HAPPINESS COMES CHEAP

     “A bar of chocolate, a long soak in the bath, a snooze in the middle of the afternoon, a leisurely stroll in the park. These are the things that make us the most happy, according to new research from The University of Nottingham.” Read more here, along with related articles to the right.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071130224158.htm

     SCIENCE DAILY has lots more information from all the happiness research going on. For example, older people in the U.S. are happier than younger people, but Boomers less happy than most. For more about this survey:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416110114.htm

     And then there’s the WORLD VALUES SURVEY, which recently ranked Denmark as the world’s happiest country, the U.S. as sixteenth, and Zimbabwe as most miserable. Read more here:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/
story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10520043

     The WORLD VALUES SURVEY has its own site. I found it rather difficult to use, but if you’re determined you can find out much more information from this survey, which has been going on for some years.

http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/

WHEN WASTING TIME IS TIME WELL SPENT

     MARC and ANGEL have a point. And a nice blog.

http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/03/12/
9-productive-time-sinks-when-wasting-time-is-time-well-spent/

100 SIMPLE WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER

     What a list!

http://www.100bestdatingsites.com/blog/2008/
100-simple-ways-to-change-your-life-for-the-better/

     HABITS THAT WILL PREVENT YOUR SUCCESS. You might not think this list goes with the “100 Simple Ways” list, but it does. They’re both valid.

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/03/
habits-that-will-prevent-your-success.html

NINE-WORD RECIPE FOR A HAPPIER LIFE

     I poked around more on the EVEN HAPPIER website. His suggestions are quite down-to-earth, and this one fits with the one in the last item about making things “flow.”

http://www.evenhappier.com/
the_8_words_recipe_for_a_happier_life.html

REPUBLICANS ARE HAPPIER THAN DEMOCRATS?

     I’m not taking political sides. I’ve been an Independent voter for twenty years and have no intention of changing. But research – real, official research – apparently shows that Republicans are happier, whether or not they win this next election or any other election. Of course you will want to read the article and see why. Please note that the first thing that apparently makes Republicans so much happier is equally available to Democrats. No matter who wins the election.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2008/02/07/AR2008020701904.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

GRATITUDE IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

     When I was a little girl, we sang in church, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” And now psychology is catching up with Christianity. According to this study, being grateful improves your “self-esteem, relationships, sleep, self-motivation and general well-being.” Read about it here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2007/11/16/AR2007111601699_pf.html

     Test your own gratitude level by clicking on:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/
11/16/AR2007111601697.html

STRESSED OUT?

     You might want to try MENTALROBICS.COM:

http://www.mentalrobics.com/cat/5/stress.html

     For bedtime relaxation, or anytime relaxation, listen to FOREST ROOM’s sounds, view the peaceful woodland shots.

http://www.lime.com/files/meditation_room/forest_loader.html

CONQUERING BOREDOM

     The fellow who writes the EVEN HAPPIER blog says you can learn to enjoy an activity you currently find boring. I’m going to try it with walking on the treadmill. I keep trying to make it interesting, but that doesn’t work, so then I quit using the treadmill. We shall see if I can figure out how to make it “flow.”

     NOTE: I tried it, and things do go much better.

http://www.evenhappier.com/selfimprovement/
on_the_secret_for_turning_a_bo.html