Work is inevitable, happiness isn’t

09/18/19 • 18 min

Happycast: The Science of Happiness

How do we stay happy while working?

[01:27] Overworking and happiness

[07:25] Self-employment

[10:20] Work Success

[14:57] National well-being

References:

Kuroda, S., & Yamamoto, I. (2019). Why Do People Overwork at the Risk of Impairing Mental. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(5), 1519–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0008-x
Bujacz, A., Eib, C., & Toivanen, S. (2019). Not All Are Equal : A Latent Profile Analysis of Well ‐ Being Among the Self ‐ Employed. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00147-1
Laguna, M., & Razmus, W. (2018). When I Feel My Business Succeeds , I Flourish : Reciprocal Relationships Between Positive Orientation , Work Engagement , and Entrepreneurial Success. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0065-1
Ali, S., Mansoob, S., & Papyrakis, E. (2019). Happiness and the Resource Curse. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00080-3

How do we stay happy while working?

[01:27] Overworking and happiness

[07:25] Self-employment

[10:20] Work Success

[14:57] National well-being

References:

Kuroda, S., & Yamamoto, I. (2019). Why Do People Overwork at the Risk of Impairing Mental. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(5), 1519–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0008-x
Bujacz, A., Eib, C., & Toivanen, S. (2019). Not All Are Equal : A Latent Profile Analysis of Well ‐ Being Among the Self ‐ Employed. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00147-1
Laguna, M., & Razmus, W. (2018). When I Feel My Business Succeeds , I Flourish : Reciprocal Relationships Between Positive Orientation , Work Engagement , and Entrepreneurial Success. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0065-1
Ali, S., Mansoob, S., & Papyrakis, E. (2019). Happiness and the Resource Curse. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00080-3

Previous Episode

Social support, a safety net for your happiness

Social support is so important. It can even impact your physiology.

[01:15] Friends make life good

[03:22] What is social support?

[07:40] How can social support make you happier?

[08:55] The biology of social support

[11:54] Hugs

References:

Siedlecki, K.L., Salthouse, T.A., Oishi, S. and Sheena, J. (2014) The Relationship Between Social Support and Subjective Well- Being Across Age. Social Indicators Research, 117, 561-576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0361-4
Hooker, E.D., Zoccola, P.M., and Dickerson S.S. (2018). Toward a Biology of Social Support. In Snyder, C.R., Lopez, S.J., Edwards, L.M., and Marques, S.C. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (3rd ed.), doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199396511.013.41
Cohen, S., Janicki-Deverts, D., Turner, R.B., & Doyle, W.J. (2015). Does hugging provide stress-buffering social support? A study of susceptibility to upper respiratory infection and illness. Psychological science, 26(2), 135-47 .

Next Episode

Strangers, maybe just friends you’ve never met

Those small interactions you have with strangers have quite a few hidden benefits!

A Happier Year is now available — an illustrated calendar with 366 science-based actions. Use the code "happycastlistener" for 10% off at checkout on ahappieryear.com

[00:42] Talk to strangers on your commute, it’ll make you happier

[07:15] Little social interactions make us happier

[09:19] Introverts still need to talk

[11:45] Affective forecasting, the reason we don’t think we’ll enjoy eating spaghetti

[13:28] Smile at strangers, it makes them feel included

[14:18] Put your phone down, you’ll smile more

References

Epley, N., & Schroeder, J. (2014). Mistakenly Seeking Solitude, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 143 (5), 1980–1999.
Sandstrom, G. M., & Dunn, E. W. (2014). Is Efficiency Overrated?: Minimal Social Interactions Lead to Belonging and Positive Affect, Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5(4), 437–442. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613502990
Zelenski, J. M., Whelan, D. C., Nealis, L. J., Besner, C. M., Santoro, M. S., & Wynn, J. E. (2013). Personality and Affective Forecasting : Trait Introverts Underpredict the Hedonic Benefits of Acting Extraverted, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(6), 1092–1108. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032281
Wesselmann, E. D., Cardoso, F. D., Slater, S., & Williams, K. D. (2012). To Be Looked at as Though Air : Civil Attention Matters. Psychological Science, 23(2) 166 –168. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611427921
Kushlev, K., Hunter, J. F., Proulx, J., Pressman, S. D., & Dunn, E. (2019). Computers in Human Behavior Smartphones reduce smiles between strangers. Computers in Human Behavior, 91, 12–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.09.023