How happy are you? To find out, try answering these three simple questions. Your responses will shed light on areas of your life that could lead to a more fulfilling, joyful existence.
Three Questions to Assess Your Happiness
- Do you always feel rushed, sometimes feel rushed, or almost never feel rushed?
- How often do you have spare time that you don’t know how to fill: most of the time, some of the time, or none of the time?
- How much TV do you watch?
Sociologist John Robinson from the University of Maryland has been researching people’s happiness for nearly four decades. He’s discovered that happiness is closely related to how we perceive our use of time.
The Connection Between Time and Happiness
If you always feel rushed, you are likely to be less happy. However, if you feel like you have a lot of time on your hands that you don’t know how to use, you’re also less happy. And if you watch a lot of TV, your happiness will probably decrease further.
Interestingly, Robinson’s research shows that the percentage of Americans who describe themselves as “always feeling rushed” actually went down between 2004 and 2010. This is surprising, especially considering that modern technology is so time-consuming.
The Happiest People
According to Robinson’s work, the happiest individuals – about 8% to 12% of Americans – “say they almost never feel rushed, and they do not have time on their hands they don’t know what to do with.” This is quite an interesting statistic that suggests a strong correlation between control over one’s time and life satisfaction.
Television and Happiness
Robinson found that television is a happiness destroyer. The reason behind this is that watching TV is usually an activity people choose to do when they don’t have anything else to do. These individuals are thus more likely to have too much time on their hands that they’re unsure of how to fill.
Control Over Time Is Crucial
Having control over one’s time seems to be the essential factor when it comes to happiness. If you don’t feel rushed, that means you’re experiencing control over your life. But if you always feel rushed, this implies external pressures are impacting how you feel.
Likewise, if you never have time on your hands that you don’t know what to do with, it implies you have an adequate level of control over your life. So, a balanced schedule and control over one’s time contribute to a significant increase in perceived happiness.
How to Increase Happiness With Time Management
Here are some tips to help you gain control over your time and, in turn, increase your happiness:
- Prioritize tasks: Identify the critical tasks that need to be completed first, and focus on finishing them before moving on to less critical jobs.
- Break tasks into smaller, manageable segments: This will make it easier for you to complete tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
- Set realistic deadlines: Ensure that you allot yourself enough time to complete tasks without feeling rushed.
- Schedule regular breaks: Give yourself the opportunity to relax and recharge by taking short breaks throughout the day.
- Declutter your workspace: An organized workspace will help you focus better and increase your productivity.
- Learn to say “no”: Avoid overcommitting yourself and protect your time by saying no to non-essential tasks.
- Limit TV time: Watching TV should be a reward for completing tasks, not a way to fill up idle time.
By practicing effective time management techniques, you’ll likely find that you have a better sense of control over your life. As a result, you’ll experience a boost in happiness and overall life satisfaction.
The Importance of Balance
Happiness is not simply about having control over time; it’s about striking the right balance in our lives. By finding the sweet spot between feeling rushed and having too much spare time, we can maximize our happiness and enjoy a more fulfilling, meaningful life.
In conclusion, your answers to the three questions can be a helpful gauge in determining your current level of happiness. By making small adjustments to how you manage and perceive time, you can pave the way for a happier life.
