What Makes Australians Happy?

June 6, 2008 by Michael Nugent

Botanic Gardens, Melbourne by Tim Parkinson (cc) The more money you earn, the less impact that your extra money has on your happiness. If you earn $15,000 a year, an extra $7,000 would make you one percent happier. But if you earn $250,000 a year, it would take an extra $625,000 to make you that same one percent happier. That’s one finding of a report that summarises seven years of research into what makes Australians happy.

The report is published by the health insurance company Australian Unity, in partnership with the Australian Centre on Quality of Life which is based at Deakin University. They also found that Australian women are more satisfied with their lives than men, and that the happiest Australians include those who are getting older, those who live with their partner, especially married people, and those who volunteer generally.

Seven Years of Research

Psychologist Bob Cummins, who wrote the report, says that wellbeing is a longer-lasting, deeper sense of contentment than momentary joy. The seven years of research have examined personal wellbeing elements like health, relationships, safety, standard of living, achievements, and national elements such as social, economic, political and environmental conditions.

Cummins says that the results demonstrate a theory called homeostasis – that wellbeing is maintained by an automatic internal system that enables us to keep feeling positive, even when things go wrong. This means that our wellbeing fluctuates a little, but it holds relatively steady over time. When this self-regulatory system fails, the result is what we know as depression.

Eight Ways to Be Happier

The report suggests eight ways to increase your happiness:

Connect with family and friends. They’re your best source of support when you need it, and they have the strongest influence on your happiness.
Watch your spending and save for the proverbial rainy day when money really counts. Happiness gained through buying new ‘things’ is fleeting.
Engage in activities that give you a sense of achievement. Consider becoming a volunteer or taking up a hobby that challenges your mind or body.
Review your home and personal security. Also avoid situations that make you feel unsafe, such as walking alone at night.
Find a balance between work and leisure that is right for you. This balance is different for each person – there is no simple formula.
Look after your health. Staying healthy is all about balance. Eat reasonably well, be active and have regular doctor checks.
Get involved in your community. Get to feel connected by knowing your neighbours, volunteering, and being involved in local activities.
Keep some of your life simple. Take some time out of your day for personal time. Try concentrating on your breathing for two minutes.