<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/95960/the-way-to-happiness-remember-the-4-ps/" -->

---
title: The Way to Happiness: Remember the 4 P’s
description: There’s an overwhelming amount of happiness research. Forget incorporating it all into your life — merely remembering it is daunting enough. I like to keep...
canonical: https://time.com/95960/the-way-to-happiness-remember-the-4-ps/
author: Eric Barker
article:opinion: true
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2014-05-12T14:00:35.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:54:05.066Z
article:section: Ideas
og:title: The Way to Happiness: Remember the 4 P’s
og:description: There’s an overwhelming amount of happiness research. Forget incorporating it all into your life — merely remembering it is daunting enough. I like to keep...
og:url: https://time.com/95960/the-way-to-happiness-remember-the-4-ps/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd3c39434e0c2e042/69868ee455a8598265a80c8d/112156209.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9
og:image:width: 5120
og:image:height: 2880
og:image:alt: 112156209
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: The Way to Happiness: Remember the 4 P’s
twitter:description: There’s an overwhelming amount of happiness research. Forget incorporating it all into your life — merely remembering it is daunting enough. I like to keep...
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd3c39434e0c2e042/69868ee455a8598265a80c8d/112156209.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9
---

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd3c39434e0c2e042/69868ee455a8598265a80c8d/112156209.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# The Way to Happiness: Remember the 4 P’s

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="3200deb4-b858-4795-beff-2113ea33485d" campaign="time-nl-network-2026q3" creative="time-nl-network-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: September 2026.

## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=3200deb4-b858-4795-beff-2113ea33485d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### The seven newsletters

| Newsletter | Covers | Frequency |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily |
| Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) |
| Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays |
| Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly |
| D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week |
| Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) |
| In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) |

Source: TIME, August 2026.

### Key data points

| Metric | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 |
| Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Publishing since | 1923 | TIME |

### TIME Newsletters: key statements

*   Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read.
*   All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=3200deb4-b858-4795-beff-2113ea33485d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).
*   The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=3200deb4-b858-4795-beff-2113ea33485d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What newsletters does TIME publish?

TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers.

#### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to?

It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters.

#### Are TIME's newsletters free?

Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes TIME's newsletters?

TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk.

#### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter?

Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.

### Sources

*   TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=3200deb4-b858-4795-beff-2113ea33485d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1)

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What newsletters does TIME publish?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Are TIME's newsletters free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes TIME's newsletters?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->


by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


May 12, 2014 2:00 PM UTC

![112156209](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd3c39434e0c2e042/69868ee455a8598265a80c8d/112156209.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Woman standing outdoors underneath fabric

Woman standing outdoors underneath fabric Tom Merton—Getty Images/OJO Images RF

by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


May 12, 2014 2:00 PM UTC

There’s an [overwhelming amount of happiness research](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/the-way-to-happiness/www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/).

Forget incorporating it all into your life — merely _remembering_ it is daunting enough.

I like to keep it simple: **Remember the 4 P’s.**

1. **Purpose**
2. **Perspective**
3. **People**
4. **Play**

Work those into every day and you’ll be smiling more.

## Purpose

This one gets short shrift in the modern era so we’ll put it first. You don’t need to live and die by the Bushido code but **the best lives have purpose**.

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

This can be religion or a set of ethics or goals. But your vision of your life needs structure.

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

And it’s not enough to just have beliefs. **We really feel good when we make progress toward our ideals.**

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

## Perspective

**Happiness is more about how you look at life than what actually happens.**

Happy people and unhappy people’s lives, objectively, are not all that different.

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

**Compare yourself to those better than you and you’ll feel bad. Compare against those below you and you’ll feel better.**

…despite that the circumstances might be exactly the same.

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

If you focus on the added work and pressure, even a promotion can be seen as negative.

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

Happy people see negative things as isolated incidents. Unhappy people see bad times as part of who they are.


Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

## People

**70% of happiness is your relationships with other people.**

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

**Do you have a group of people you feel very close to? You’re four times as likely to be happy.**

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

**Friends and family were nine times more important than money when it comes to being happy.**

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

And it’s not just getting. **Giving has a huge effect on happiness.**

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

**It’s hard to tell how happy you are from knowing how many problems you have.**

**It’s much easier to tell by knowing how many people love you.**

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

## Play

It’s not all serious, deep stuff. **You need to have plain old fun to really have a happy life.**

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

Laugh.

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

Rest.

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):


Exercise.

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

Read. (Yes, blog posts count.)

Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10FW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FC10FW&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

## Keep The 4 P’s In Mind

Try to check off all four of these each day:

1. **Purpose**
2. **Perspective**
3. **People**
4. **Play**

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.” – Marcus Aurelius, [Meditations](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082XJGRK/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0082XJGRK&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20)

**Join 45K+ 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/)

[Here are the things proven to make you happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/)

[What are the three ways to train your brain to be happy?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/12/train-brain-happy/)

_This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/95960/the-way-to-happiness-remember-the-4-ps/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/95960/the-way-to-happiness-remember-the-4-ps/"},"headline":"The Way to Happiness: Remember the 4 P’s","datePublished":"2014-05-12T14:00:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:54:05.066Z","description":"There’s an overwhelming amount of happiness research. Forget incorporating it all into your life — merely remembering it is daunting enough. I like to keep...","url":"https://time.com/95960/the-way-to-happiness-remember-the-4-ps/","keywords":["Psychology","Happiness","Relationship"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd3c39434e0c2e042/69868ee455a8598265a80c8d/112156209.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd3c39434e0c2e042/69868ee455a8598265a80c8d/112156209.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"112156209","caption":"112156209","creditText":"Tom Merton—Getty Images/OJO Images RF","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/95960/the-way-to-happiness-remember-the-4-ps/","name":"The Way to Happiness: Remember the 4 P’s"}}]}]
```