25 Mar Want to Be Happier? Focus Less on Solo Self-Care and More on Social Hobbies, Science Says
Yes, yes and more yes to this!
I’m (not surprisingly) a big fan of self-care. But I’ve also been saying for many years now that self-care isn’t just about the self.
And along similar lines, happiness is NOT selfishness. Happiness is not just about me as an individual, but it’s just as much about me within the context of my relationships and community.
Check out this great article by Jessica Stillman via Inc.com …
When strivers think about happiness, many tend to think of it as existing just over the next horizon of achievement. When I get this business off the ground, I’ll be happy. When I finally buy that house/car/boat, I’ll be happy. When this pandemic craziness finally ends, I’ll be happy.
But when some of the biggest names in positive psychology combed through more than a million military records recently, they didn’t find that success begets happiness. They found that happiness begets success. Those that started their professional lives with greater mental well-being went on to more awards and recognition at work. Happiness helps you get ahead.
So how do you get happier? That’s, of course, a question that’s occupied philosophers and scientists for millennia. There are no simple answers or one-size-fits-all solutions. But practically, when many folks want to be happier these days, they focus on self-care. They take up yoga, take a day off work to go fishing, or start a new health regime.
There’s nothing wrong with these approaches. If they’re working for you, keep them up. But recent research suggests that if you’re on the hunt for an effective happiness booster, you should think less about solo self-improvement and more about social activities.
Social beats solo for self-care.
Hobbies are often the first things we sacrifice when life gets crazy. Things like pickup basketball games, making wonky ceramics, or Tuesday night book club tend to feel less important than hitting that deadline for your business or chasing your toddler into bed. But a long string of studies attest that, as easy as it is to neglect your hobbies when you’re in the thick of adulthood, having pastimes you do for sheer pleasure actually helps you reduce stress, increase creativity, and be more resilient…
… keep reading the full & original article HERE