Latest news with #HarvardStudyofAdultDevelopment
CNBC
21-05-2025
- Health
- CNBC
Harvard happiness expert: Do this easy exercise right now to stay socially connected—it'll take less than two minutes
An 87-year-long Harvard study found that social fitness — maintaining your personal relationships and keeping them in good shape — was the No. 1 thing the happiest, longest-living people have in common. "Invest in relationships, invest in connections and invest in the things you find meaningful," Dr. Robert Waldinger, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, said during an interview at the New York Times Well Festival. "If you're doing more of that, you're more likely to be happy more of the time. You won't be happy all the time. But happiness is likely to find you more often." To prove that pouring into your connections doesn't have to be a heavy lift, Waldinger offered up a simple way that the audience at the festival could receive a "dopamine hit" and connect with someone in their lives immediately. "When I talk about investing in relationships, most people think, 'You know, I am so busy. I have so much going on in my life. How do I make time for this?'" Here's how you can improve a relationship that you value in just three steps: "One of the things we found about people who were what we call socially fit is that they did these small things over and over again. You know, daily, multiple times a day," Waldinger said. During their commute, they'd call someone, or they'd schedule their workouts at the gym with a friend, he explained. They found ways to intertwine the repetitive tasks in their daily life with social connection. "When people did that, they stayed more current with more people in their lives. And that built this bedrock of social wellbeing." ,
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctor behind 80-year happiness study was ‘shocked' by the biggest predictor of a long, healthy life
What if the secret to longevity wasn't in the mind or the gut — but in the heart? Speaking at the inaugural New York Times Well Festival on Wednesday, psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Robert Waldinger announced he and his team were 'shocked' by 'the biggest predictor of who was going to live long and stay healthy.' Waldinger, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development — the longest-running scientific study of adult life — revealed it was 'how connected you were to other people and particularly the warmth of your connection to other people.' Apparently, the researchers were floored by these findings. 'How could our relationships actually get into our bodies and actually change our physiology?' Waldinger mused. 'The best hypothesis is that it has to do with stress, that in fact relationships — when they're good — are stress relievers.' After all, how we feel does manifest itself physically — you can feel your pulse begin to race and your breathing quicken when something upsetting or anxiety-inducing happens, and the opposite is true when you calm down, he explained. Having someone to vent to, as it turns out, plays a pretty big role in that. 'People who don't have connections with other people, those people don't have the same stress regulation mechanisms in their lives that people with good relationships have,' Waldinger said. The secret sauce is recognizing that it's not enough to have relationships — you need to cultivate them as you would a garden. Most of us don't expect to be physically fit without putting some work into it — why would relationships be any different? 'The people who were best at relationships were the people who were actively involved in staying in touch with people, people who really nurtured their relationships,' he said. 'Most of us take our relationships for granted.' He went so far as to say people who are intentional about keeping in touch and fostering relationships had a 'superpower' that 'went under the radar.' The best part is you don't need to plan an elaborate trip or book a bonding activity to get the benefits. Little things, like actually making eye contact with the barista making your coffee or — heaven forbid — the TSA agent checking your passport, give us 'little hits of well-being,' according to Waldinger. It's the latest appeal from an increasing number of experts reminding people that social connection is a fundamental part of being human — and an essential aspect of good health. A recent study even identified socializing as one of the six factors you can control that lower the risk of dementia, stroke and depression — adding to existing research indicating it's a boon for longevity. It seems that's easy to forget in today's increasingly virtual world, as psychotherapist Kathryn Smerling previously told The Post she prescribes 'socialization very often' to her clients. Elsewhere in the NYT talk, Waldinger noted that our culture may not always steer us in the right direction when it comes to happiness. 'These badges of achievement that we all set out for ourselves — money, awards, followers on social media — those badges of achievement are quantifiable, so they look like they're gonna make us happy, but they don't,' he said. 'The culture can sell us this idea that if we just do all the right things, we'll be happy all the time,' he added. 'That is not true. Nobody is happy all the time.' That said, next time you want to feel like a superhero — try calling your mom.
New York Post
08-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Doctor behind 80-year happiness study was ‘shocked' by the biggest predictor of a long, healthy life
What if the secret to longevity wasn't in the mind or the gut — but in the heart? Speaking at the inaugural New York Times Well Festival on Wednesday, psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Robert Waldinger announced he and his team were 'shocked' by 'the biggest predictor of who was going to live long and stay healthy.' 3 Dr. Robert Waldinger said researchers were 'shocked' by 'the biggest predictor of who was going to live long and stay healthy.' Jose Alvarado Jr for The New York Times Advertisement Waldinger, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development — the longest-running scientific study of adult life — revealed it was 'how connected you were to other people and particularly the warmth of your connection to other people.' Apparently, the researchers were floored by these findings. 'How could our relationships actually get into our bodies and actually change our physiology?' Waldinger mused. Advertisement 'The best hypothesis is that it has to do with stress, that in fact relationships — when they're good — are stress relievers.' After all, how we feel does manifest itself physically — you can feel your pulse begin to race and your breathing quicken when something upsetting or anxiety-inducing happens, and the opposite is true when you calm down, he explained. Having someone to vent to, as it turns out, plays a pretty big role in that. Advertisement 'People who don't have connections with other people, those people don't have the same stress regulation mechanisms in their lives that people with good relationships have,' Waldinger said. The secret sauce is recognizing that it's not enough to have relationships — you need to cultivate them as you would a garden. 3 'The best hypothesis is that it has to do with stress, that in fact relationships — when they're good — are stress relievers,' Waldinger said. Syda Productions – Most of us don't expect to be physically fit without putting some work into it — why would relationships be any different? Advertisement 'The people who were best at relationships were the people who were actively involved in staying in touch with people, people who really nurtured their relationships,' he said. 'Most of us take our relationships for granted.' He went so far as to say people who are intentional about keeping in touch and fostering relationships had a 'superpower' that 'went under the radar.' The best part is you don't need to plan an elaborate trip or book a bonding activity to get the benefits. Little things, like actually making eye contact with the barista making your coffee or — heaven forbid — the TSA agent checking your passport, give us 'little hits of well-being,' according to Waldinger. 3 'Most of us take our relationships for granted,' Waldinger said. Johnstocker – It's the latest appeal from an increasing number of experts reminding people that social connection is a fundamental part of being human — and an essential aspect of good health. A recent study even identified socializing as one of the six factors you can control that lower the risk of dementia, stroke and depression — adding to existing research indicating it's a boon for longevity. It seems that's easy to forget in today's increasingly virtual world, as psychotherapist Kathryn Smerling previously told The Post she prescribes 'socialization very often' to her clients. Advertisement Elsewhere in the NYT talk, Waldinger noted that our culture may not always steer us in the right direction when it comes to happiness. 'These badges of achievement that we all set out for ourselves — money, awards, followers on social media — those badges of achievement are quantifiable, so they look like they're gonna make us happy, but they don't,' he said. 'The culture can sell us this idea that if we just do all the right things, we'll be happy all the time,' he added. 'That is not true. Nobody is happy all the time.' That said, next time you want to feel like a superhero — try calling your mom.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Happiness Myth We're All Buying Into, According to One Expert
If you ask most people what they want out of life, the answer usually includes something like 'I just want to be happy.' But after nearly a century of studying what really makes life fulfilling, Dr. Robert Waldinger, psychiatrist and director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, says we're aiming at the wrong target. Despite what social media, corporate culture, and hustle culture tell us, happiness isn't about achievements or metrics. More money, more followers, more accolades, these so-called 'badges of achievement,' don't add up to lasting satisfaction. During a recent panel at The New York Times Well Festival. Waldinger said this pursuit is misguided, and it may be keeping us from what truly matters. So if happiness doesn't come from external success, where does it come from? According to Waldinger—and nearly 80 years of research—the answer is simple, if not easy. During the panel, he explained that relationships and purpose are at the core of fulfillment. Whether it's with family, friends, romantic partners, or even colleagues, real happiness stems from connection. And not just casual contact, but meaningful engagement and checking in with people, showing up, listening, and caring. Waldinger says it's about building a 'bedrock of social well-being.' Through years of personal exploration and research, Dr. Waldinger came to a realization that echoes ancient wisdom: true fulfillment lies in being fully present and connected to something greater than oneself, a core teaching of Zen Buddhism. This understanding took on deeper meaning when, at 47, he found himself confronting the classic midlife question: 'Is this all there is?' Rather than sinking into despair, the happiness expert found clarity and direction through Zen. 'Zen practice brought me back to the truth of just this moment,' he shared. Around 47, Waldinger hit a wall many people know well. It was a questioning phase, where success didn't feel as satisfactory as it used to. In search of answers, he reached a turning point when he stopped running from life's basic truths and started facing them head-on. Waldinger found clarity in a Zen chant that became his personal mantra: 'I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old. I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape having ill health. I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.' While that might sound grim at first, Waldinger found it freeing. 'Somebody is finally telling the truth,' he said. His takeaway was for people to stop sweating the small stuff and ask themselves a powerful question: 'Does this really matter?' Most of the time, it doesn't. During the panel, he shared a few simple steps for resetting your priorities when it comes to finding true meaning. Stop chasing happiness: Instead, invest in relationships and engage in what's meaningful to you. Try small, intentional acts of connection: It turns out a quick 10-minute call or even a text to someone you care about can go a long way. Research shows these simple moves help you stay connected and build what experts call a 'bedrock of social well-being.' Basically, the more you check in, the stronger your network, and your wellbeing. Explore mindfulness or meditation: These practices can help you connect with yourself, stay grounded, and appreciate the present moment. Don't ignore discomfort. Questioning your life's direction isn't a crisis, see it as an opportunity to find what is meaningful to you. Waldinger encourages asking yourself 'how would you like to spend your waking hours of the day?' As Waldinger sees it, the biggest myth is that happiness is a destination. According to him, it's not something you get by accumulating more; it's something that comes when you live with connection and purpose. 'You won't be happy all the time,' he says, 'but happiness is likely to find you more often.' So, the next time you feel like you're falling behind in the race for success, pause. Call a friend. Reflect on what truly matters. Because a life well lived might not be as quantifiable as we want it to be. Both research and human experience show it's built through moments of presence, purpose, and meaningful connections.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Link Between Happiness and Social Connection
This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Sign up here to get it every Saturday morning. Think back to a good time you recently had with a loved one: an hours-long conversation with a friend or a perfect night of watching TV on the couch with family. I'd venture to guess you still feel a little surge of warmth when you recall it. It's an intuitive truth that everybody needs these experiences to live a happy life, and recent happiness research suggests that young people can only really flourish when they have 'real-life human contact and love,' Arthur C. Brooks writes. Social connection and community is important for human well-being—not least because it aids in the process of finding meaning and feeling that one's life has purpose, Brooks notes. But young people are facing a series of roadblocks to finding that meaning: Institutions such as organized religion are in decline, and alternative communities are hard to find, especially when young adults are glued to technology. These trends are by now well-known—and yet the path to a better life might come down to incorporating a few basic principles, Brooks argues. The first one? 'Put close relationships with family and friends before virtually everything else.' On Happiness and Connection Why Are Young People Everywhere So Unhappy? By Arthur C. Brooks Here's the answer to that—and what we can do about it. Read the article. What the Longest Study on Human Happiness Found Is the Key to a Good Life By Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz The Harvard Study of Adult Development has established a strong correlation between deep relationships and well-being. The question is, how does a person nurture those deep relationships? Read the article. The Anti-Social Century By Derek Thompson Americans are now spending more time alone than ever. It's changing our personalities, our politics, and even our relationship to reality. Read the article. Still Curious? Why Americans suddenly stopped hanging out: Too much aloneness is creating a crisis of social fitness, Derek Thompson wrote last year. The easiest way to keep your friends: It's a little boring, a little type A, and a lot better than letting relationships fizzle, Serena Dai writes. Other Diversions Marvel doesn't have to try so hard. The elite college students who can't read books (From 2024) Six books you'll want to read outdoors Article originally published at The Atlantic
