Breaking News: The Secret to Happiness Has Been Under Our Noses for 86 Years, and It's... Other People?!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec. 3, 2024 –

In what can only be described as the most earth-shattering revelation of the century (at least for people who don’t already know this), the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has been running for a whopping 86 years, has concluded that the secret to happiness isn’t money, fame, or the perfect avocado toast. Nope, it’s other people.

Yes, the answer we’ve all been waiting for is painfully simple: You can’t live your best life in complete isolation—unless you’re some sort of monk who lives in a cave, and even then, you’re probably talking to your pet goat. Turns out, being around people, even if they’re the ones who send you unsolicited text messages at 3 AM, is the key to a long, fulfilling life. Who knew?

The Harvard Study: Because Who Doesn’t Want to Spend 86 Years Tracking People’s Lives?

Let’s back up for a second. The Harvard Study of Adult Development is the longest-running study of happiness in human history. It started back in 1938 (when people were still trying to figure out how to use a radio) and involved tracking two groups of men—268 Harvard undergraduates and 456 inner-city Boston men. Over the course of these 86 years, the study has looked at everything from military service to spiritual experiences, and even at how much people liked their college cafeteria food. (Okay, not really, but it wouldn’t surprise us at this point.)

Now, a lot of the original participants aren’t around anymore, but their findings live on in a book called The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. You’d think after nearly 90 years of research, they’d have figured out the perfect recipe for happiness—spoiler alert: they did, and it involves other humans. (Yes, we’re all a bit disappointed too.)

The Key to Happiness: It’s Your Friends… Unless They’re Really Annoying

Dr. Robert Waldinger, the current director of the study (who, let’s be honest, probably feels like he’s been researching happiness since the dawn of time), dropped the biggest truth bomb of the century: The happiest people in the study were the ones with strong relationships. So, if you’ve been investing all your energy into collecting random Instagram followers and hoping for validation through likes—sorry to break it to you—that probably isn’t cutting it.

Waldinger’s research points to the quality of your relationships, not the quantity. Apparently, it’s not about having 1,000 Facebook friends or texting 12 people a day with random memes (guilty). What matters is having one or two solid friendships that don’t involve constantly explaining why you’re “just really busy” when they ask you to hang out.

Friends in a backyard get together sharing only one beer between 9 people. It will not end well.

Good news for introverts: you don’t need to be surrounded by 100 people at all times. In fact, if you have a couple of deep relationships with people who don’t cancel plans every weekend, you’re already ahead of the game. No more guilt about skipping that group dinner for a quiet night with your couch.

Social Media? Great for Collecting Memes, Not So Much for Happiness

In a mind-blowing twist of fate, the study also found that social media—yes, the thing that steals hours of our lives—isn’t exactly the best way to really connect with people. Who knew?! Turns out, while online friendships can be awesome, nothing beats an actual, face-to-face conversation where you can exchange pleasantries and uncomfortable silences in person. And the constant stream of “inspirational” quotes from people you barely know on Instagram? Apparently, that doesn’t do wonders for your happiness either. Shocking, right?

The takeaway? While you may be able to stay in touch with someone you met once at a party on Zoom, it’s the real, unfiltered, sometimes awkward human connections that matter most. You know, the ones where you talk about your day, gripe about your job, and vent about how your friend’s dog is way cuter than yours. Heartwarming stuff.

Want to Live Longer? Stop Smoking, Stop Drinking, and Start Talking to People

In case you thought this study was just about “lovey-dovey stuff,” don’t worry. There’s more to it than that. The researchers have also found that smoking, drinking excessively, and not exercising are all bad for your health—who would’ve thought?! So, in addition to not being lonely, you should also avoid turning your body into a chemical dump, and maybe start walking to the grocery store instead of driving.

Because apparently, staying alive is a key part of being happy (who knew?), regular health checks are also a good idea. Just imagine—if you don’t smoke, drink in excess, and don’t have an exercise routine that involves “lifting” your phone to check emails, you could live longer! Who needs magic pills when you can just be somewhat responsible?

Rick just learned how to use facebook. The smile was temporary.

Conclusion: Stop Binge-Watching and Start Hanging Out with People

So, what have we learned after 86 years of tracking people’s lives? Happiness is simple: don’t isolate yourself, don’t smoke, don’t drink like a fish, and maybe talk to someone besides your dog once in a while.

Oh, and if your marriage is a hot mess, well, that’s not helping either. But if you can surround yourself with a solid friend group, a decent partner, and maybe a neighbor who doesn’t yell at you about your lawn, you’re already winning at life.

The researchers’ conclusion? To live your best life, stop looking for happiness in your solo Netflix marathons or in the next big gadget.

Lean into those relationships, and suddenly, you might just realize the secret was there all along—other people (yep, they’re the key to it all).