people who perform such acts report being happier.

Source: Review of General Psychology

6. Regularly break a sweat: Exercise tends to help fight off mental illness. And studies show that happiness is associated with physical activity; increased levels of activity are even connected to higher levels of happiness.

exercise workout fitness running beach happy

Sources: American Psychological Association, BMC Public Health

7. Buy fun: People tend to be happier if they spend their money on experiences instead of things. But researchers have also found that buying things that allow you to have experiences — like a tennis racket or a book — can also increase happiness.

Sources: Psychological Science, Journal of Consumer Psychology

8. Learn to be present in the moment: Several studies have found that people who practice mindfulness meditation experience greater well-being.

Sources: Journal of Clinical Psychology, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

9. Spend time with friends, especially close friends who are happy: Interactions with casual friends can make people happier, and close friendships — especially with happy people — can have a powerful effect on your own happiness as well.

talking chatting barbecue picnic — Jamelia Jones, from left, Rafael Varela seen at Barbecue Beats Presented by Kingsford at Sandy Creek Park on Friday, June 3, 2016, in Athens, GA. Katie Darby/Invision for Kingsford and Pandora/AP

Sources: Social Psychology Bulletin

Psychology