“Optimistic people live longer”… What are the 8 spells for happiness?

A recent study found that learning how to be happy is possible. [Photo = Getty Images Bank] © Provided by: Comedy.com

A study published in the journal Higher Education found that people who learned how to be happy in class and then practiced it later experienced a 10-15% increase in well-being. Researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK analyzed 228 university students who took classes on how to be happy during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years. These classes taught eight key lessons for achieving happiness.

8 Lessons for Happiness: Optimistic Thinking, Being in Nature, and More

Most people avoid or even fear meeting strangers, but talking to them makes us happier. Social media isn't always bad for everyone, but it can be detrimental to those who focus on their reputation. Loneliness damages the immune system, affecting health. Optimism increases life expectancy. Giving gifts to others activates the reward center of our brains, often providing more happiness than spending money on ourselves. Sleep deprivation affects how much others like us. Walking in nature deactivates parts of the brain associated with negative rumination, which is linked to depression. Kindness and happiness show a correlation.

Practice by doing kind things, talking to strangers, eating delicious food, and writing gratitude journals.

Accordingly, this class emphasizes eight ways to be happy: △ Acting kindly △ Increasing social connections (starting conversations with strangers) △ Having delicious experiences △ Intentionally focusing on the positive (e.g., writing down three good things that happened to you today) △ Expressing gratitude (e.g., writing a thank-you note to someone you haven't properly thanked) △ Getting enough sleep △ Engaging in physical activity △ Trying mindfulness and other meditation practices.

The study found that two years after completing the course, 113 participants continued to practice the happiness strategies they learned in class. More than a third (37%) wrote letters of gratitude to others and kept lists of things they were grateful for. Tips students continued to follow included mindfulness and meditation (34%), exercise (21%), journaling (18%), and kindness (11%).

Students who continued to practice the happiness methods after taking the course experienced a 10-15% improvement in their well-being. Notably, only those who continued to implement the methods learned in class maintained their improved well-being for up to two years.

"It's like going to the gym. You can't just do one class and be healthy forever," said Bruce Hood, a professor of social developmental psychology and study co-author. "Just like physical health, you need to consistently maintain your mental health. Otherwise, any improvements will be temporary."