Get a pet
Owning a pet can make you happier. A recent Washington State University study found that just 10 minutes of petting a furry friend resulted in reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol. And dogs might have an edge over cats – in a recent survey, 36 per cent of dog owners rated themselves as “very happy” compared to only 18 per cent of cat owners.
Share the child-care
A 2019 psychology study concluded that dads are happier than mums, perhaps because they were more likely to report that they were playing with their kids rather than doing housework. The lesson? Split child-care – and household tasks – equally.
Start following sports
According to the psychology professor Daniel L. Wann, who literally wrote the book on sport fandom – that would be Sport Fans: The Psychology and Social Impact of Fandom – rooting for a team leads to social connections, which provide a buffer against depression and alienation as well as increasing self-esteem and self-worth. But choose wisely: losing teams don’t offer the same benefits.