Shortcuts to Happiness: 7 Tips to Boost Your Well-Being

What makes us happy? Perhaps surprisingly, experts say that at least in part it's growing older. In fact, dozens of studies in the past 15 years suggest our happiness quotient curves upward after age 50 or so. A 2016 study by the Center on Healthy Aging at the University of California San Diego, for instance, showed that, as they age, people report higher levels of overall satisfaction, happiness and well-being, and lower levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Research from the Stanford Center on Longevity found that age correlates with what's called the “positivity effect,” where older people experience fewer negative emotions and look back on the past with more satisfaction and less sadness or regret.

It's nice to know the overall trends are on our side. Still, even the happiest among us need a little boost sometimes. And while you probably know the bottom-line advice on overall wellness — a good night's sleep, a balanced diet, exercise, social interaction — sometimes we need to connect the dots to target mood and outlook specifically.

To help, we consulted experts in the field of happiness for their best shortcuts to good feelings and contentment.

1. Front-load your day.

This tip, from psychologist Mary Pipher, author of Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing as We Age, combines a touch of planning with a slight shift in your mind-set. Over your cup of coffee, or as you lie in bed each morning, ask yourself: “What do I want to insert into this day to make it good?” As Piper tells it, learning to do this routinely changed her daily life, helping her to prioritize fun: “A lot of people make a to-do list for their chores. If we are overscheduled and rushing, everything becomes one more chore. But you can sit down for a minute and ask yourself, ‘What do I really feel like doing in this moment?'” From there, she says, the trick is seizing the time to do what you want — ideally, as soon as possible. If you can call that friend or do a little gardening before the rest of your regular commitments intrude, so much the better.

2. See the morning light.

Gretchen Rubin, author of the best-seller The Happiness Project, says that the morning itself can play a critical role in setting us up for a more positive outlook. Specifically, she recommends making a goal of getting out in the early a.m. sun (you're up anyway, right?). “That really helps with happiness,” she says. Many health reports back her up. Sunlight, along with fueling bone growth and strengthening the immune system, improves mood and focus by boosting serotonin levels in the body. It's also known to help the body produce the hormone melatonin on a schedule that better syncs with your natural circadian rhythm, helping you feel more alert during the day and fall asleep more easily after dark. (Critical for those for whom sound sleep has become a happiness stumbling block later in life.) A great way to absorb some early light is to take a short walk — if a dog comes along, so much the better. Studies show that canine friends lower depression and anxiety as well as blood pressure.