To achieve very high happiness, prioritize spending more time around other humans, as studies show this is a necessary condition for highly happy individuals.
Engage in socializing with others more frequently, as it is the daily activity that makes us feel best, surpassing eating, shopping, relaxing, or watching TV.
Make a conscious effort to connect not only with friends and family but also with strangers encountered in daily life, such as in lines or during commutes, as these interactions contribute significantly to well-being.
Whenever possible, choose human interaction over automated convenience, such as chatting with a bank teller instead of using an ATM, to preserve valuable social connections.
When standing in line, initiate a conversation with the person next to you, as these small human interactions can brighten your day and provide valuable social connection.
Understand that happiness comes from the frequency of positive experiences, not just their intensity, meaning small, regular positive interactions contribute significantly to overall well-being.
Engage in conversations with others, as they act like ‘air compressors’ for your happiness, providing regular boosts to your well-being.
To fight the loneliness epidemic, actively seek out and make connections with people, drawing inspiration from individuals who naturally engage with others.
Initiate connections with people by using direct eye contact and smiles, as these are fundamental ways to relate to others.
Recognize and value face-to-face interactions because humans are social animals who thrive on the rich signals (body language, facial expression, tone of voice) exchanged during direct contact.
When stuck in lines, try to reframe the experience not as an annoyance, but as an opportunity to be happier, as our minds often lie about what truly makes us happy.
To find true happiness, understand the science of the mind, as our natural intuitions about happiness can often be wrong.
Recognize that adding even a few extra minutes to your perceived free time can significantly improve your well-being.
Emulate happy people by actively taking time for social connection and making an effort to connect with people you encounter on the street.
If you struggle to start a conversation with a stranger, use interesting facts or observations, such as the story of the ATM’s invention and its inventor’s wife, to break the ice.