It used to be that age brought more happiness and contentment to your lives. But according to a new study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, if you’re in your 30s or older, you are less likely to be happy than your parents were at your age.
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From the AP:
[Experts] attribute the shift to everything from growing financial pressures — and what some call “economic insecurity” — to the fact that real life has been a rude awakening for a generation of young adults who were told they could do anything and are discovering that often isn’t true.
These findings ring true for Emily Valdez, a 49-year-old mom in Seattle, who tells the AP: “I thought that life would be simpler … My parents’ marriage, children, child-rearing. just seemed – and still seems in their eyes – less fraught with indecision, second-guessing and maybe just less insecurity.
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Of course, these findings are not true for everyone. But it’s good to know how happiness levels are changing by age group. Also, it’s important to consider another finding of the study: One in three of all American adults still report being “very happy.”
Tim Bono, a psychologist at Washington University, who teaches and studies happiness, advises getting more sleep and exercise, as well as social connection — while avoiding “social comparison,” especially online. Focusing on gratitude also increases happiness, he says.
For some more tips on how to slow down time and get more out of life, check out this article.
Curated article from:
Yahoo Health
