The Game of Happiness

PART An estimated 20 million people practice yoga and about 60% of them say they bend and breathe to relieve stress. Yoga may help reduce blood Adults and children who Meditation can aid in Nearly half of regular worshippers say they're very happy, compared with 26% Acts of kindness flick the happy switches in our brains; studies have shown that people who volunteer are more satisfied with their lives and are less likely to be depressed. Happier people, in turn, are likelier to help others. Just over a quarter of Americans volunteered in 2012, a slight decline from 2011. YOGA AND ABOUT DURING FISCAL eat unhealthy diets are more likely to be depressed. While the U.S. obesity rate has climbed in the last 20 years, the focus and emotional Single women are more likely than their male counterparts MEDITATION PRACTICES ARE ON THE RISE. 40% OF YEAR 2012, AMERICANS SPENT $78 BILLION ON LOTTERY TICKETS. stability; studies suggest mindfulness may also fend off stress-related medical PEOPLE to say that improving their WORSHIP AT LEAST WEEKLY. of those who seldom appearance would make them happier; single men are more likely to say their lot would improve or never attend religious services. number of dieters has declined from 30% to about 20%. pressure. conditions. WORK Gambling is a type of risk taking, with better sex. Studies have repeatedly found that little bundles of joy have little overall effect on parents' happiness, though single parents and those with three or more children are typically less happy than their peers. Lifetime happiness trends are shaped a bit like a smile; people are happiest in their youth and golden years. Joy dips in middle age. which can be MORE THAN THE U.S. BIRTH 60 MILLION AMERI- exciting. But a landmark 1978 CANS VOLUNTEER RATE HAS KIDS EACH YEAR. ............. study found lottery winners were no ONE-THIRD OF FALLEN AMERICANS SAY THEY WANT TO EARN People are happier when they spend TO UNDER The happier and took less pleasure in everyday events. 4 MILLION big post- wedding MOTHERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY PER YEAR. PART OF THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE. MORE MONEY. money on life experiences-like ................................ 62% OF NEW happiness boost fades after about two years, but even then, married couples remain more blissful than vacations-than on NEARLY 30 MILLION the latest and Parents raising Studies generally agree that higher greatest products. kids between the The GAME f HAPPINESS AMERICANS ages of 3 and 12 are happier than those rearing RUN income leads to LIFESTYLE REGULARLY. singles. Nearly twice as many say greater well-being, though experts point out that a better predictor is infants and teens. Going back to work helps moms stay upbeat. Stay-at-home they're "very happy." often whether the When there are NEARLY 14,000 many choices, shopping can actually cause fatigue and regret. More important, people adapt to material goods: the new-stuff buzz person is in debt. Some executive Heavy TV viewing moms are more СНOOSE HAPPINESS PERSONAL coaches, who help groom up-and-comers in the business world, charge upwards of $3,000 per hour. can make for a RESEARCH REVEALS WHAT HELPS-AND likely to experience anger and sadness than working Researchers investigating time COACHES WORK less active social IN THE U.S., MORE THAN HURTS-IN OUR PURSUIT OF BLISS life. Reality-TV junkies are more neurotic and report MORE THAN perspectives have found that people who have a sentimentally good view of past events DOLING OUT 2 MILLION PEOPLE 10 MILLION ARE SAY “I DO" IN THE U.S. EACH YEAR. moms. LIFE ADVICE TO BY KATY STEINMETZ SELF-EMPLOYED, UP 14% FROM 2001. CLIENTS. lower levels doesn't last and are happier and more satisfied with their lives. self-esteem. can lead to debt. The industry is not regulated, and there's little Couples who live together before getting engaged or tying the knot are more likely to have poor confidence in their union, more negative interactions (like withdrawal) and a greater risk of eventually filing for a divorce. HAPPIER LESS HAPPY HALF OF AGING Being your own COUPLES boss means more TEENS WATCH ABOUT FOUR COHABIT 1 IN 3 STRESSED AMERICANS research on life autonomy but can yield less job security. OverallI, self-employed BEFORE coaching, though a 2003 study GETTING The link HOURS OF TV EACH ARE WORKING PAST AGE 65. COPES BY between pets and well-being is still being explored; studies suggest that Fluffy and Rover can ease loneliness and provide comfort, especially DAY, ADULTS FIVE. REALITY PROGRAMS MARRIED. SHOPPING found that participating in a program led to better goal workers in LIKE AMERICAN countries like the IDOL DOMINATED A 2013 study BABIES START SMILING WHEN CHILDHOOD Studies have About RATINGS IN 2012. U.S. report greater job satisfaction. found that more found that self- attainment and 20% of help books can than one-third of 23 MILLION THEY'RE AROUND Americans ages 65 less stress. U.S. marriages 6 WEEKS OLD. AMERICANS USE 4,000 ONLINE DATING SERVICES EACH MONTH. and older will still Degrees don't necessarily make people happier, but money does, and higher education is linked to higher income. Teenagers say achievements like getting good grades are central to their happiness. buffer readers now start online be on the job by from depression. "Bibliotherapy" passes along many of the same lessons as for the bereaved and that those ALMOST 10% OF WORKERS COMMUTE AN HOUR OR LONGER. and elderly. 2014. The effect of 1 IN 10 AMERICANS TAKES unions are slightly less likely to end in divorce. retirement on By 3 months or so, babies begin initiating grins, eliciting responses happiness depends partly on the job; highly educated workers are more ANTIDEPRESSANTS. in-person therapy. MORE THAN HALF and attention OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THE U.S. ARE HOME TO A PET. likely to report a boost in well-being after getting their golden watch. from their STAYING IN SCHOOL: THE Commuting ranks among people's least enjoyed activities, even Since the late caregivers. When a mother sees her SELF- SOURCES: AMERICAN JOURNAL ROMANCE DROPOUT RATE OF CLINICAL NUTRITION; AVMA; IMPROVEMENT PRODUCTS ARE NOW A $10 BILLION 1980s, the variety of antidepressants has grown, as has their usage. How- ever, some patients BLS; CAREERBUILDER; CDC; RECENTLY DIPPED baby smile, the reward center in ECONOMIC MODELING SPECIALISTS TO 3.4% IN THE U.S. INTL.; ECONOMICA; FDA; GALLUP; HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW; HUFFINGTON POST; IBISWORLD; below chores like INDUSTRY her brain is JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH; JOURNAL OF housework. Some activated-and About 30% of young people say they are more stressed when they're unplugged. Still, real face time is important. FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY; JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES; JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY; KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION; MARKETDATA happiness experts are more respon- the baby's brain probably People who say they sleep poorly are more likely to have symptoms of depression-and less likely to say they're happy. Not getting enough sleep may leave more time for work and play, but it puts health and productivity at risk. ONLY 35% ADOLESCENTS say money is better spent on eliminating a sive to mood- OF AMERI- AGES 8 TO 18 SPEND altering drugs than others; some meds may also have harmful side HIGH SCHOOL reacts MORE THAN 50 ENTERPRISES; MTV RESEARCH CANS GET & STRATEGIC INSIGHTS; NCCAM; NCES; NSF; NIELSEN; NASPL; NPD GROUP; PEDIATRICS; PEW RESEARCH CENTER; PNAS; SINGLES IN AMERICA; SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND COPING similarly. HOURS PER WEEK CONSUMING MEDIA ON PHONES AND THE ADVISED commute than on Adolescents feel better when SEVEN HOURS OF SLEEP. they have hobbies, play team sports and go out with friends. a big house in PERSONALITY; SPORTS & FITNESS the suburbs. effects. OTHER DEVICES. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION; TODAY. COM; U.S. CENSUS BUREAU; WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT; YOGA JOURNAL GRAPHIC BY HEATHER JONES FOR TIME ....... ............... MORE AMERICANS Intense aerobic activity yields a neurobiological high that encourages habitual exercise, like a daily jog. People who say they're in good health consistently say they're happier too. MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS ARE OBESE OR OVERWEIGHT