Dr. Laurie Santos

There's evidence suggesting that a wandering mind is an unhappy mind. So just the act of a mindset of being present can be really powerful for happiness.

And then there's just a whole host of things that I think we kind of know are good for our physical health, but we forget can be so important for our mental health. You know, things like taking time to exercise, taking time to sleep, which is a huge one, and just having like some time off.

And then there's just a whole host of things that I think we kind of know are good for our physical health, but we forget can be so important for our mental health. You know, things like taking time to exercise, taking time to sleep, which is a huge one, and just having like some time off.

And then there's just a whole host of things that I think we kind of know are good for our physical health, but we forget can be so important for our mental health. You know, things like taking time to exercise, taking time to sleep, which is a huge one, and just having like some time off.

There's lots of evidence that something called time affluence, the subjective sense that you have some free time, is much more critical for happiness than we realize. And so... You know, all of those things as I say them, you know, we can go through the scientific studies and so on. And, you know, your listeners might be thinking like, well, I kind of know that.

There's lots of evidence that something called time affluence, the subjective sense that you have some free time, is much more critical for happiness than we realize. And so... You know, all of those things as I say them, you know, we can go through the scientific studies and so on. And, you know, your listeners might be thinking like, well, I kind of know that.

There's lots of evidence that something called time affluence, the subjective sense that you have some free time, is much more critical for happiness than we realize. And so... You know, all of those things as I say them, you know, we can go through the scientific studies and so on. And, you know, your listeners might be thinking like, well, I kind of know that.

And what I like to say is it's, you know, it's common wisdom, but it's not common practice. You know, how many of those things that I just rattled off?

And what I like to say is it's, you know, it's common wisdom, but it's not common practice. You know, how many of those things that I just rattled off?

And what I like to say is it's, you know, it's common wisdom, but it's not common practice. You know, how many of those things that I just rattled off?

aren't things that you're doing right now you know that and then that's why i think it's really critical to know the science because as you hear the science of say nutrition you think like oh maybe i should eat healthier i think as you hear the science of how things like social connection and exercise work you start thinking oh maybe those are things i really do need to get in more of you know i kind of knew it but now that i see the evidence this does seem really important

aren't things that you're doing right now you know that and then that's why i think it's really critical to know the science because as you hear the science of say nutrition you think like oh maybe i should eat healthier i think as you hear the science of how things like social connection and exercise work you start thinking oh maybe those are things i really do need to get in more of you know i kind of knew it but now that i see the evidence this does seem really important

aren't things that you're doing right now you know that and then that's why i think it's really critical to know the science because as you hear the science of say nutrition you think like oh maybe i should eat healthier i think as you hear the science of how things like social connection and exercise work you start thinking oh maybe those are things i really do need to get in more of you know i kind of knew it but now that i see the evidence this does seem really important

Yeah, super frustrating. Like the mind is designed in like a really stupid way. We knew this, you know, from other evolutionary studies, but definitely when it comes when it comes to happiness, that's the case. And in one of my upcoming episodes of the Happiness Lab, I talk about this really stupid design feature of the brain where

Yeah, super frustrating. Like the mind is designed in like a really stupid way. We knew this, you know, from other evolutionary studies, but definitely when it comes when it comes to happiness, that's the case. And in one of my upcoming episodes of the Happiness Lab, I talk about this really stupid design feature of the brain where

Yeah, super frustrating. Like the mind is designed in like a really stupid way. We knew this, you know, from other evolutionary studies, but definitely when it comes when it comes to happiness, that's the case. And in one of my upcoming episodes of the Happiness Lab, I talk about this really stupid design feature of the brain where

There's just a different, like a whole different brain system that codes for what we like, you know, so the things we really enjoy versus the things that we want, the things that we're motivated to go after or that we crave. The simplest example is like, you know, sometimes when I'm having a bad day at work, I just like exercise.

There's just a different, like a whole different brain system that codes for what we like, you know, so the things we really enjoy versus the things that we want, the things that we're motivated to go after or that we crave. The simplest example is like, you know, sometimes when I'm having a bad day at work, I just like exercise.

There's just a different, like a whole different brain system that codes for what we like, you know, so the things we really enjoy versus the things that we want, the things that we're motivated to go after or that we crave. The simplest example is like, you know, sometimes when I'm having a bad day at work, I just like exercise.

crave like plopping down and watching Netflix or like eating a cupcake or having like a huge glass of wine. But like, if you actually look at how much I would like that, the Netflix is going to make me apathetic and the cupcake is going to give me the jitters and the wine, I'm not going to sleep very well.