He’s such a resource when it comes to social science research. Recently, I was reading his recent The Atlantic magazine column and an article called “Dare to Act Differently and Be Happier.” Here’s an excerpt:
“One 2023 literature review, in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, looked at 57 recent happiness studies and found that the most common happiness interventions were in the areas of gratitude, social interaction, mindfulness, exercise, and exposure to nature. An important common feature of the interventions involved in these studies is that they aim to disrupt the behavioral routines and habits that reduce people’s well-being. I mention this trait because it’s exactly why you might need the experimental mindset in your life.”
“If you feel you could do with a happiness boost, and are willing to do something different, try out these protocols for each of Nature Human Behaviour’s five buckets:
Week One: Gratitude
Each day for a week, start your morning by thinking for five minutes about someone who has improved your life. If that person is no longer alive, write them a note and keep it for yourself. If the individual is still living, send them a quick text or email.
Week Two: Social Interaction
Each day when you are in public, make a point of speaking in a friendly way with a stranger for just a few minutes. This could be the person sitting next to you on the bus or subway, or it might be someone walking their dog in your neighborhood.
Week Three: Mindfulness
For 10 minutes first thing in the morning, put away your phone, sit quietly in a comfortable place, and simply pay attention to what is happening around you. Make a nonjudgmental note of what you see and what you happen to hear, and be aware of your other sensations, such as sunlight, temperature, and odors.
Week Four: Exercise
Try to fit in a workout for at least half an hour each morning. If you haven’t done so in a long time—or ever—get up early every day and just walk outside for an hour, or run if you like. Whatever the activity, do it without a device so you are fully present in the experience.
Week Five: Nature
Find a green space in your environment, and visit it each day for half an hour, weather permitting. If doing so is possible, sit on the grass and touch it with your hands.
To get the full benefit of making each activity your own personal experiment, write down the results. Every day, you should track a few metrics by rating variables such as positive and negative mood levels, overall life satisfaction, and your sense of connectedness with others. When each week’s experiment is complete, keep collecting your data to see whether the positive effects you recorded during the test endure or evaporate. If you follow this approach, I can virtually guarantee that you will end up with fewer negative habits and more positive ones. The ultimate success of your home-laboratory testing will be a measurable rise in your well-being.”
-Chip