Gordy Megroz writes “The New Rules of Healthy Living” in Outside magazine.
Sub-title: “From virtual-reality meditation to infrared saunas, these are the latest innovations and insights for improving your well-being.”
You can start by changing your diet or your weightlifting or your mattress.
Spent my whole life chasing the secret, which – for me – was, why in the hell are you doing what you’re doing?
Learn To Be Happy is Rule Number Four. I think it should’ve been mentioned sooner.
The key may be enjoy the process, running, for example, but the goal is something much, much bigger. – JDW
Learn to Be Happy
Laurie Santos, a professor at Yale, created a new course last semester called Psychology and the Good Life, which focuses on how students can make themselves happier. “I had moved into a new role, living on campus with students and seeing them up close,” she recalls. “I realized that they were stressed, anxious, and unhappy. And it isn’t just here—this is a national problem.”
The class obviously filled a need—it has quickly become one of the most popular offerings at the university. Here, Santos shares a few tips for boosting joy.
Give Your Body Some Love
Never underestimate the power of a workout and the benefit of a good night’s rest. Research shows that for some people, a half hour of exercise can be as effective as taking an antidepressant. A week of sleep deprivation—defined as sleeping only four or five hours a night—can negatively affect your mood.
Do Nice Things for Other People
When we need a pick-me-up, we often feel the urge to treat ourselves, but studies show that redirecting this impulse toward someone else has a stronger positive effect on your mindset. Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that spending $5 to $20 on another person improves your mood more than spending it on yourself.
Guard Your Time
People who sacrifice their free time to make money are not as happy as people who do the opposite. Leave room in your life for unscheduled hours.
Be Thankful
Every night, write down five things you’re grateful for and spend some time thinking about why.
Work on Your Social Connections
Researchers have found that happy people spend more time with friends and family and less time alone. A survey conducted by the University of Chicago’s business school found that simply talking to a stranger on a train can make you happier.
Savor the Present
Studies suggest that we let our minds wander too often, dwelling on the future or the past. Surveys done by Harvard psychologists show that our mood improves when we pay attention to the moment we’re in. Meditation is a great way to accomplish this.
Put in the Effort
Becoming a happier person takes work—it’s like practicing to become a better athlete. It won’t come easily, but the payoff is worth it.