Are you happier when you\u2019re working, or when you have time off? Interesting read, and something I believe is applicable to a lot of my friends. This is because I don’t have free time. Poor Me. Are you happier when you\u2019re working, or when you have time off? Easy answer right? We work in order to have free time. Everything from basic economics to our deepest intuitions … <\/p>\n
\nEasy answer right? We work in order to have free time. Everything from basic economics to our deepest intuitions tells us that we must be happiest during our free time.
\nTurns out we were wrong.
\nFlow, Flipped Intuitions and A Scientist\u2019s Name You Can\u2019t Pronounce<\/strong>
\nMih\u00e1ly Cs\u00edkszentmih\u00e1lyi<\/a> did careful research that discovered that some of our deepest intuitions about work, play and what makes us happy were completely backwards.
\nHe discovered that most people were, in fact, happier at work than at rest<\/a><\/strong>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=scottcom-20&l=ur2&o=1\")
\nHow did Cs\u00edkszentmih\u00e1lyi find this?
\nHe did it by having study participants keep pagers (then a new technology) that would go off at random intervals of the day. During those intervals, study participants would not only record what they were doing, but also their emotional state in the current moment.
\nBy adding up this data, he reached the surprising conclusion: people were happier at work, even though they didn\u2019t realize it.
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\nWhy You\u2019re Happier at Work<\/strong>
\nCs\u00edkszentmih\u00e1lyi\u2019s answer to this question was based on the concept of flow<\/a>. In his research, this is the optimal state of human experience. It is attained when working towards a challenge that perfectly meets our skill level, engaging every mental faculty without overwhelming us.
\nThis state of flow, because it requires both challenge and the application of skill, is more commonly attained at work than during relaxation. As a result, people report higher levels of well-being at work.
\nvia Why Most People are Happier Working than in Their Free Time \u00ab Scott H Young<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"