Chapter 05 of 5
What Actually Helps
Happiness habits that hold up — and claims that don't.
- 1998
Positive psychology
In 1998, psychologist Martin Seligman urged his field to study what makes life go well, not just what goes wrong.
- Gratitude
Counting blessings
Regularly noting things you're grateful for has been linked to small but real boosts in wellbeing.
- The Letter
Saying thank you
Writing and delivering a letter thanking someone who helped you has produced noticeable short-term boosts in happiness in studies.
17 more cards in this chapter
Could you answer this?
What did a study find when commuters chatted with strangers?
🌤️ The Science of Happiness
- 01The Hedonic TreadmillWhy new cars, pay rises and even lottery wins tend to wear off.
- 02Does Money Buy Happiness?A famous income limit — and how researchers overturned it together.
- 03The 80-Year StudyWhat one of the longest studies of adult life found matters most.
- 04Experiences vs ThingsWhere spending, and planning, actually bring joy.
- 05What Actually HelpsHappiness habits that hold up — and claims that don't.