Reader's Digest

(avery) #1
July• 2018 | 61

on in times of trouble are happier than
people who don’t” says happiness re-
searcher John Helliwell. “People who
are married are more likely to have
someone to count on than someone
who isn’t married.”
Helliwell’s research has found that
marriage gives a long-term boost
to happiness and the midlife dip
towards unhappiness isn’t as pro-
nounced among married people.
The happiest people of all consider
their spouses to be their best friends.
Helliwell’s research is the irst to ex-
amine the intersection of marriage
and friendship and its effects on
happiness.
“Calling your spouse your best
friend is another way of saying ‘I’ve
got a happy marriage’” Helliwell says.
“hey are happy being married.”
CarolGeehasbeenmarriedtothe
same man for 44 years.
“I realise I am actually happy and
not just staying in the relationship be-
cause we have invested so much time
together” Gee says. “I don’t believe in
not being happy.”


HAPPINESS & WORK


Researchershavestudiedjobtraits
that lead to happiness and greater
lifesatisfaction.Mostpeopleprefera
good work-life balance above all else.
“Variety and learning new things
are important but not as important
as work-life balance” says economist
and happiness researcher Jan-Em-
manuel De Neve. “If you feel your job


is preventing you from giving time to
your family or partner or if you worry
about work problems when you’re not
working that has a massive efect on
wellbeing.”
Retirement as expected enhances
happiness in most adults. “his is due
totwothings”DeNevesays.“One
isrelatedtobeingabletodomore
because the work-life balance shifts
moretolife.here’smoretimeforlei-
sure. People also start adapting their
expectationswhichmayhavebeen
overly high when you started out. You
accept the outcome of your life.”

HAPPINESS&HEALTH
Live long enough and you’ll likely
experience illness or disability. But
with the right attitude these setbacks
won’t afect your happiness levels.
“Wehavelearnedfromourstudy
participants that ageing with illness
andlossarechallengesthatbrought
new insights and appreciation of
life” Carver says.
ResearchersinItalyfoundthatpeo-
ple who have a positive perception of
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