I saved time and money for big two-week getaways for years, thinking longer trips meant better rest. But research tells a different story: our brains register novelty more than duration. A short change in routine can trigger the same mental refresh as extended travel. Harvard scientists have found that happiness peaks during anticipation before a… Read More »Mini-Vacations Boost Your Happiness
Your brain is begging you to shut up. Not you, specifically. The noise around you. The podcasts, the music, the TikToks, the endless digital chatter you pump into your ears from morning till night. I learned this after my doctor suggested I try walking without headphones to lower my stress levels. I laughed at first.… Read More »Silent Walks: The path to happiness
I stood in the middle of Mark’s massive penthouse, staring out at the skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. Everything around me screamed success. Expensive art on the walls, designer furniture, and a kitchen that would make a professional chef jealous. “Pretty amazing place you’ve got here,” I said, accepting the glass of wine he handed me.… Read More »Make connecting a habit
We’ve all been there. Stuck in a downward spiral of negativity, complaining about everything from small annoyances to major life stressors. But what if you could zip your lips for a week? Promising yourself not to complain for 7 days straight can retrain your brain for positivity. All it takes is a personal commitment to… Read More »The 1-Week No-Complaining Challenge
Close your eyes and picture yourself 20 years from now. What do you look like? How’s your health? Your relationships? Your finances? Now, imagine that future self could travel back in time and chat with you today. What would they beg you to do differently? What regrets would they urge you to avoid? This surreal… Read More »Future self-visualisation for better decisions and a happier life
Psychologists have long known about the human negativity bias – our tendency to focus on and remember bad experiences more intensely than positive ones. This ingrained negativity bias once served an evolutionary purpose, but it often does us more harm than good today. It can blind us to the small blessings and moments of ease… Read More »Celebrate your green lights
In the summer of 1998, while the world watched the Clinton scandal unfold and Google took its first steps in a garage, a group of college graduates sat in the Texas heat listening to Kurt Vonnegut. Most of what he said that day has been forgotten, but one story about his Uncle Alex and a… Read More »If this isn’t nice, what is?
In the age of hustle culture, doing nothing can feel like a cardinal sin. With our worth so often measured by our output, taking a break to sit and stare out the window seems laughably unproductive. But what if the real waste is a life spent on the hedonic treadmill, chasing happiness in all the… Read More »The joy of doing nothing
Simple practices can increase your drive to pursue positive experiences and enjoy life more fully We all want to feel happier. But when we’re struggling with low mood, stress, fatigue or loneliness, it’s easy to withdraw from the very activities and connections that could lift our spirits. We skip fun plans with friends. We put… Read More »Boost your happiness by strengthening your reward sensitivity
Sharing good news increases your happiness Have you ever received exciting news and felt an immediate urge to tell someone? That instinct might be more powerful than you realize. Recent research suggests that sharing positive experiences can significantly enhance our happiness and strengthen our relationships. This simple yet potent approach to increasing well-being involves actively… Read More »Share your joy
