How to Be Less Busy and More Happy
If you feel too rushed even to read this, then your life could use a change.
How to Build a Life
A column about pointing yourself toward happiness
Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life
The great Swiss psychoanalyst left us a surprisingly practical guide to being happier.
The One Big Thing You Can Do for Your Kids
The research shows that you probably have less effect on your kids than you think—with one major exception: Your love will make them happy.
How Not to Be Bored When You Have to Wait
Sick of standing in line? Instead of looking at your phone, read on.
Whatever You Do, Don’t Do the Silent Treatment
It can ruin your relationships.
Don’t Let Your Disgust Be Manipulated
Knowing how this most visceral emotion can be abused by bad actors is your best defense.
Five Teachings of the Dalai Lama I Try to Live By
Tibetan Buddhist wisdom you can use
Overwhelmed? Just Say ‘No.’
The science of how to stop saying yes to everything—and be happier
The Happy Way to Drop Your Grievances
Grumbling about something can feel as if it offers relief, but it spreads misery. Here’s how to break the habit and make everyone happier.
What to Do If the Course of True Love Is Not Running Smoothly
Think of romance as being like a business start-up: You have to be prepared for failure, and learn from it, to realize ultimate bliss.
Schopenhauer’s Advice on How to Achieve Great Things
Do you have an important project in mind? The 19th-century philosopher’s approach is still timely today.
Why You’re Better Off Not Borrowing
The less debt you carry, the happier you’ll be.
Think Twice Before Taking the Top Job
It can be lonely in the corner office. So it’s worth knowing that you could be sacrificing a little happiness.
How to Spot a Frenemy—And Be a Real Friend
That person who poses as your ally but isn’t? Here’s a way to ensure you’re not one.
Kierkegaard’s Three Ways to Live More Fully
Take a cue from the Danish philosopher: Instead of seeking a new life, go deeper into the one you have.
How to Worry Less and Be Happier
A good place to start is simply by writing down what’s bothering you.
How to Be Happy Growing Older
Your future will probably be better than your past.
A Seasonal Guide to Better Well-Being
Amid the seasonal whirl of hedonistic excess, try taking a quiet moment out.
Why You Might Want to Toss Out Your Trophies
If mementos of personal triumphs are starting to make you feel like a has-been, you might be better off without them.
Harness the Power of Suggestion for Your Happiness
The placebo effect can’t cure disease, but it really can work for you.
Three Ways to Tell If Research Is Bunk
Here are some rules for deciding whether a new social-science finding is really useful to you.
Four Ways to Be Grateful—And Happier
Ancient philosophers proposed it, modern researchers have confirmed it: Being thankful is good for you.
Why You Maybe Shouldn’t Write a Memoir
Talking about ourselves too much hurts our happiness—and can signal deeper problems.
Sleep More and Be Happier
When Shakespeare called a good night’s rest the “balm of hurt minds,” he was really onto something.
Three Paths Toward the Meaning of Life
“Who in the world am I?” asks Alice in Wonderland. It turns out that business school has a useful theory to help you answer that.
I Love Candy. But Does It Make Me Happy?
The question of whether sugar is simply a treat or actually a nasty trick goes way beyond Halloween.
The Sociopaths Among Us—And How to Avoid Them
You’re bound to come across the “Dark Triad” type of malignant narcissists in life—and they can be superficially appealing. Better to look for their exact opposite.
Why the Most Successful Marriages Are Start-Ups, Not Mergers
The business world turns out to have a very useful metaphor for people thinking about how to find happiness in a romantic partnership.
The Red Pill of Humility
To see yourself as you truly are is to discover the rewards of being more humble.
Eight Ways to Banish Misery
The philosopher Bertrand Russell knew something about unhappiness. He also knew how to overcome it.
Feeling Burned Out? Here’s What to Do.
The way to break the cycle is by creating meaningful boundaries between work and life.
Three Myths and Four Truths About How to Get Happier
The most important thing to realize is that happiness is not a destination but a direction: How you travel through life is what counts.
A Knockout Technique for Achieving More Happiness
The best lesson from Mike Tyson’s boxing career is not about ring craft; it’s about having the right goals in life.
How to Pick the Right Sort of Vacation for You
All it takes is matching your personality to the holiday.
How to Get the Most Happiness From Your Social Life
Simply seeking out people who are different from you will make you smarter and more contented.
How to Apologize Like a Pro
A partial “sorry” is worse than none.
Aristotle’s 10 Rules for a Good Life
An ancient Greek recipe for happiness
To Get Happier, Choose to Read This Column
Even if you don’t quite believe you have free will, you’re better off acting as if you do.
How to Have Your Most Fulfilling Vacation Ever
Turning your leisure into learning offers the happiest holiday experience of all.