--- title: The Single Most Important Thing to Do Today if You Want to Live a Long, Happy Life description: Might sound trite or corny, but go see a friend. The research regarding what it takes to live a long life and what it takes... canonical: https://time.com/3476262/single-most-important-thing-if-want-live-long-happy-life/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-10-11T04:01:53.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-31T07:57:21.356Z article:section: Ideas og:title: The Single Most Important Thing to Do Today if You Want to Live a Long, Happy Life og:description: Might sound trite or corny, but go see a friend. The research regarding what it takes to live a long life and what it takes... og:url: https://time.com/3476262/single-most-important-thing-if-want-live-long-happy-life/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3cfcf853951caa6/6986a740cd684810df096dad/friends-talking.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3414 og:image:height: 1920 og:image:alt: Friends talking og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Single Most Important Thing to Do Today if You Want to Live a Long, Happy Life twitter:description: Might sound trite or corny, but go see a friend. The research regarding what it takes to live a long life and what it takes... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3cfcf853951caa6/6986a740cd684810df096dad/friends-talking.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Single Most Important Thing to Do Today if You Want to Live a Long, Happy Life > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. 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Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Oct 11, 2014 4:01 AM UTC  Female flatmates relaxing on sofa Female flatmates relaxing on sofa Abel Mitja Varela—Getty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Oct 11, 2014 4:01 AM UTC Might sound trite or corny, but go see a friend. The research regarding what it takes to live a long life and what it takes to live a happy life [overlap significantly](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/are-the-recommendations-for-being-happier-and/). One of the things they share is spending time with friends. Harvard happiness expert [Dan Gilbert](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400077427/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1400077427) says that [what brings us the most happiness is family and friends](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-is-happiness). Having **a better social life can be worth as much as** [**an additional $131,232 a year**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/01/what-are-your-relationships-worth-in-dollars/) in terms of life satisfaction. --- > “” --- Most of what we do to relieve stress [doesn’t actually work](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/are-you-doing-all-the-wrong-things-to-relieve/). Friends, however, do take the edge off. Via [The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1583334386/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1583334386): --- > “” --- Can money buy happiness? Yes, but [not how you might expect](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/01/8-ways-that-money-can-buy-happiness/). Harvard’s [Michael Norton](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451665067/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1451665067) explains that one of the most notable ways cash brings joy _is by spending it on other people_: [Connecting with and helping others is more important](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/have-we-got-it-all-wrong-about-what-it-takes) than obsessing over a rigorous exercise program. What yes/no question can likely predict whether you will be alive and happy at age 80? --- > “” --- Via [Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439190763/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1439190763): --- > “” --- [The Longevity Project](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0452297702/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0452297702) details a research project at Harvard that has followed 268 men for over 72 years, making it one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies in history. What was the most important lesson the scientists learned? --- > “” --- And, sorry: Facebook isn’t enough. John Cacioppo, author of [Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393335283/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0393335283), explains that technology is best [if you use it to arrange face-to-face contact](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/04/is-facebook-making-us-lonely/): --- > “” --- And choose wisely. Spending time with fake friends — or “frenemies” — is [_worse than spending time with real enemies_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/are-frenemies-even-worse-than-enemies/): --- > “” --- Want to strengthen your friendships? Go [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/5-ways-to-strengthen-your-friendships/). **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/01/single-important-today-live-long-happy-life)**_._** **Join over 100,000 readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD). Related posts: [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/) [What do people regret the most before they die?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/what-do-people-regret-the-most-before-they-di/) [What five things can make sure you never stop growing and learning?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/never-stop-growing-learning/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3476262/single-most-important-thing-if-want-live-long-happy-life/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3476262/single-most-important-thing-if-want-live-long-happy-life/"},"headline":"The Single Most Important Thing to Do Today if You Want to Live a Long, Happy Life","datePublished":"2014-10-11T04:01:53.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T07:57:21.356Z","description":"Might sound trite or corny, but go see a friend. 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