With news of one of the biggest lottery wins of all times in the UK, what is the likelihood that the winners will be made happier by their win?
Looking at the research done on the subject 3 separate issues could come into play - the first is habituation, or in other words getting used to the situation. Think back to the last time you bought something you were really excited about - how long did the excitement last? Probably a few days, maybe a few weeks if you're anything like me... It's the same with a lottery win, eventually it just becomes a part of your life and you get used to it so it no longer contributes to your happiness levels.
The second piece of evidence is that money can only make us happy if we have a real need for it (ie no food, shelter or security) and our relationships are a far more important contributor to our happiness. The lottery win is likely to put a strain on our relationships - lottery winners may move homes and change friends and neighbours.
Finally, many people would give up work if they won and being unemployed is potentially the worst thing that you can do for your happiness. Work gives us a sense of purpose and being an unemployed lottery winner might not be the best way towards happiness.
So after all that - don't you feel almost sorry for those poor unhappy lottery winners...
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Monday, 9 November 2009
Friday, 23 October 2009
Farmer wants a wife? Of course he does!
Have you ever seen a programme called farmer wants a wife? Basically the concept behind it is that single farmers from accross the country get a chance to meet lovely single ladies who are looking for a life in the countryside with a farmer by their side.
Anyway, while you may consider this programme sweet or ridiculous, in terms of happiness those farmers are doing the right thing as there's been a subtsantial amount of research to show that people who are married are happier, especially in the first few years after their wedding, but the feeling persists, albeit to a lesser extent throughout their life.
So why does marriage make us happy and could people who are not married replicate this effect if they understand why it is that marriage has this positive effect?
There could be a few reasons for happiness caused by marriage but probably the main on is that it results in a substantial increase in social interaction.
As humans are social animals in need of social and physical contact and these are some of the main contributors to our level of happiness, it seems likely that this is a factor in the level of happiness that marriage brings. So if you're not married a way to make up for this is by spending more time with friends and family - which would be my advice to anyone wanting to get happier...
It seems that 'Farmer wants a wife' will only help the farmer become happier, and that the rest of us would do better to pick up the phone to our Moms, or at least to watch it with a friend.
Anyway, while you may consider this programme sweet or ridiculous, in terms of happiness those farmers are doing the right thing as there's been a subtsantial amount of research to show that people who are married are happier, especially in the first few years after their wedding, but the feeling persists, albeit to a lesser extent throughout their life.
So why does marriage make us happy and could people who are not married replicate this effect if they understand why it is that marriage has this positive effect?
There could be a few reasons for happiness caused by marriage but probably the main on is that it results in a substantial increase in social interaction.
As humans are social animals in need of social and physical contact and these are some of the main contributors to our level of happiness, it seems likely that this is a factor in the level of happiness that marriage brings. So if you're not married a way to make up for this is by spending more time with friends and family - which would be my advice to anyone wanting to get happier...
It seems that 'Farmer wants a wife' will only help the farmer become happier, and that the rest of us would do better to pick up the phone to our Moms, or at least to watch it with a friend.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Slow down to speed up
Sometimes we have to do what's counter-intuitive to increase our happiness and wellbeing. In my experience that certainly seems to be the case with urgent tasks and busy days.
When faced with a busy schedule or lots of fire-fighting tasks, my immediate and instinctive strategy is to go into panic mode and rush. Today I thought about why I do this - and realised that the very act of rushing makes me feel like I am accomplishing something, but of course this is not at all the case. Also there is a feeling of importance associated with being terribly busy.
In spite of my busy schedule today, I decided to relax and complete my tasks in a thorough and almost dignified way. I took time to get myself a cup of tea and thought about all the jobs I was doing as I was doing them rather than worrying about the next task or simply panicking about the sheer number of things I've still got to get done.
The result was quite amazing, not only did I achieve what I set out to do, but I felt calm and in control while doing it. In retrospect I feel like I lived my day more and I didn't make any of the mistakes I commonly make on panic days like putting marked-up documents as attachments on email or forgetting my contract file for a meeting.
I can't pretend that I'll have this kind of self control on all rush days, but today has certainly shown me that things can be done differently and better if I slow down.
When faced with a busy schedule or lots of fire-fighting tasks, my immediate and instinctive strategy is to go into panic mode and rush. Today I thought about why I do this - and realised that the very act of rushing makes me feel like I am accomplishing something, but of course this is not at all the case. Also there is a feeling of importance associated with being terribly busy.
In spite of my busy schedule today, I decided to relax and complete my tasks in a thorough and almost dignified way. I took time to get myself a cup of tea and thought about all the jobs I was doing as I was doing them rather than worrying about the next task or simply panicking about the sheer number of things I've still got to get done.
The result was quite amazing, not only did I achieve what I set out to do, but I felt calm and in control while doing it. In retrospect I feel like I lived my day more and I didn't make any of the mistakes I commonly make on panic days like putting marked-up documents as attachments on email or forgetting my contract file for a meeting.
I can't pretend that I'll have this kind of self control on all rush days, but today has certainly shown me that things can be done differently and better if I slow down.
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