Research and historical accounts cited in an article about loneliness point to relationships and shared experiences as important sources of happiness, rather than material purchases. Its central recommendation is to spend more time in person with people you care about, or could grow closer to, and less time seeking happiness through new objects.
A survey of residents in Bolton, northern England, conducted in 1938 and repeated in 2014, found that economic security and personal relationships were among the most frequently mentioned ingredients of happiness. Joseph Roberts, a coal miner who took part in the 1938 survey, described feeling content after work when he could spend time with his wife and children and share his wages with his family.
The article also argues that contributing to other people’s happiness can strengthen one’s own sense of connection and well-being. It cites research by psychologists Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis suggesting that people may underestimate how appreciated others feel when they give to them, and that giving can benefit the giver as well.
A study by Amit Kumar of the University of Texas is cited in support of choosing experiences over possessions once people have a basic level of financial resources. Activities such as going for a bike ride, visiting a restaurant or attending a concert are more likely to be shared with others, the article notes, while possessions are often enjoyed alone.
Its practical advice is to choose in-person activities with people you value over buying things for solitary enjoyment. Rather than relying on texts or updates about people in one’s social circle, it encourages calling, meeting and spending time together.
Sources: Psychology Today.