New research from the University of Essex suggests that focusing too much on your career and not having enough fun can actually make you less happy. They studied people in three different countries and found that those who put their work and success above all else tended to be less happy the next day.
On the flip side, those who aimed to have more freedom in their lives reported feeling 13% happier. They also said they slept better and were more satisfied with their lives. People who made time for relaxation and hobbies felt 8% happier on average and had 10% less stress and anxiety.
Making us happy
This study is the first of its kind to look at how different values impact our happiness. It challenges the idea that the pursuit of career success is the only path to a fulfilling life. Instead, it suggests that having more freedom and enjoying leisure activities can lead to a happier and more satisfying life.
“We all know the old saying ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ and this study shows it might actually be true,” the researchers explain. “There is no benefit to well-being in prioritizing achievement over fun and autonomy.”
The study, involving more than 180 people in India, Turkey, and the UK, looked at how different values affected their happiness. Participants kept a diary for nine days to record their feelings.
Having fun
Surprisingly, all three groups reported similar results: when people followed values related to having fun and making their own choices (called ‘hedonism’ and ‘self-direction’), they felt happier. It didn’t matter where they were from; these values seemed to boost happiness for everyone.
On the other hand, values related to ‘achievement’ and ‘conformity’ didn’t seem to have any impact on happiness. However, the researchers think that achieving goals might make people happier, especially if they enjoy their jobs or work fewer days.
“People often spend most of their days working hard for their daily income, studies, and careers,” the authors conclude. “Against this backdrop, where achievement-oriented values have ring-fenced a great portion of our time, we found that it helps to value freedom and other values just enough to bring in balance and recovery.”
