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Published Dec 2, 2020

Secrets from the Happiness Lab | Laurie Santos

Laurie Santos, Yale professor and happiness expert, unpacks strategies for thriving during the holidays amid COVID-19 challenges, emphasizing effective communication, gratitude, and time management to enhance well-being and navigate family dynamics with empathy.
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  • COVID Fatigue

    The ongoing pandemic has led to a pervasive sense of fatigue, as and discuss the psychological toll of prolonged restrictions. Laurie acknowledges the initial enthusiasm for activities like baking and yoga, which has waned as safe social options diminish 1. She emphasizes the importance of remembering the severity of COVID-19 and the experiences of healthcare workers to maintain vigilance. Laurie shares how reading stories from ICU nurses helps her resist the temptation to break rules, highlighting the need for hope and the promise of vaccines as a source of motivation 2.

    Even if there's a teeny tiny percentage chance that that's my mom, I can't risk.

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    Harnessing hope can help us endure the challenging months ahead and act responsibly to mitigate the pandemic's impact.

       

    Rethinking Happiness

    Laurie challenges common misconceptions about happiness, noting that many people, including her Yale students, mistakenly focus on external achievements rather than internal well-being 3. She argues that changing circumstances often doesn't lead to happiness, emphasizing the importance of social connections, sleep, and presence. Laurie shares her personal journey of teaching happiness, which led her to practice what she preaches, resulting in a noticeable increase in her own happiness 4.

    I start with this idea that our minds are lying to us about what makes us happy.

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    Her course's popularity underscores a widespread desire for evidence-based solutions to improve mental health.

       

    Gratitude

    Gratitude emerges as a powerful tool for enhancing well-being, even during challenging times like the pandemic. acknowledges that gratitude can seem overly optimistic, especially in 2020, but emphasizes its scientifically proven benefits 5. Practicing gratitude can lead to significant improvements in life satisfaction and foster prosocial behaviors, such as kindness and social connections. Laurie highlights gratitude's role in boosting willpower and problem-solving abilities, making it a valuable asset in navigating the difficulties of 2020 6.

    Gratitude seems to increase our well being.

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    She encourages simple practices like noting three things you're grateful for to harness these benefits.

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