--- ---  # How to Use Time Travel to Increase Happiness by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jun 3, 2015 4:01 AM UTC  Deadline DeadlineGetty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jun 3, 2015 4:01 AM UTC Anytime you need to be happier, just do some time travel. It’s that simple. I know what you’re thinking: _He’s finally gone insane._ No, I’m not crazy. And you don’t need a time machine. You’re just going to use your imagination. But scientific research shows this is a great way to immediately increase happiness. You can do it anywhere and it doesn’t cost anything. Research shows happiness is all about where you put your [attention](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/03/key-to-happiness/). And shifting your attention to the past, the future or even the present — can boost happiness. Still sound silly? Stay with me. You do _unhappy_ time travel all too frequently. When you are overcome with [regret](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/05/overcome-regret/), you’re turning your attention to negative elements of the past. When you [worry](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/05/how-to-stop-worrying/), you’re thinking about an unpleasant future. But we can also use mental time travel to get the best out of life. Here are three ways, why they work, and quick tips to use them to put a smile on your face. ## 1) Time Travel _To The Future_! It’s as simple as anticipation. Remember being a kid and looking forward to holiday gifts? Or as an adult haven’t you fantasized about that vacation coming up? Well, research says deliberately using anticipation is an insanely powerful way to get happy. **How does it work?** Here’s why you absolutely need to incorporate more anticipation into your life: Studies show anticipation can actually be more enjoyable [than getting the thing you’re anticipating](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/8-ways-that-money-can-buy-happiness?). Via [The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn’t, What Shouldn’t Make You Happy, but Does](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594204373/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594204373&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- This is why lottery tickets sell so well: you’re never gonna win that cash but the chance to dream and anticipate it brings an enormous amount of joy. But I’m not encouraging you to buy lottery tickets. **How to do it:** Simply make plans to do something fun with a friend. Harvard happiness expert [Shawn Achor](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/) says just calling, emailing or texting a friend and putting an event on the calendar is more powerful than you think. Via [The Happiness Advantage:](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307591549/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307591549) --- > “” --- Want an extra 130,000 bucks a year? That’s the [financial equivalent](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/01/what-are-your-relationships-worth-in-dollars/) of the happiness boost you get from spending more time with those you’re closest to. Approximately 70% of your happiness comes from relationships. 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): --- > “” --- (For more ways to improve your life by sending five simple emails, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/).) Okay, so you’ve got an easy way to travel to a happy future. Let’s make like Marty McFly and visit the past… ## 2) Time Travel _To The Past!_ Nostalgia. People look at pictures of happy times for a very good reason. Maybe you do too. But science says you don’t engage with those enough _deliberately_. **How does it work?** Studies show taking some time to be nostalgic increases [meaning in life](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/how-do-we-find-meaning-in-life/) and gives [loneliness](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/02/is-there-a-way-to-easily-counteract-lonelines/) the boot. Happiness researcher [Sonya Lyubomirsky](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/happiest-people/) says reliving the past kills stress. Via [The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010O927W/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0010O927W&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **How to do it:** Keep a picture of happy times or people you love in your pocket. Take it out to trigger good feelings when you need them. Want to take it to the next level? Reminiscing with others about good times [improves your relationships](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/03/another-quick-and-easy-way-to-increase-relati/) and makes both of you happier. Via [The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010O927W/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0010O927W&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- (For the 8 things you can learn from the happiest people on the planet, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/happiest-people/).) Okay, mental time travel to the future and the past is boosting your mood. We’ve arrived at our final destination. This one is weird… But it may be the most powerful in the long run. ## 3) Time Travel to… _The Present?_ Okay, this one doesn’t sound nearly as exciting. But it’s the core of that [mindfulness](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/05/how-to-stop-worrying/) thing everyone keeps screaming about. Experts call it “[savoring](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/happiest-people-in-the-world/).” You may think you’re living in the present — but you’re doing it all wrong. **How does it work?** When that happiness expert [Sonja Lyubomirsky](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010O927W/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0010O927W&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&linkId=TT6QPOVENDRMI65N) studied the world’s happiest people, [what did she find](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/happiest-people/)? --- > “” --- But what’s “savor” really mean? Giving your _full attention_ to the good things around you right now. Via [Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LZULNI/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002LZULNI&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Focusing on the positive and appreciating those things leads to a happiness boost in under a week. Via [Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001V6P12E/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001V6P12E&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **How to do it:** That morning cup of coffee? That quick catch-up with a friend? Put your phone away. Don’t think about the past or the future. Stop, slow down and appreciate this little moment. Sound corny? Just doing that decreases depression and boosts happiness. Via [The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010O927W/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0010O927W&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- (To learn how 5 post-it notes can make you happy, confident and successful, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/04/post-it-notes/).) Alright, time travelers, let’s round it up and learn the magic ingredient that these all have in common… ## Sum Up Feeling down? Just remember “time travel.” The three ways to do it: 1. **Anticipate: Schedule something fun with a friend. When you’re down, look forward to it.** 2. **Be Nostalgic: Keep a picture of a loved one in your pocket or reminisce with that person.** 3. **Savor: Next time you’re doing something you enjoy, focus your attention on it. Don’t time travel — be fully present.** Why else are these three great? They give you [hope](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/have-hope/). They give you hope for the future, they remind you of hope from the past, and they reveal the hope present all around you right now. That’s not a silly Hallmark card platitude. There’s [science behind hope](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/have-hope/). Research shows your level of hope predicts future achievement better than [intelligence, grades or personality](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/10/what-predicts-achievement-better-than-intelli/). It actually predicts law school GPA _better than the LSAT_. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- And, of course, hope makes you happy. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- We all need hope. And a little mental time travel is a simple cheap way to bring more of that special feeling into all of our lives. As Allan K. Chalmers once said: _The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for._ **Join over 190,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.** **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/05/time-travel/)**_._** Related posts: [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/) [How To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/) [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/) Happiness: 3 Ways of Time Travel Can Make You Happy ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3904783/happiness-time-travel/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3904783/happiness-time-travel/"},"headline":"How to Use Time Travel to Increase Happiness","datePublished":"2015-06-03T04:01:03.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:28:44.936Z","description":"Anytime you need to be happier, just do some time travel. 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