Last night we hosted a conversation on “The Science of Happiness” with Columbia Business School Professor and scientist, Sandra Matz and Summit.
Sandra shared the 5 key (and scientifically proven!) factors that contribute to happiness:
1. Sleep – research suggests how much we sleep is linked to our overall happiness. When we are sleep deprived, we lack the ability to regulate our emotional state and we are more likely to experience higher stress levels.
2. Service to others – scientific research provides anecdotal evidence that giving is a powerful pathway to personal growth and sustained happiness. fMRI technology reveals that giving activates the same parts of the brain that are stimulated by food and pleasure.
3. Belief in a higher power – in 2015 researchers from the London School of Economics found that participating in a religious organization was the only social activity associated with prolonged happiness—more so than volunteering, continued education, or involvement in a community organization.
4. Movement – even just a little exercise can make us happier! Movement releases endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, BDNF and lowers stress hormone cortisol = happier! According to an NYT review about good moods and physical activity, people who work out even once a week or for as little as 10 minutes a day tend to be more cheerful than those who never exercise.
5. Sense of belonging – results from an 80-year Harvard study of health and aging determine that meaningful relationships are what keep people happy throughout their lives, and these relationships with family, friends, and community slow mental and physical decline.
