7 Habits That Lead to Happiness in Old Age

Most people assume getting older means getting less happy. Maybe you’ve thought it too. But the research shows otherwise. In this episode of Office Hours, I’ll show you how your later years can be some of the happiest of your life and how to make that happen.

I’ll take you inside the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the world’s longest scientific study of happiness. I’ll explain why well-being follows a U-shaped curve and why, after midlife, your trajectory depends on the “investments” you’ve made. 

I’ll also share the seven habits you can start practicing today to build your own happiness portfolio so you can enjoy more satisfaction, purpose, and joy in the years to come.

In this episode, I cover:

• The biggest misconception people have about their happiness after 50

• Why life satisfaction bottoms out in midlife, then rebounds stronger than before

• The one bad habit most strongly linked to marriage dissolution 

• How learning to handle life’s inevitable setbacks pays off in your future well-being

• A case for expanding your mind, reading widely, questioning assumptions, and exploring unfamiliar ideas

• Why love is the strongest predictor of happiness in old age, and why one truly close connection can matter more than many casual ones

• Listener questions on happiness and age, if happiness is relative, and how to make the most out of a long commute

We’d love to hear any feedback you have. Please email us at [email protected]. And please leave a review on Apple or Spotify. Thanks for listening!

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Where to find Arthur Brooks: 

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arthurbrooks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/arthurbrooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ArthurBrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuyFRjJQFGCKzfHTBvWM6A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-c-brooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(04:14) The typical trajectory of happiness

(09:34) How the Harvard Study splits people into two groups in old age

(15:03) Why uncontrollable factors don’t define your future

(15:54) How to take the reins despite your genetics

(17:23) The four most powerful habits for steering your wellness in old age

(28:13) Get good at coping 

(31:16) Be a lifelong learner 

(35:15) Invest in your relationships

(40:45) A summary of all 7 habits (and Arthur’s #8) 

(41:57) Q&A: How does what makes people happy vary across age groups?

(45:58) Q&A: Is happiness relative, or do people experience it differently?

(47:35) Q&A: How to stay happier during a long commute

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Referenced:

• Leadership and Happiness course: https://www.hbs.edu/coursecatalog/1885.html

• How to Build a Life: https://www.theatlantic.com/projects/how-build-life/

• The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Files-Insights-Arthur-Brooks/dp/B0F4MFQ6VN

• The Harvard Study of Adult Development: https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/

• Good genes are nice, but joy is better: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

• Robert Waldinger’s website: https://www.robertwaldinger.com/

• The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Life-Lessons-Scientific-Happiness/dp/198216669X

...References continued at: ⁠⁠https://www.arthurbrooks.com/office-hours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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