The study underscores the importance of expanding social connections and prioritizing meaningful relationships. CNBC Make It explored this further in a discussion between therapist Esther Perel and Dan Harris on the Ten Percent Happier podcast, reinforcing the idea that social fitness is just as crucial as physical fitness when it comes to long-term well-being.
Harvard's 85-year study reveals the key to happiness and it's pretty simple
Happiness can be found through a simple mechanism that's accessible and easy.
Everyone is on a journey to find happiness, trying everything from exercise to uplifting music in search of balance and positivity. But an 85-year-old Harvard study has revealed a surprisingly simple key to happiness: staying connected.
One of the longest-running studies of its kind, this research has followed men who were teenagers in the 1930s and 1940s, tracking their lives over decades. The findings consistently point to one major factor influencing happiness—close relationships. “Personal connection creates mental and emotional stimulation, which are automatic mood boosters, while isolation is a mood buster,” says Dr. Robert Waldinger, the project’s director. He explains that people who maintain warm relationships tend to live longer and happier lives, adding, “Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”
The psychotherapist, author and renowned TED talk speaker added to the study’s findings by suggesting a simple way to focus on happiness. She suggested that the key to happiness, which is social interaction, can be maintained with the simple practice of asking someone out. “People may often be busy three weeks before but they’re not busy the day of. It’s an amazing thing how many people are going to spend the night at home,” Perel revealed. She added more to her input by pointing out that one didn’t have to necessarily arrange for specific plans for social interaction.
The author says that whatever one’s plans are, they can be clubbed with another person. Perel explained, “You’re going swimming, call somebody, you’re going to the gym, call somebody. There is always someone who needs the one who is going to go anyway to do the thing they want to do, but wouldn’t be doing alone because they are on the couch.” Then again, there may always be the question of whom to call. In such cases, Perel recommends asking oneself the following questions. The first was, “Who do you owe a phone call to?” The next was, “Who do you owe an apology to?” and lastly, “Who do you want to go on a walk with?”
Perel highlighted that doing chores or things with someone rather than alone makes a massive difference in accounting for happiness. Moreover, asking the aforementioned questions helps pick the right person to spend time with. “I’ve never known anyone that went and regretted it afterwards,” Perel said. The Harvard study further suggested volunteering for one’s favorite cause and sparking social interactions there owing to the similarity in interests, which would also be a smart choice. Happiness is just one step away; all one has to do is step up their social interaction game through the simplest suggestions offered.
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This article originally appeared 1 year ago.
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