--- description: I’ve posted a lot about the research around how to be happier. But being satisfied with your life is something a little different. Daniel Kahneman,... title: How To Be More Satisfied With Your Life – 5 Steps Proven By Research image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2c05dfddc84799d2/698682fc1eebf717ac36f8c2/happy.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # How To Be More Satisfied With Your Life – 5 Steps Proven By Research by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 15, 2014 4:01 AM CUT  Family doing star jumps on beach Family doing star jumps on beachGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 15, 2014 4:01 AM CUT **I’ve posted a lot about the research around** [**how to be happier**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/ "undefined")**. But being satisfied with your life is something a little different.** Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize winner and author of [Thinking, Fast and Slow](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374275637/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0374275637 "undefined"), gave a TED talk where he explained the two pretty well: **Happiness is being happy** **_in your life_** **. We experience it immediately and in the moment.** **Life satisfaction is being happy** **_about your life_** **. It is the happiness that exists when we talk about the past and the big picture.** There’s plenty of information [about the former](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/ "undefined") — but what about the latter? **What can we do to not just be happy in the moment, but to feel satisfied with our lives?** Here’s are five things research says can make a difference for you: ## **Friends** **Having a lot of** [**close friends**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/how-to-make-friends-easily/ "undefined") **boosts life satisfaction by nearly 20%.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Having more close friendships was associated with a 19 percent greater life satisfaction and a 23 percent greater sense of optimism. – Richburg 1998_ In fact, having **a better social life can be worth as much as an additional** [**$131,232 a year** in terms of life satisfaction](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/01/what-are-your-relationships-worth-in-dollars/ "undefined"). Like your neighbors? That’s a double digit boost in life satisfaction too. Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Positive feelings about neighbors have been found to be associated with a 16 percent greater life satisfaction and a 25 percent lower likelihood of experiencing feelings of loneliness. – Prezza et al. 2001_ **Why does religion — any religion — make people so much happier?** **It’s the friends that a religious community provides.** A group of ten supportive friends seems to be the magic number. Via [The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089LOHHO/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0089LOHHO&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _After examining studies of more than three thousand adults, Chaeyoon Lin and Robert Putnam found that what religion you practice or however close you feel to God makes no difference in your overall life satisfaction. What matters is the number of friends you have in your religious community. Ten is the magic number; if you have that many, you’ll be happier. Religious people, in other words, are happier because they feel connected to a community of like-minded people._ But it’s not all about what you get from friends; [giving is extraordinarily powerful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-wharton-business-school-professor-teaches-approach-give/ "undefined") too. **Are you** [**mentoring**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/find-best-mentor/ "undefined") **a young person? It’s 4 times more predictive of happiness than your health or how much money you make.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Age, income, and health are four times less likely to predict whether a person is happy than is whether the person feels he or she is having a positive effect on a younger person. – Azarow 2003_ (More on how to make and keep friends [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/how-to-make-friends-easily/ "undefined").) ## **Have A Life Story** **Research shows that meaning in life comes from** [**the stories we tell ourselves about our lives**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/storytelling/ "undefined")**.** **Ever tried writing that story down? People who do are more than 10% happier with their lives.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _People who wrote about the history of their lives were 11 percent more likely to feel happy with their lives and 17 percent more likely to feel optimistic about the future. – Yamada 2000_ [Knowing your family tree](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-have-a-happy-family/ "undefined") gets you a bump in satisfaction as well. Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _People who were interested in their family and ethnic histories were 6 percent more likely to feel satisfied with their lives. – Mowrer and McCarver 2002_ [**Children**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/happy-kids/ "undefined") **who know the stories of those who came before them have higher self-esteem and a sense of control over their lives.** Via [The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089LOHHO/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0089LOHHO&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Marshall and Robyn asked those questions of four dozen families in the summer of 2001, and also taped several of their dinner table conversations. They then compared the children’s results to a battery of psychological tests and reached some overwhelming conclusions. The more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem, and the more successfully they believed their families functioned._ (More on how to shape the story of your own life [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/4-steps-meaningful-life/ "undefined").) ## **Have Goals** **People with** [**goals**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/the-last-damn-thing-youll-ever-need-to-read-a/ "undefined") **are nearly 20% more satisfied with their lives.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _People who could identify a goal they were pursuing were 19 percent more likely to feel satisfied with their lives and 26 percent more likely to feel positive about themselves. – Krueger 1998_ Those who are [passionate about something](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/how-to-find-your-passion-in-life/ "undefined") score higher across the board on positive psychological indicators. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465025544/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0465025544&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Elderly individuals who were harmoniously passionate scored higher on various indicators of psychological adjustment, such as life satisfaction, meaning in life, and vitality, while they reported lower levels of negative indicators of psychological adjustment such as anxiety and depression._ Goals doesn’t mean you need to win an Oscar or make a million dollars. **A consistent amount of minor success produces** [**much more satisfaction**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/ "undefined") **than occasionally bagging an elephant.** Via [The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC10GG/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Life satisfaction is 22 percent more likely for those with a steady stream of minor accomplishments than those who express interest only in major accomplishments. – Orlick 1998_ **Not seeing the success you’d like? Don’t give up. Having** [**grit**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/secret-success-not-giving-up/ "undefined") **was associated with more life satisfaction.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _The capacity to continue trying despite repeated setbacks was associated with a more optimistic outlook on life in 31 percent of people studied, and with greater life satisfaction in 42 percent of them. – Meulemann 2001_ (More about setting goals the right way [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/the-last-damn-thing-youll-ever-need-to-read-a/ "undefined").) ## **Money Isn’t The Answer** **The more materialistic people are, the less satisfied they are with their lives.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Among participants in one study, those whose values were the most materialistic rated their lives as the least satisfying. – Ryan and Dziurawiec 2001_ **Spending more money on gifts made holidays** **less** **enjoyable.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Among parents studied, greater expenditures for family gifts actually reduced satisfaction with family holidays by 2 percent. – Kasser and Sheldon 2002_ **Having** [**meaning in your life**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/01/happy-meaningful-life/ "undefined") **increases life satisfaction** **_twice as much as wealth._** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Those with a modest income who felt there was meaning in their lives were twice as likely to experience life satisfaction as were those who were wealthier but who felt that their lives lacked a sense of meaning. – Debats 1999_ (More on the things proven to increase happiness [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/ "undefined").) ## **Keep Growing** No, I don’t mean eat more cookies. **Have you seen** [**changes**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/12/read-1000-chang/ "undefined") **in what you believe over the past few months? That’s a good thing.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _People over forty who could identify at least one change in their viewpoints or behavior in recent months were 8 percent more likely to feel hopeful about the future and 5 percent more likely to say they were generally in a good mood. – Grossbaum and Bates 2002_ Older people who continue to read and learn are much more satisfied with their lives. Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _People over the age of fifty who said they continued to learn about topics that interested them were 18 percent more likely to feel satisfied with their lives and 43 percent more likely to feel vital. – Helterbran 1999_ **Keeping an open mind pays huge dividends as the years go by.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _Studies focusing on the ability of people to maintain happiness as they age reveal that an openness to change in both family life and work life is associated with a 23 percent greater likelihood of maintaining high levels of life satisfaction. – Crosnoe and Elder 2002_ **But don’t change** **_everything —_** **maintaining strong core values is important.** Via [100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCK3GY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FCK3GY&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): _A willingness to compromise on trivial matters was associated with 62 percent more positive social relations, but_ **_a willingness to compromise on matters of values and personal vision was associated with 34 percent less life satisfaction._** _– Bargdill 1998_ (More on how to make sure you never stop growing and learning [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/never-stop-growing-learning/ "undefined").) ## **Sum Up** **Keep in mind the 5 ways to increase life satisfaction:** 1. **Friends** 2. **Have Goals** 3. **Have A Life Story** 4. **Money Isn’t The Answer** 5. **Keep Growing** I really think that fifth one is key. If you can’t learn, you can’t improve. As the [Stoic philosopher](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/ancient-philosophers/ "undefined") Seneca once said: **_As long as you live, keep learning how to live._** **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined"). Related posts: [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/ "undefined") [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/ "undefined") [4 Lifehacks From Ancient Philosophers That Will Make You Happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/01/ancient-philosophers/ "undefined") _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/ "undefined")_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/25208/how-to-be-more-satisfied-with-your-life-5-steps-proven-by-research/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/25208/how-to-be-more-satisfied-with-your-life-5-steps-proven-by-research/"},"headline":"How To Be More Satisfied With Your Life – 5 Steps Proven By Research","datePublished":"2014-03-15T04:01:47.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:53:51.210Z","description":"I’ve posted a lot about the research around how to be happier. 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