2014’s Most and Least Happy States in America
The question of whether money can buy happiness has continually baffled humanity. The ideal, morally principled response might be “no.” But money can indeed buy happiness — that is, up to a certain dollar amount. A comprehensive study on the topic suggests that life satisfaction, one of the two main components of happiness besides emotional well-being, increases as income rises but only up to $75,000. Beyond that, money makes little difference in a person’s overall happiness.
Reinforcing those findings are the annual results of a Gallup-Healthways poll, which measures well-being around the world. According to the pollsters, “there was a 10-percentage-point gap globally between the highest and lowest income brackets.” But income isn’t the only determinant of personal happiness. Apart from financial security, a pleasant state of being also depends on one’s mental and physical health, job situation, experience of positive feelings, environment, social connections and general outlook on life.
WalletHub took all of these elements into consideration to identify which states are home to the happiest Americans. We did so by analyzing the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 26 key metrics, ranging from emotional health to income levels to sports participation rates. The results of our study, as well as additional insight from experts and a detailed methodology, can be found below.
Main Findings
|
Overall Rank |
State |
Emotional & Physical Well-Being Rank |
Work Rank |
Community, Environment & Recreational Activities Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Minnesota | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | North Dakota | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| 4 | Colorado | 2 | 9 | 10 |
| 5 | Nebraska | 13 | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Wyoming | 11 | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | Iowa | 14 | 2 | 8 |
| 8 | Hawaii | 4 | 32 | 1 |
| 9 | South Dakota | 12 | 10 | 12 |
| 10 | Idaho | 15 | 14 | 7 |
| 11 | Kansas | 16 | 11 | 15 |
| 12 | Alaska | 7 | 26 | 16 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | 5 | 17 | 29 |
| 14 | California | 8 | 23 | 22 |
| 15 | Maryland | 17 | 12 | 20 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | 18 | 20 | 10 |
| 17 | Washington | 20 | 21 | 9 |
| 18 | Texas | 30 | 7 | 22 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 9 | 37 | 17 |
| 20 | Montana | 23 | 13 | 24 |
| 21 | Virginia | 25 | 18 | 13 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 19 | 25 | 20 |
| 23 | Vermont | 6 | 42 | 26 |
| 24 | New Jersey | 21 | 38 | 14 |
| 25 | Illinois | 27 | 29 | 19 |
| 26 | Connecticut | 22 | 44 | 18 |
| 27 | Delaware | 29 | 19 | 32 |
| 28 | New York | 32 | 36 | 25 |
| 29 | Oregon | 26 | 46 | 30 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 28 | 27 | 49 |
| 31 | Arizona | 24 | 41 | 47 |
| 32 | Nevada | 31 | 35 | 43 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | 38 | 22 | 27 |
| 34 | Georgia | 33 | 34 | 41 |
| 35 | Maine | 34 | 43 | 34 |
| 36 | Florida | 35 | 40 | 44 |
| 37 | North Carolina | 36 | 39 | 31 |
| 38 | Missouri | 43 | 15 | 38 |
| 39 | Louisiana | 40 | 16 | 48 |
| 40 | South Carolina | 39 | 28 | 36 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | 48 | 8 | 37 |
| 42 | Indiana | 44 | 31 | 28 |
| 43 | Michigan | 40 | 30 | 39 |
| 44 | Ohio | 45 | 24 | 33 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 37 | 49 | 35 |
| 46 | Tennessee | 46 | 48 | 44 |
| 47 | Kentucky | 50 | 33 | 40 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 47 | 45 | 50 |
| 49 | Mississippi | 42 | 51 | 51 |
| 50 | Alabama | 49 | 47 | 42 |
| 51 | West Virginia | 51 | 50 | 46 |
Ask the Experts
Happiness is more than a feeling of joy or excitement. It relies on different aspects of a person’s life — from emotional well-being to job satisfaction. To expand the discussion, we’ve asked a panel of experts to share advice and insight on achieving overall happiness and career contentment. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:
- Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
- What are the secrets to career contentment?
- What can people do in order to have happier lives?
- How important is money to people’s happiness?
- How does America’s ranking — No. 12 out of 35 — in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
-
John Dattilo
Professor of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University
-
Nelly Sta. Maria
Associate Professor of Psychology, Suffolk County Community College
-
Julie Stafford Son
Associate Professor of Recreation, University of Idaho
-
Alan Bigel
Professor of Public Administration, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
-
Jane Dutton
Robert L. Kahn Distinguished University Professor of Business Administration and Psychology, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
-
Joshua D. Gottlieb
Assistant Professor of Economics, Vancouver School of Economics, University of British Columbia
-
Sonja Lyubomirsky
Professor of Psychology, University of California, Riverside
-
Annette Moore
Teaching Associate Professor of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, North Carolina State University
-
Megha Budruk
Associate Professor of Parks and Recreation, School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University
-
Michael Hout
Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Science, New York University
-
John de Graaf
Author, Take Back Your Time
-
James R. Brunet
Associate Professor and Director of the Public Safety Leadership Initiative, North Carolina State University
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of citizens? If so, what kind of programs should they be?
I think that considering the idea of happiness is an important aspect of local authorities, whether they are within the political system or within product delivery. Have you read the book Nudge? The foundation of that book is that that does not necessarily mean that we require or legislate. We can move people towards that in a variety of different ways. I’m sure you’re so aware of the basic marketing strategies and all kinds of things that economists can do to move people towards healthier lifestyles. The countries that look at their overall happiness rather than the economic standing; I think it is a really important thing to be looking at, as an indication of the health of a country.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
I would refer back to self-determination theory, which Edward Deci and his colleague Ryan have put forth. They identified probably 3 primary needs associated with self-determination. One is autonomy. If they feel like, within their career, they have some freedom, they don’t feel constrained, that they have the ability to bring in new ideas, shift things; this is a major need that we have, and relates to career contentment.
The second one is the idea of feeling competent, competence. The idea of competence impacts people’s work performance tremendously. If people feel they’re competent, they’re going to be much more likely to be open to all kinds of innovations, all kind of diversity. But when they’re not, they’re very guarded and cautious and really resistant to diverse ideas. So I think that’s an important part of career contentment.
The third one relates to us being social creatures and the idea of inner relatedness and having connections with other people. When you look at career contentment, if you feel like people around you value you, that you have an identity within your organization, that you are treated with respect and you feel a sense of dignity, then I think people are much more satisfied with the work. I would really support that positive psychology view of career contentment.
Are there specific things that people can do to really improve their overall happiness?
There’s an aspect of psychology that has really embraced the idea of how can we facilitate people’s happiness. Rather than just in the past working on people with their problems and challenges, which was kind of the origination of a lot of approaches, now it’s more about having people become content and happy. I’ll go back to Aristotle: the idea of happiness is often tied to a person’s feeling of self-worth. People need to feel like they are moving their life forward, and that often means cultivating themselves in some way – whether it’s learning things, growing intellectually, or expanding their repertoires of experiences… The idea of a renaissance person is somebody who typically is identified as being happier.
But a lot of people don’t want to hear that because often people mistakenly combine pleasure and happiness, and I really think the idea is to achieve a balance. In order to be happy, there’s got to be a balance between the idea of immediate gratification and then long-term satisfaction. People that give in to the immediate gratification constantly, and this is the challenge with using the Internet and entertainment, don’t feel very fulfilled.
I really like the notion of Yin and Yang and the Chinese philosophy of maintaining a balance in life. Even Aristotle talked about the golden mean of finding a balance between these kinds of things. I think that the big challenge we have is that there is so much pull these days to immediate gratification and pleasure.
And where does money come into that?
They often talk about this curve, that there is a steep and critical relationship between money and happiness early on. That is, when you look at the wealth of a person, if they’re in poverty, that is going to impact their happiness significantly. If once we get out of poverty, then the impact of money and finances on happiness is extremely little. The slope is so steep until people get out of poverty. Then once they’re in the lower middle class, after that point, money impacts very little.
I think the things that I was talking about earlier really have much more of an impact after you get out of poverty, after you feel like you can have your basic needs met. Having said that, there are so many people that have that line identified in a different way, so I think that it depends on individuals. Due to a variety of circumstances of how people were raised and what exposure they’ve had and what ideas they’ve had, how well they’ve traveled, how well they see other people’s perspectives can really influence the amount of things or the importance of those things in their lives. I think it really varies.
I think that considering the idea of happiness is an important aspect of local authorities, whether they are within the political system or within product delivery. Have you read the book Nudge? The foundation of that book is that that does not necessarily mean that we require or legislate. We can move people towards that in a variety of different ways. I’m sure you’re so aware of the basic marketing strategies and all kinds of things that economists can do to move people towards healthier lifestyles. The countries that look at their overall happiness rather than the economic standing; I think it is a really important thing to be looking at, as an indication of the health of a country.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
I would refer back to self-determination theory, which Edward Deci and his colleague Ryan have put forth. They identified probably 3 primary needs associated with self-determination. One is autonomy. If they feel like, within their career, they have some freedom, they don’t feel constrained, that they have the ability to bring in new ideas, shift things; this is a major need that we have, and relates to career contentment.
The second one is the idea of feeling competent, competence. The idea of competence impacts people’s work performance tremendously. If people feel they’re competent, they’re going to be much more likely to be open to all kinds of innovations, all kind of diversity. But when they’re not, they’re very guarded and cautious and really resistant to diverse ideas. So I think that’s an important part of career contentment.
The third one relates to us being social creatures and the idea of inner relatedness and having connections with other people. When you look at career contentment, if you feel like people around you value you, that you have an identity within your organization, that you are treated with respect and you feel a sense of dignity, then I think people are much more satisfied with the work. I would really support that positive psychology view of career contentment.
Are there specific things that people can do to really improve their overall happiness?
There’s an aspect of psychology that has really embraced the idea of how can we facilitate people’s happiness. Rather than just in the past working on people with their problems and challenges, which was kind of the origination of a lot of approaches, now it’s more about having people become content and happy. I’ll go back to Aristotle: the idea of happiness is often tied to a person’s feeling of self-worth. People need to feel like they are moving their life forward, and that often means cultivating themselves in some way – whether it’s learning things, growing intellectually, or expanding their repertoires of experiences… The idea of a renaissance person is somebody who typically is identified as being happier.
But a lot of people don’t want to hear that because often people mistakenly combine pleasure and happiness, and I really think the idea is to achieve a balance. In order to be happy, there’s got to be a balance between the idea of immediate gratification and then long-term satisfaction. People that give in to the immediate gratification constantly, and this is the challenge with using the Internet and entertainment, don’t feel very fulfilled.
I really like the notion of Yin and Yang and the Chinese philosophy of maintaining a balance in life. Even Aristotle talked about the golden mean of finding a balance between these kinds of things. I think that the big challenge we have is that there is so much pull these days to immediate gratification and pleasure.
And where does money come into that?
They often talk about this curve, that there is a steep and critical relationship between money and happiness early on. That is, when you look at the wealth of a person, if they’re in poverty, that is going to impact their happiness significantly. If once we get out of poverty, then the impact of money and finances on happiness is extremely little. The slope is so steep until people get out of poverty. Then once they’re in the lower middle class, after that point, money impacts very little.
I think the things that I was talking about earlier really have much more of an impact after you get out of poverty, after you feel like you can have your basic needs met. Having said that, there are so many people that have that line identified in a different way, so I think that it depends on individuals. Due to a variety of circumstances of how people were raised and what exposure they’ve had and what ideas they’ve had, how well they’ve traveled, how well they see other people’s perspectives can really influence the amount of things or the importance of those things in their lives. I think it really varies.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Research has shown that people who view their career as a "calling" - rather than a "job" whose goal is money, are far more satisfied (Wrzesniewski and colleagues, 1997). In addition, Ryan D. Duffy (2006) summarized Miller-Tiedman's Lifecareer Model, saying that you should try to find the right life, with career as a complement to that life. So the main goal is the right life, supported by the right career.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
If we value hard work, purposefulness, and service, instead of luxury, brand names, and status/recognition, we might be a little happier as a whole. The media pushes us to consume constantly. We're in a society where people sometimes purchase things so other people will look up to them.
But if we can love our work as an end in itself, it's an extremely satisfying state. It might not result in material wealth, but you'll certainly feel peace and contentment about work.
At the same time, it's not realistic to expect everyone to jump into careers they love. Sometimes, it's just not possible, or not possible for many years. In those cases, you have to find contentment outside your career. It's good to do that whether you're in your dream job or not.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Studies have shown that money is not as important as control over your own hours and control over certain aspects of your work.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
I think we need to re-think our maternity leave policies in the U.S. If you do an internet search on what other countries' governments provide, you'd see that we don't get as much here. Babies of working moms are separated from their moms very soon, and for long hours. And for many of us working moms, that baby is the dream come true, at least as much as the career. I'd say we could be a happier and healthier country if we re-examined that.
Research has shown that people who view their career as a "calling" - rather than a "job" whose goal is money, are far more satisfied (Wrzesniewski and colleagues, 1997). In addition, Ryan D. Duffy (2006) summarized Miller-Tiedman's Lifecareer Model, saying that you should try to find the right life, with career as a complement to that life. So the main goal is the right life, supported by the right career.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
If we value hard work, purposefulness, and service, instead of luxury, brand names, and status/recognition, we might be a little happier as a whole. The media pushes us to consume constantly. We're in a society where people sometimes purchase things so other people will look up to them.
But if we can love our work as an end in itself, it's an extremely satisfying state. It might not result in material wealth, but you'll certainly feel peace and contentment about work.
At the same time, it's not realistic to expect everyone to jump into careers they love. Sometimes, it's just not possible, or not possible for many years. In those cases, you have to find contentment outside your career. It's good to do that whether you're in your dream job or not.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Studies have shown that money is not as important as control over your own hours and control over certain aspects of your work.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
I think we need to re-think our maternity leave policies in the U.S. If you do an internet search on what other countries' governments provide, you'd see that we don't get as much here. Babies of working moms are separated from their moms very soon, and for long hours. And for many of us working moms, that baby is the dream come true, at least as much as the career. I'd say we could be a happier and healthier country if we re-examined that.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs indicates that a person must meet basic needs first before one can search for fulfillment. People need a living wage but once that requirement is accomplished, people seek optimal experiences in work and leisure. That means skill and challenge in the job need to be a good match – too little challenge will be unfulfilling but too much will be overwhelming. Additionally, people seek work and leisure that is personally fulfilling – that is, work which fulfills one’s values and needs. Finding a job that matches one’s values will lead to career contentment.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Make time for enjoyable leisure activities. Leisure has recuperative effects, especially for people who work long hours or who have physically or mentally demanding professions. Research indicates that engaging in a variety of leisure activities will have the most benefits - socializing with friends and family, doing something creative, going for a walk in the park, all can have benefits to health and wellness. The variety of activity appears to lead to even more benefits over time.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Money is important to fulfill basic needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs) but money does not buy happiness. Money has a diminishing return for happiness. More important are meaningful connections to one’s family, friends and communities.
How does America’s ranking—No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
Too many hours of work can lead to burnout. Most Americans who have paid vacation don’t use all their vacation days, often because of internal or external pressures not to take time away from work. Yet vacation where one can truly disconnect from work and daily hassles will stave off burnout and contribute to happiness.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs indicates that a person must meet basic needs first before one can search for fulfillment. People need a living wage but once that requirement is accomplished, people seek optimal experiences in work and leisure. That means skill and challenge in the job need to be a good match – too little challenge will be unfulfilling but too much will be overwhelming. Additionally, people seek work and leisure that is personally fulfilling – that is, work which fulfills one’s values and needs. Finding a job that matches one’s values will lead to career contentment.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Make time for enjoyable leisure activities. Leisure has recuperative effects, especially for people who work long hours or who have physically or mentally demanding professions. Research indicates that engaging in a variety of leisure activities will have the most benefits - socializing with friends and family, doing something creative, going for a walk in the park, all can have benefits to health and wellness. The variety of activity appears to lead to even more benefits over time.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Money is important to fulfill basic needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs) but money does not buy happiness. Money has a diminishing return for happiness. More important are meaningful connections to one’s family, friends and communities.
How does America’s ranking—No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
Too many hours of work can lead to burnout. Most Americans who have paid vacation don’t use all their vacation days, often because of internal or external pressures not to take time away from work. Yet vacation where one can truly disconnect from work and daily hassles will stave off burnout and contribute to happiness.
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
Local authorities should play no role in fostering one's happiness because others cannot do what must come from within oneself. Also, how would they define "overall happiness"?
What are the secrets to career contentment?
The secrets to career contentment are to find the one thing which arouses one's passion more than anything else and then try to make a living from it. If this is done, pursue the calling with all of one's energy.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Good health, and being content with one's lot, are the true keys to happiness.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Surprisingly, money has little to do with happiness. Beyond a certain point, does a person own money or the other way around? Money doesn't buy good health, long life, or career/family happiness.
How does America’s ranking—No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
I don't put much emphasis on these rankings. Each individual has to find a balance between overall working hours and happiness. There is no "one size fits all" in this area.
Local authorities should play no role in fostering one's happiness because others cannot do what must come from within oneself. Also, how would they define "overall happiness"?
What are the secrets to career contentment?
The secrets to career contentment are to find the one thing which arouses one's passion more than anything else and then try to make a living from it. If this is done, pursue the calling with all of one's energy.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Good health, and being content with one's lot, are the true keys to happiness.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Surprisingly, money has little to do with happiness. Beyond a certain point, does a person own money or the other way around? Money doesn't buy good health, long life, or career/family happiness.
How does America’s ranking—No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
I don't put much emphasis on these rankings. Each individual has to find a balance between overall working hours and happiness. There is no "one size fits all" in this area.
Jane Dutton
Robert L. Kahn Distinguished University Professor of Business Administration and Psychology, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
What are the secrets to career contentment?
1. Meaningful work (work that people define and see as having value and significance). It is particularly powerful for people to believe their work is benefiting other people.
2. High quality connections with other people at work. Having high quality connections with others fosters physiological and psychological well-being and also helps people perform better in their work. Together all of these factors foster work and career engagement and contentment.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
It is important to foster high quality connections (connections where people experience mutual positive regard, vitality and a sense of mutuality) in the full spectrum of people's lives. Make every interaction a moment of potential positive connection with others. There are lots of ways to think about how to make that happen: 1) respectfully engage others; 2) help others succeed 3) trust others and 4) play . The quality of your life and your health depend on it!
How does America’s ranking—No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
It is not the number of hours worked that matters as much as the experience of meaningful work that will affect our happiness. As mentioned above, the quality of connections with other people also makes a huge difference.
1. Meaningful work (work that people define and see as having value and significance). It is particularly powerful for people to believe their work is benefiting other people.
2. High quality connections with other people at work. Having high quality connections with others fosters physiological and psychological well-being and also helps people perform better in their work. Together all of these factors foster work and career engagement and contentment.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
It is important to foster high quality connections (connections where people experience mutual positive regard, vitality and a sense of mutuality) in the full spectrum of people's lives. Make every interaction a moment of potential positive connection with others. There are lots of ways to think about how to make that happen: 1) respectfully engage others; 2) help others succeed 3) trust others and 4) play . The quality of your life and your health depend on it!
How does America’s ranking—No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
It is not the number of hours worked that matters as much as the experience of meaningful work that will affect our happiness. As mentioned above, the quality of connections with other people also makes a huge difference.
Joshua D. Gottlieb
Assistant Professor of Economics, Vancouver School of Economics, University of British Columbia
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
Our evidence suggests that people are not trying to purely maximize happiness. People often trade off happiness against other factors, such as having a child or a more fulfilling career. These are decisions that individuals are entitled to make, and policymakers shouldn't impede them. Because resources are scarce, a push to improve happiness may reallocate resources away from other desires or objectives. If policymakers reallocate resources away from endeavors with known welfare gains on the basis of happiness surveys, these decisions could reduce welfare.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
It depends on the person, but it's not certain that happiness is itself the overriding objective. We find evidence that people choose where to live based on factors beyond just happiness, such as jobs or the cost of living. Other research finds that individuals explicitly acknowledge that they may sacrifice happiness in order to achieve another objective, such as a higher income or professional prestige. So researchers should not interpret failure to maximize happiness as evidence of a mistake or poor choice. An increase in reported happiness need not be everyone's ultimate goal.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Money is definitely important for happiness. Both in our data, and in previous literature, the evidence is clear that higher income is associated with higher reported life satisfaction.
How does America’s ranking—No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
Having a job is extremely valuable for life satisfaction. People who are unemployed are less happy than those with a job, and being unemployed for longer makes it worse.
Our evidence suggests that people are not trying to purely maximize happiness. People often trade off happiness against other factors, such as having a child or a more fulfilling career. These are decisions that individuals are entitled to make, and policymakers shouldn't impede them. Because resources are scarce, a push to improve happiness may reallocate resources away from other desires or objectives. If policymakers reallocate resources away from endeavors with known welfare gains on the basis of happiness surveys, these decisions could reduce welfare.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
It depends on the person, but it's not certain that happiness is itself the overriding objective. We find evidence that people choose where to live based on factors beyond just happiness, such as jobs or the cost of living. Other research finds that individuals explicitly acknowledge that they may sacrifice happiness in order to achieve another objective, such as a higher income or professional prestige. So researchers should not interpret failure to maximize happiness as evidence of a mistake or poor choice. An increase in reported happiness need not be everyone's ultimate goal.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Money is definitely important for happiness. Both in our data, and in previous literature, the evidence is clear that higher income is associated with higher reported life satisfaction.
How does America’s ranking—No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
Having a job is extremely valuable for life satisfaction. People who are unemployed are less happy than those with a job, and being unemployed for longer makes it worse.
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
Yes, I do believe so, though this is a difficult challenge, given that happiness will only increase if the individual puts a lot of effort into it and chooses the practices that FIT him or her.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Having an autonomy-supportive and flexible job. Seeing your job as a calling.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Quite important, but the key is not how much money you have but how you spend it. If you spend your money on things that help you grow as a person, connect with others, and contribute to your community (or society), then money will make you happier.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
It depends on whether most Americans like their jobs.
Yes, I do believe so, though this is a difficult challenge, given that happiness will only increase if the individual puts a lot of effort into it and chooses the practices that FIT him or her.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Having an autonomy-supportive and flexible job. Seeing your job as a calling.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Quite important, but the key is not how much money you have but how you spend it. If you spend your money on things that help you grow as a person, connect with others, and contribute to your community (or society), then money will make you happier.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
It depends on whether most Americans like their jobs.
Annette Moore
Teaching Associate Professor of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, North Carolina State University
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
Local authorities are charged with providing services that contribute to overall well-being of their citizens through measures pertaining to safety, education, recreation, transportation, and health and well-being. Investments in parks and open space, greenway trail systems, cultural enrichment, and community events enhance the quality of life for citizens in addition to other basic community services.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Do what you love; love what you do. When we feel we are using and developing our talents, contributing to making the world a better place, and are valued and respected by our employers and colleagues, we are likely to feel satisfied.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Happiness is a temporary emotion. Balance in life - nurturing ones mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational health - contributes much to ones sense of deep, abiding joy in life. As Americans, we feel pressure to do so many things that we become pathologically busy. In regards to overall well-being, I suspect many of us would be happier if we allowed ourselves the luxurious necessity of having some margin in our lives.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
For those who are struggling to provide basic necessities for their families, increased money would increase happiness. For those who are financially well off, money can diminish happiness as people accumulate things that require upkeep, storage, or disposal. When making money becomes an obsession or distraction from living life, happiness diminishes.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
As long as we continue to equate time with money, Americans will have a hard time stepping aside from the busyness and demands of our work to take vacations or to enjoy our evenings and weekends. Without times of refreshment and personal enrichment, we become physically, emotionally, or mentally unhealthy. Our compulsion to consume perpetuates the work-spend cycle, leaving little room for contentment and joy.
Local authorities are charged with providing services that contribute to overall well-being of their citizens through measures pertaining to safety, education, recreation, transportation, and health and well-being. Investments in parks and open space, greenway trail systems, cultural enrichment, and community events enhance the quality of life for citizens in addition to other basic community services.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Do what you love; love what you do. When we feel we are using and developing our talents, contributing to making the world a better place, and are valued and respected by our employers and colleagues, we are likely to feel satisfied.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Happiness is a temporary emotion. Balance in life - nurturing ones mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational health - contributes much to ones sense of deep, abiding joy in life. As Americans, we feel pressure to do so many things that we become pathologically busy. In regards to overall well-being, I suspect many of us would be happier if we allowed ourselves the luxurious necessity of having some margin in our lives.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
For those who are struggling to provide basic necessities for their families, increased money would increase happiness. For those who are financially well off, money can diminish happiness as people accumulate things that require upkeep, storage, or disposal. When making money becomes an obsession or distraction from living life, happiness diminishes.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
As long as we continue to equate time with money, Americans will have a hard time stepping aside from the busyness and demands of our work to take vacations or to enjoy our evenings and weekends. Without times of refreshment and personal enrichment, we become physically, emotionally, or mentally unhealthy. Our compulsion to consume perpetuates the work-spend cycle, leaving little room for contentment and joy.
Megha Budruk
Associate Professor of Parks and Recreation, School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
If possible, then yes. For instance, agencies charged with the responsibility of providing leisure opportunities such as park and recreation departments should tailor their programs to be diverse and inclusive, and offer participants the opportunity to truly explore who they are.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Besides being recognized for one’s contributions, building a career around something that one is passionate about, working in an environment that allows one’s creativity to flourish and a feeling of doing something meaningful, all contribute toward career contentment.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Live life to the fullest, seek what you are passionate about and pursue those passions.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Money is important to the extent that besides the fulfillment of basic needs, money allows one access to opportunities that might not be otherwise available. However, more money does not necessarily equate to more happiness.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
America is a time compressed society. Although we have the same 24 hours that all other societies have, those 24 hours are insufficient for all that needs to get done in a day. Unless we have a large proportion of people who are absolutely passionate about what they do, our long working hours do not bode well for overall happiness.
If possible, then yes. For instance, agencies charged with the responsibility of providing leisure opportunities such as park and recreation departments should tailor their programs to be diverse and inclusive, and offer participants the opportunity to truly explore who they are.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Besides being recognized for one’s contributions, building a career around something that one is passionate about, working in an environment that allows one’s creativity to flourish and a feeling of doing something meaningful, all contribute toward career contentment.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Live life to the fullest, seek what you are passionate about and pursue those passions.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Money is important to the extent that besides the fulfillment of basic needs, money allows one access to opportunities that might not be otherwise available. However, more money does not necessarily equate to more happiness.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
America is a time compressed society. Although we have the same 24 hours that all other societies have, those 24 hours are insufficient for all that needs to get done in a day. Unless we have a large proportion of people who are absolutely passionate about what they do, our long working hours do not bode well for overall happiness.
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
Before getting to the questions, let me volunteer that the state is the wrong unit of analysis. "Happiest states" is at best a spurious pursuit. Research over the last 20 years shows without doubt that where you are pales next to who you are and who you are with.
But I know that people like these kinds of things, taking quizzes like "which country fits your personality?" on facebook, so here goes.
Localities should focus on amenities, not programs. Attractive parks and recreational facilities, BBQ spaces, skating rinks, gyms. Amenities are public spaces where people can be with friends and family and meet people who share their interests (chess, tai chi, ice skating) -- Kahneman's formula for happiness. But get rid of user fees, and pay for the amenities with tax money. Do not force low-income residents to choose between a workout on Wednesday night and a cookout on Saturday night; make it all free -- like it used to be. The Brooklyn Bridge Park that has grown up in the shadow of the famous bridge costs about $6 million a year for maintenance and debt service; about 50 cents per NYC resident. It has all the facilities I mentioned. It is mobbed in the summer and well-used in the winter. Lots of cities have popular parks. California threatened to close the state parks (many of which are the public's only access to the Pacific Ocean). The research is clear that gathering space is good for happiness; charging for the opportunity to gather diminishes happiness.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Research by Arne Kalleberg (U of N Carolina) and others shows that meaningful work is #1 in people's satisfaction with work and -- for those still lucky enough to have one -- career. Decent pay has written over time but work one can be proud of and measure an accomplishment in, still outranks pay and far outstrips things like authority and flexible hours -- things that are valuable and desired but not the pinnacle of accomplishment.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
People can connect to others to make themselves happier. Daniel Kahneman (Princeton) and others have used beepers and text messages to ask people at random times of the day how happy they feel right now. The presence of lovers, friends, and family are the best facilitators of happiness. Commuting and attending meetings where you do not control the agenda are the biggest drags. So, pay more to live closer to work or, find a job close to home would be other things people can do to make themselves happier.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Money matters but not in a way that simple linear formulas can capture. Money matters far more to the poor than the rich. Researchers get the best statistical fit by putting income on a ratio scale where the distance from $50,000 to $100,000 is the same as the distance from $5,000 to $10,000 or $10,000 to $20,000 or $25,000 to $50,000 (each of those pairs represents a doubling of income). Money also matters more in the USA today than it did thirty years ago. My explanation for the trend is that we have to pay for amenities nowadays that used to be free to all thirty years ago. From parks to college; public functions that used to be free, now carry big user fees. More of the elements of a happy life now cost money so that the affluent have no trouble getting them while the poor have to budget them, getting some but going without others.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
In "Time Bind", Arlie Hochschild (Berkeley) documented dozens of cases of workers -- from managers to production line workers -- who were happier at work than at home. Their jobs had boundaries. They knew what to do and when they had to choose between two things, they knew the priorities that mattered. The excerpt of her book that appeared in the NY Times Magazine featured the image of a coffee mug imprinted with what looked like an embroidered "Work Sweet Work" logo. But.... Their absence from home made the family less happy. The double shifts, overtime, and late hours in the office undid their spouses' and children's happiness.
Before getting to the questions, let me volunteer that the state is the wrong unit of analysis. "Happiest states" is at best a spurious pursuit. Research over the last 20 years shows without doubt that where you are pales next to who you are and who you are with.
But I know that people like these kinds of things, taking quizzes like "which country fits your personality?" on facebook, so here goes.
Localities should focus on amenities, not programs. Attractive parks and recreational facilities, BBQ spaces, skating rinks, gyms. Amenities are public spaces where people can be with friends and family and meet people who share their interests (chess, tai chi, ice skating) -- Kahneman's formula for happiness. But get rid of user fees, and pay for the amenities with tax money. Do not force low-income residents to choose between a workout on Wednesday night and a cookout on Saturday night; make it all free -- like it used to be. The Brooklyn Bridge Park that has grown up in the shadow of the famous bridge costs about $6 million a year for maintenance and debt service; about 50 cents per NYC resident. It has all the facilities I mentioned. It is mobbed in the summer and well-used in the winter. Lots of cities have popular parks. California threatened to close the state parks (many of which are the public's only access to the Pacific Ocean). The research is clear that gathering space is good for happiness; charging for the opportunity to gather diminishes happiness.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Research by Arne Kalleberg (U of N Carolina) and others shows that meaningful work is #1 in people's satisfaction with work and -- for those still lucky enough to have one -- career. Decent pay has written over time but work one can be proud of and measure an accomplishment in, still outranks pay and far outstrips things like authority and flexible hours -- things that are valuable and desired but not the pinnacle of accomplishment.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
People can connect to others to make themselves happier. Daniel Kahneman (Princeton) and others have used beepers and text messages to ask people at random times of the day how happy they feel right now. The presence of lovers, friends, and family are the best facilitators of happiness. Commuting and attending meetings where you do not control the agenda are the biggest drags. So, pay more to live closer to work or, find a job close to home would be other things people can do to make themselves happier.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
Money matters but not in a way that simple linear formulas can capture. Money matters far more to the poor than the rich. Researchers get the best statistical fit by putting income on a ratio scale where the distance from $50,000 to $100,000 is the same as the distance from $5,000 to $10,000 or $10,000 to $20,000 or $25,000 to $50,000 (each of those pairs represents a doubling of income). Money also matters more in the USA today than it did thirty years ago. My explanation for the trend is that we have to pay for amenities nowadays that used to be free to all thirty years ago. From parks to college; public functions that used to be free, now carry big user fees. More of the elements of a happy life now cost money so that the affluent have no trouble getting them while the poor have to budget them, getting some but going without others.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35— in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
In "Time Bind", Arlie Hochschild (Berkeley) documented dozens of cases of workers -- from managers to production line workers -- who were happier at work than at home. Their jobs had boundaries. They knew what to do and when they had to choose between two things, they knew the priorities that mattered. The excerpt of her book that appeared in the NY Times Magazine featured the image of a coffee mug imprinted with what looked like an embroidered "Work Sweet Work" logo. But.... Their absence from home made the family less happy. The double shifts, overtime, and late hours in the office undid their spouses' and children's happiness.
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
In my view, that's the goal of government, including local authorities. Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers made this clear--that government's purpose is to increase the happiness of its citizens by promoting the "common welfare." However, the question is what policies work effectively. Here it's best to look at the world's happiest countries--the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, etc. What they have in common--and it's certainly not just size as there are plenty of small but very unhappy countries --is the world's highest levels of equality, which increases trust, a key factor in Happiness. They also all have strong social safety nets, increasing Security, another key factor. They build cities that favor people over cars and encourage community and connection, another happiness factor. They also have the shortest working hours in the world, increasing work-life balance, another key factor as it also improves health and social connection. They encourage cooperative workplaces, rather than top down bosses, another important factor. And they pay the world's highest taxes, contrary to our view that taxes make people unhappy. They emphasize health and education, making both universal and making education free through college so students do not pile up enormous debts, a major factor in insecurity and unhappiness.
So it's fairly clear what governments need to do, but in our country there is no political will to do such things; indeed, we quickly label all such ideas socialistic, thereby cutting them out of political discourse.
We are consequently less healthy despite spending more money on health care than they do, less secure despite having a larger GDP, less trusting, more stressed with less leisure, and vastly more unequal in terms of income. Unless we address these issues, we are not likely to become happier.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Well, you certainly need enough money to feel secure, but you don't need to make a killing from your job financially. You need to feel secure; that someone isn't always looking over your shoulder with thoughts of firing you. You need a sense of purpose, that your work has value to the larger community. You need challenges and a measure of control over your job. The unhappiest and unhealthiest workers are those who put in long hours with little control over what they do. You need reasonable leisure time, including an extended vacation period of two weeks of more to recharge your batteries and your creativity. You need supervisors who recognize your achievements and salute them rather than being threatened by them.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Look for work that is purposeful and satisfying as well as financially remunerative. If possible, choose more time off instead of more money. Give of themselves to others, volunteer, donate to charity and causes -- be altruistic, be grateful for their blessings and forgiving of others. Work for change that allows people to be more secure in life. Seek out friendship and community rather than money once you are secure. Spend more on experiences than stuff. All these things are proven through many studies.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
It is important, especially when one is poor. Poverty is not usually associated with happiness and we need to feel financially secure. But our needs for money are not unlimited and if we see them as such we are not likely to be happy. We need to understand when we have enough and then pursue other goals like leisure time and connection. We also need to spend wisely and use our income in ways likely to make us happier. Don’t be trapped into impulse buying, etc. One thing that is clear is that you can be rich and happy but you cannot be materialistic and likely be happy. If your goal in life is money rather than service and connection, you will never find you have enough money. If your goal is service, you may or may not become rich but you are much more likely to be happy. This is well established in the literature. People whose motivation is materialistic are less happy than those whose motivation is toward service and friendship.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35 — in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
Overworking as Americans do is a key cause of stress, burnout and depression. These are not good for happiness. Overworking makes it less possible for us to build strong friendships and community because we don't have the time. It makes us less likely to exercise and care for our health. It makes us less likely to enjoy hobbies or get out into the natural world. All these impacts negatively affect our happiness and that of our children, since overworked and stressed parents pass their unhappiness on to their kids and often over schedule their children. But we have to understand that too few working hours also can make us unhappy both because we don't earn sufficient income and also because we don't get a sense of purpose from our work. The important thing is balance between work and leisure and between earning enough and having purpose and control in our work. Americans' lack of sufficient vacation time has a huge negative impact on health and happiness while not really benefitting employers either. We need a cultural shift toward shorter work time and longer vacations. Europeans, who have long vacations, understand their value. We don't -- yet.
In my view, that's the goal of government, including local authorities. Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers made this clear--that government's purpose is to increase the happiness of its citizens by promoting the "common welfare." However, the question is what policies work effectively. Here it's best to look at the world's happiest countries--the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, etc. What they have in common--and it's certainly not just size as there are plenty of small but very unhappy countries --is the world's highest levels of equality, which increases trust, a key factor in Happiness. They also all have strong social safety nets, increasing Security, another key factor. They build cities that favor people over cars and encourage community and connection, another happiness factor. They also have the shortest working hours in the world, increasing work-life balance, another key factor as it also improves health and social connection. They encourage cooperative workplaces, rather than top down bosses, another important factor. And they pay the world's highest taxes, contrary to our view that taxes make people unhappy. They emphasize health and education, making both universal and making education free through college so students do not pile up enormous debts, a major factor in insecurity and unhappiness.
So it's fairly clear what governments need to do, but in our country there is no political will to do such things; indeed, we quickly label all such ideas socialistic, thereby cutting them out of political discourse.
We are consequently less healthy despite spending more money on health care than they do, less secure despite having a larger GDP, less trusting, more stressed with less leisure, and vastly more unequal in terms of income. Unless we address these issues, we are not likely to become happier.
What are the secrets to career contentment?
Well, you certainly need enough money to feel secure, but you don't need to make a killing from your job financially. You need to feel secure; that someone isn't always looking over your shoulder with thoughts of firing you. You need a sense of purpose, that your work has value to the larger community. You need challenges and a measure of control over your job. The unhappiest and unhealthiest workers are those who put in long hours with little control over what they do. You need reasonable leisure time, including an extended vacation period of two weeks of more to recharge your batteries and your creativity. You need supervisors who recognize your achievements and salute them rather than being threatened by them.
What can people do in order to have happier lives?
Look for work that is purposeful and satisfying as well as financially remunerative. If possible, choose more time off instead of more money. Give of themselves to others, volunteer, donate to charity and causes -- be altruistic, be grateful for their blessings and forgiving of others. Work for change that allows people to be more secure in life. Seek out friendship and community rather than money once you are secure. Spend more on experiences than stuff. All these things are proven through many studies.
How important is money to people’s happiness?
It is important, especially when one is poor. Poverty is not usually associated with happiness and we need to feel financially secure. But our needs for money are not unlimited and if we see them as such we are not likely to be happy. We need to understand when we have enough and then pursue other goals like leisure time and connection. We also need to spend wisely and use our income in ways likely to make us happier. Don’t be trapped into impulse buying, etc. One thing that is clear is that you can be rich and happy but you cannot be materialistic and likely be happy. If your goal in life is money rather than service and connection, you will never find you have enough money. If your goal is service, you may or may not become rich but you are much more likely to be happy. This is well established in the literature. People whose motivation is materialistic are less happy than those whose motivation is toward service and friendship.
How does America’s ranking— No. 12 out of 35 — in terms of the number of hours we work affect our overall happiness?
Overworking as Americans do is a key cause of stress, burnout and depression. These are not good for happiness. Overworking makes it less possible for us to build strong friendships and community because we don't have the time. It makes us less likely to exercise and care for our health. It makes us less likely to enjoy hobbies or get out into the natural world. All these impacts negatively affect our happiness and that of our children, since overworked and stressed parents pass their unhappiness on to their kids and often over schedule their children. But we have to understand that too few working hours also can make us unhappy both because we don't earn sufficient income and also because we don't get a sense of purpose from our work. The important thing is balance between work and leisure and between earning enough and having purpose and control in our work. Americans' lack of sufficient vacation time has a huge negative impact on health and happiness while not really benefitting employers either. We need a cultural shift toward shorter work time and longer vacations. Europeans, who have long vacations, understand their value. We don't -- yet.
James R. Brunet
Associate Professor and Director of the Public Safety Leadership Initiative, North Carolina State University
Should local authorities tailor programs to increase the overall happiness of their citizens? If so, what types of programs?
Many localities, especially those with the financial and political means to do so, invest in programs related to citizen well-being including greenways, arts programs, sports fields, high-performing schools, libraries, and sustainable transport. Jurisdictions invest in these social amenities to satisfy the expectations and political choices of the electorate. Some local governments, especially those populating the bottom of the well-being scale, simply lack the tax base and/or political will to improve citizen happiness in a meaningful way. It may break down to a philosophical question about the role of government in society. Some see a very limited role for government in achieving a "happy" populace, while others see government as an expression of the social life of the community.
Many localities, especially those with the financial and political means to do so, invest in programs related to citizen well-being including greenways, arts programs, sports fields, high-performing schools, libraries, and sustainable transport. Jurisdictions invest in these social amenities to satisfy the expectations and political choices of the electorate. Some local governments, especially those populating the bottom of the well-being scale, simply lack the tax base and/or political will to improve citizen happiness in a meaningful way. It may break down to a philosophical question about the role of government in society. Some see a very limited role for government in achieving a "happy" populace, while others see government as an expression of the social life of the community.
Methodology
To identify which states are home to the happiest Americans, WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions that affect the overall pleasantness of life. They include “emotional and physical well-being,” “work,” as well as “community, environment and recreational activities.” We then identified 26 metrics that are relevant to those dimensions. The set is listed below.
For this particular study, our metrics were influenced by the findings of the following reports, each of which has indicated a correlation between the listed metrics and happiness:
- Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity (Chan and Diener, 2010)
- Happiness from Ordinary and Extraordinary Experiences (Bhattacharjee and Mogilner, 2014)
- Sports Participation and Happiness: Evidence from U.S. Micro Data (Huang and Humphreys, 2010)
- Unhappy Cities (Glaeser, et al., 2014)
Emotional and Physical Well-Being - Total Weight: 10
- Satisfaction Index (measures self-reported levels of general satisfaction with life): Full Weight
- Prevalence of Hedonistic Expression (measures personal expression of happiness online through hedonometer): Half Weight
- Physical Health Index (measures self-reported effects of disease on personal happiness): Full Weight
- Prevalence of Depression (measures percentage of individuals who’ve been told they’re depressed): Full Weight
- Prevalence of Inadequate Sleep (measures self-reported effects of sleep deprivation on personal happiness): Full Weight
- Emotional Health Index (measures self-reported effects of emotional well-being on personal happiness): Full Weight
- Obesity Index (measures percentage of overweight or obese individuals): Full Weight
- Prevalence of Binge Drinking (measures self-reported effects of high alcohol consumption on happiness: Half Weight
- Prevalence of Heart Attacks (measures percentage of individuals who’ve been told they've had a heart attack): Half Weight
- Life Expectancy: Full Weight
- Sports Participation Rate (measures happiness gained from physical activity through sports): Full Weight
- Illness and Disability Index (measures self-reported effects of illness and disability on personal happiness): Full Weight
- Suicide Rate per Capita: Full Weight
Work - Total Weight: 5
- Commute Time: Half Weight
- Income Level (measures personal earnings adjusted by cost of living): Half Weight
- Work Hours: Full Weight
- Long-Term Unemployment Rate: Full Weight
- Job Security (measures probability of unemployment): Full Weight
- Income Growth Rate: Full Weight
Community, Environment & Recreational Activities - Total Weight: 5
- Volunteerism Rate: Half Weight
- Weather Ranking: Full Weight
- Number of Attractions: Half Weight
- Percentage of Children in Married Families: Full Weight
- Divorce Rate (measures percentage of adult population that is separated or divorced): Full Weight
- Population Growth Rate: Full Weight
- Safest States to Live In Ranking (based on WalletHub report): Full Weight
Sources: Data used to create these rankings is courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, the Joint Economic Committee, the Corporation for National and Community Service, Gallup Healthways, Tripadvisor, Hedonometer.org, and WalleHub research.
Discussion