Happiness peaks in our eighties

britexpat
By britexpat

Another peace of useless research ?????

We become happier when we grow older, according to scientists who claim our best years do not arrive until our late seventies and eighties.

Traditional wisdom states that our younger years are the best of our lives, with the milestone of 40 meaning we are "over the hill" and already on the wane.

But in fact satisfaction and optimism steadily increase after middle age, easily eclipsing the earlier years and peaking as late as the eighties, according to research.

An easing of the responsibilities of middle age combined with maturity and the ability to focus on the things we enjoy combine to make old age far more enjoyable than one might expect.

The researcher says that : "From the mid-forties, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic, perhaps reaching a maximum in their late seventies or eighties."

In addition, psychologists believe that in old age we become more selective with how we use our time, focusing more on doing things we enjoy and cutting out parts of life that make us unhappy.

So! Do you agree ?

By Eagley• 28 Mar 2011 08:57
Eagley

"In addition, psychologists believe that in old age we become more selective with how we use our time, focusing more on doing things we enjoy and cutting out parts of life that make us unhappy"

Oh dear! I'm doing that now itself. Does that mean I'm over da hill? :-0

By britexpat• 28 Mar 2011 08:06
britexpat

Dem Bones.. They're a aching :O(

To be honest, I'm not sure. I feel that perhaps, I was at my happiest in my thirties - even though there were more responsibilities.

Now, i feel that I should be taking things easier and I am unable to do so..

By anonymous• 28 Mar 2011 08:05
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

I would say my grandparents were generally happy in their 80's and early 90's, but at the same time I know they were frustrated that their bodies could no longer keep up with their minds. When they both died at 92 they were ready to go and content with that fact.

By chocoholic• 28 Mar 2011 08:01
Rating: 4/5
chocoholic

Well brit, that's good news for you; you're almost there :P

Hard to say yet if I agree about the eighties.

I'm definitely happier now than in my younger days. But once people get into their 80s they often have health issues, and depression is not uncommon in the elderly.

By Vegas• 28 Mar 2011 07:52
Vegas

If you make it that long...

By anonymous• 28 Mar 2011 07:47
Rating: 2/5
anonymous

I agree....

When we grow older the only asset we will have is the sweet memories we had gone through at our young age... so live happily as long as we can now. Do you agree?

By britexpat• 28 Mar 2011 07:47
britexpat

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8409411/Happiness-peaks-in-our-eighties.html

By smoke• 28 Mar 2011 07:45
smoke

I want to know where are you getting this researches from? Researh-R-US?

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