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Psychologists at the University of California developed a free course called The Science of Happiness in 2014 aimed at helping students become happier in just eight weeks. The course, still offered for free on edX, teaches about connection, compassion, gratitude, and mindfulness through a series of simple activities that have been shown to increase happiness. Students who fully participated in the course reported feeling less sadness, stress, loneliness, anger and fear, while at the same time experiencing more amusement, enthusiasm, and affection, as well as a greater sense of community. During the course, students’ happiness and life satisfaction increased by about 5%, and that boost remained even four months after the course ended. According to several studies, including the Harvard Study of Adult Development, social connections are the biggest factor affecting happiness. Quality relationships, not quantity, are better predictors of a long and happy life than social class, IQ, or genetics. Other factors contributing to happiness include random acts of kindness, expressing gratitude, and practicing mindfulness.
