
Especially at the beginning of each year we are full of hope, best intentions, and new year resolutions to make this a good year. Happiness may have different faces, though in the end isn’t that what we all strive for more or less?
But what can we really do to actively foster our happiness?
Science described lengthy in the past few decades why physical possession including money in every form doesn’t make us happy, or at least only in the short term. (Yet, we need a solid base, there is this very practical quote that my grandparents had stitched on a wall hanger: Money doesn't make you happy, but it does bring immense comfort.)
So what does make us happy? Here are seven things that happiness science found useful:
💞 Spend time with family and friends - good relationships are the no.1 lever for happiness.
📈 In general, spend time with positive people - your brain’s mirror neurons will mimic their mindset.
🙏 Establish a regular gratitude ritual - focusing on successes and good things is a booster.
💝 Integrate regular acts of kindness - giving really does make us happier than taking.
🌟 Define your purpose (e.g., with the Ikigai framework) - knowing our impact in this world also lets us live longer by the way.
🎬 Spend money on experiences instead of things - they last way longer in your memory.
🌳 Take care of your health, especially outdoor time, exercise, sleep & eating - when our health fails, all else quickly becomes prio last.
Have fun fostering some of these in 2025 to become a bit or much happier - for your Happily Ever After!