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If you want to have a high-impact career focussed on global wellbeing, here are some career paths we think are particularly promising.

• Global priorities research using subjective wellbeing Identify the most cost-effective interventions and policies.
• Research into new mental health treatments For example, psychedelic-assisted mental health treatments .
• Deliver interventions in low-income countries Improve existing organisations or start a more effective one .
• Entrepreneurship in mental health technology Develop digital mental health interventions like Mind Ease and UpLift .
• Policy and advocacy ​Persuade funders and policymakers to use subjective wellbeing measures.

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• Welcome to Harvard

What is the key to finding happiness? The Harvard community explores the physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of living a life filled with joy.

Explore moments of joy across campus

Learn how to be happy

Is there a formula for happiness, and can you apply it to your own life? Professor Arthur Brooks thinks so.

Read more from The Harvard Gazette

Studying happiness

Explore ancient Chinese philosophy, ethics, and political theory to challenge your assumptions of what it means to be happy, live a meaningful life, and change the world.

Understanding happiness

Learn how the origins of joy can improve the way we lead organizations—and our personal lives.

Practicing happiness

Research shows that short writing exercises reliving happy moments boosted the moods of adults recovering from addiction.

The Leadership and Happiness Laboratory

The Leadership and Happiness Laboratory conducts research and creates resources for leaders to learn the science of happiness, apply it in their own lives, and share it with others.

Learn about the lab

Managing Happiness

What if you can will yourself to be happy? This free online course gives participants data-backed strategies to make themselves happier.

Take the course

Health and happiness

Research has long indicated the link between our happiness and physical health. A study from the Harvard Chan School finds a host of health benefits that accompany an optimistic attitude.

Read more from the Harvard Chan School

Good genes are nice, but joy is better

When scientists began tracking the health of 268 Harvard sophomores in 1938, they hoped the study would reveal clues to leading healthy and happy lives. They got more than they ever expected.

Health and happiness go hand in hand

No matter your current state of happiness, there are ways to boost your outlook and give your mental and physical health a lift.

Linking happiness and wellbeing

A Harvard-led study found that younger adults have the lowest scores in a dozen wellbeing measures compared to other age groups.

Finding happiness in community

The value of relationships

Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, says one of the biggest surprises they encountered was that what makes people happy is also what helps keep them healthy—relationships.

A pet can change your life

Animals ease loneliness and boost oxytocin—the love hormone.

Mending fences

In a society roiled by division, how can we find common ground and build relationships with those who don’t share our views?

Reaching out

Research offers new reasons to pick up the phone and reconnect with that old friend.

Forgiveness can heal

Forgiveness transcends mere spiritual practice or good behavior—it fosters good mental health.

How do you measure and govern for happiness?

An international conference of academics, practitioners, corporate managers, and spiritual leaders at the Harvard Divinity School sought answers to the question of universal happiness.

Explore videos from the conference

Finding joy in our work

When working harder doesn’t work, reinvent your career

Playful summer learning

Fulfillment doesn't require big change

This summer, remember to refresh

Want to be happier? Make more free time.

Get out of your own way

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Journal of Happiness Studies

An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being

The international peer-reviewed Journal of Happiness Studies is devoted to theoretical and applied advancements in all areas of well-being research. It covers topics referring to both the hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives characterizing well-being studies. The former includes the investigation of cognitive dimensions such as satisfaction with life, and positive affect and emotions. The latter includes the study of constructs and processes related to optimal psychological functioning, such as meaning and purpose in life, character strengths, personal growth, resilience, optimism, hope, and self-determination. In addition to contributions on appraisal of life-as-a-whole, the journal accepts papers investigating these topics in relation to specific domains, such as family, education, physical and mental health, and work.  The journal provides a forum for three main areas in happiness research: 1) theoretical conceptualizations of well-being, happiness and the good life; 2) empirical investigation of well-being and happiness in different populations, contexts and cultures; 3) methodological advancements and development of new assessment instruments. The journal addresses the conceptualization, operationalization and measurement of happiness and well-being dimensions, as well as the individual, socio-economic and cultural factors that may interact with them as determinants or outcomes.  

This is a transformative journal , you may have access to funding.

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Latest articles

The quality of society and happiness: fairness, trust, and community in china.

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The Role of Resilience in Fostering Late Adolescents’ Meaning-Making Process: A Latent Profile Analysis

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Moderating Effects of Housing Tenure Change on the Longitudinal Relationship Between Housing Relocation and Life Satisfaction

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Subjective Well-Being of Chief Executive Officers and Its Impact on Stock Market Volatility During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland: Agent-Based Model Perspective

• Marcin Rzeszutek
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Journal updates

Obituary ed diener.

Professor Ed Diener's passing is a tremendous loss for the field of subjective well-being. His work has pushed the boundaries of quality of life studies in multiple ways, influencing and inspiring many scholars, both inside and outside the field of happiness. More.......

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When it Comes to Happiness, Research Finds Jobs to be More Important Than Marriage

• Industrial/Organizational Psychology

What’s the secret to happiness? It’s an age-old question — and one that is addressed in a new  study  in the academic journal,  Psychological Science.

A team of researchers led by Andrew Jebb of Purdue University analyzed data from over 1.7 million people worldwide to uncover the keys to happiness across the human life span. Interestingly, they found employment to be a stronger predictor of happiness than marriage.

“For all measures and regions, employed people had higher subjective well-being than unemployed people, with differences that usually peaked around age 50 years and were lower at younger and older ages,” state the researchers. “The effect sizes were larger than for marriage.”

Read the whole story (subscription may be required): Forbes

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Encouraging Innovation in Entrepreneurship

Drawing from his newest book, Stephen Reed explores the cognitive and social skills required for innovation, the transition from theory to practice, and more.

Back Page: The Executive Whisperer

Constance Dierickx discusses her work as an advisor to boards and senior executives in high-stakes leadership situations and her experiences helping psychologists learn how to be consultants.

Careers Up Close: Elizabeth Tenney on Power of Voice, Tenuous Funding, and Applying Psychology in Business School

Elizabeth Tenney, an associate professor of management at The University of Utah, discusses her research into overconfidence and biases that influence our social interactions and decisions.

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30 careers with the most satisfaction.

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Satisfaction in your work has a positive spillover to the rest of your life.

Job satisfaction is arguably one of the most important elements of your life, because you spend a huge proportion of your time at work—and because when you’re satisfied at work, it has positive spillover to the rest of your experience.

There are five key factors to consider for satisfaction—and (more than) 30 roles which are most likely to deliver it.

Interestingly, today’s reality is a mixed bag today in terms of whether we’re satisfied at work. On the one hand, job satisfaction is at an all-time high of 62% since 1987, according to the Conference Board , and engagement is also at a record high, according to Gallup .

On the other hand, nearly 60% of people reported being dissatisfied with their work and emotionally detached from it. And a whopping 19% said they were miserable, based on the data from Gallup.

So what does it take to be satisfied in your career? And which careers offer you the best chances at satisfaction?

Here are the factors to consider and (keep reading for) the roles which deliver your best options.

5 Ways to Find Career Satisfaction

It’s important to understand the key elements which drive satisfaction. Your experience will be unique, of course, but generally when people have these kinds of experiences, they are more likely to be fulfilled and happy. Therefore, these are the elements to prioritize when you’re looking for a job and developing your career.

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• First, as much as possible align what you love to do and what you have to do. It’s very unlikely you’ll ever find a job that perfectly fits what you love and doesn’t include anything you dislike—but when you can get as close as possible, the match is a powerful contributor to fulfillment.
• Second, do something that matters. A sense of purpose is significantly correlated with fulfillment and satisfaction. You don’t have to be solving world peace or world hunger, but when you show up and do great work that is meaningful to your colleagues and to the people you serve, it’s good for you as well. You can consider the meaning of work—showing up and doing what you do the best of your ability, no matter what type of work it is—as well as the meaning in work—a career which you feel has intrinsic value. Either type of meaning contributes to satisfaction—both the meaning of work and the meaning in work.
• Third, consider your people. Another element of satisfaction is when you can connect your work to other people and your community. For some jobs, the link is obvious: For example, a teacher is helping students learn and create their futures. For other jobs, you can make the link yourself: You work in the marketing department, and you help people find products that will enhance their experiences.
• Fourth, consider learning and growth. Another fundamental aspect of satisfaction is a career which offers the opportunity to develop over time. Learning and stretch are linked with happiness, so when your career offers opportunities to explore something new and challenge your existing skills, there’s a good chance you’ll find it more satisfying.
• Fifth, seek respect. Most people want a job that offers a level of prestige and respect from others . According to a poll by Zety , people have the greatest respect for jobs which care for others, are trustworthy and are essential to society. In addition, people value those who do jobs which require a high level of intellect, education or physical ability. Validate for yourself the aspects of your work which deliver on these characteristics.

In addition to these top five factors, you’re also wise to consider things like pay and job security, the typical level of stress associated with the job, the type of organization the job will be a part of, as well as the growth potential of the job. You should also consider the hours of work, level of autonomy and the working conditions of the job—which affect your overall patters for living and quality of work-life.

Following are the roles which are likely to be most satisfying based on a combination of all these factors.

High satisfaction is linked with a strong sense of purpose.

Consider Helping or Social Service Roles

Helping and social service roles serve people and the community. They can be stressful, but they offer significant rewards in their effects on the people they serve.

Teacher – Of course teachers take on the responsibility to educate students at all levels, from young children to college students. A high school teacher’s average salary is $66,000 and the projected growth for the profession is 5%. Teachers must have a bachelor’s degree and must be licensed in the state where they teach. Related to a teaching profession and also offering high levels of satisfaction are librarians ($61,000 average salary) and educational administrators ($103,000).

Therapist – A therapist counsels people and supports their wellbeing by addressing issues like depression, anxiety and coping approaches. The average salary is $88,000 and the growth prospects in the profession are 14%. Therapists must have a master’s degree, and may also seek a PhD or PsyD. They must also have a state license to practice.

Non-Profit Lawyer – A lawyer represents individuals through legal issues. The average salary is $164,000, and the projected growth is 10% per year. A lawyer is required to obtain both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree, and they must pass the Bar Exam before they are allowed to practice. Lawyers are one of the ten fastest growing jobs in the next decade, according to analysis by ResumeGenius .

Additional Roles – You may also consider helping professions such as firefighters ($51,000 average salary), clergy members ($57,000), emergency management directors ($77,000) or psychiatrists ($217,000).

Consider Healthcare Roles

Healthcare roles typically have high levels of satisfaction, especially based on their impact on people’s health.

Assistant Occupational Therapist – These professionals work alongside occupational therapists and help people regain physical capabilities. Their average salary is $66,000 and the role is expected to grow 25%. The job requires an associate’s degree as well as a state license.

Speech-Language Pathologist – This role supports people who have difficulty speaking or swallowing. The average salary is $89,000, with a growth projection of 21%. The role requires a master’s degree as well as a license.

Radiation Therapist - These experts administer radiation therapy to cancer patients. Their average salary is $121,000 and while they do not require a degree, they typically complete an accreditation program.

Nurse Practitioner – These healthcare professionals see patients and they offer services between doctors and registered nurses. They perform exams, order diagnostic tests and prescribe medications. The average salary is $125,000 and the role is projected to grow 40%. Nurse practitioners must have a bachelor’s degree and an advanced degree, and they must be licensed. Nurse practitioners are another of the ten fastest growing jobs in the next decade, based on data from ResumeGenius.

Additional Roles – You may also consider roles such as a physical therapist ($96,000 average salary), medical and health services manager ($101,000), dentist ($163,000), pediatrician ($198,000), general practitioner ($236,000), surgeon ($298,000) or anesthesiologist ($331,000),

Healthcare is a field which typically offers high levels of satisfaction.

Consider Roles in the Arts

Roles in the arts are often cited as being especially satisfying because they offer an outlet for creativity and the expression of specialized talents—as well as a positive effects on audiences.

Music Director and Composer - Here you can consider a music director and composer role with an average salary of $49,000 and an 80% projected growth rate. A degree is not typically required.

Consider Tech Roles

Tech roles offer satisfaction, especially because they are so integral to so many organizations and because they are growing and expanding significantly today.

Data Scientist – This role works with data to analyze and synthesize to make recommendations for decision making in all kinds of fields. The average salary is $115,000 and the projected growth is 36%. Data scientists need a bachelor’s degree and often have a master’s degree as well, although some companies are emphasizing skills-based hiring and not requiring a degree.

IT Security Professional – Again, this is a swiftly growing field and a job required in many organizations. It focuses on cyber security. The average salary is $120,000 and the projected growth for the role is 35%. The role requires a bachelor’s degree.

Software Developer – This is one of today’s primary roles for both satisfaction and growth—and it is available with a large number of organizations. The role creates software for all kinds of programs which go into products and services. The average salary is $133,000 with a projected growth rate of 26% over almost the next decade. Software developers typically have a bachelor’s degree, although some organizations do not require a degree for this role. This role is one of the fastest growing over the next decade, based on assessment by ResumeGenius.

Additional Roles – You may also consider a web developer role ($77,000 average salary) or an IT manager role ($159,000).

Salary, job security and work-life are important factors to consider.

Consider Business Roles

Business roles offer plenty of satisfaction for their flexibility and opportunities for continuous growth across organizations and the profession.

Real Estate Agent – This role helps people buy and sell homes, and facilitates real estate transactions. The average salary is $71,000 and the growth rate is projected to be 5%. An associate’s degree is typical, although not required. In addition, a license is required.

Market Research Analyst – This type of job examines the market for patterns and insights in order to inform business decisions. The average salary is $79,000 and the growth rate is 19%. The role requires a bachelor’s degree. This is another of the fastest growing jobs in the next decade, based on ResumeGenius.

Engagement Manager - This role is focused on building relationships with clients in order to implement and manage implementation of a service or product. The average salary is $112,000, and a degree is typically not required.

Financial Advisor – This role helps others financial matters and advises them about how to manage and plan their finances. The average salary is $117,000 and the projected growth rate for the role is 15%. A bachelor’s degree is required as well as a licensing exam.

Additional Roles – You might also consider a financial manager role ($132,000 average salary).

Consider Additional Roles

Many people also find jobs which are hands-on to be highly satisfying because of the tangible outcomes they experience and the autonomy that often accompanies the jobs. You can consider a role as an oil and gas rotary drill operator ($62,000 average salary), a forester role ($68,000) or an owner-operator truck driver ($321,000).

Either a role as a cartographer (map maker) ($69,000 average salary) or a physicist ($147,000) are also likely to be highly satisfying.

Find Your Best Role

Overall, your satisfaction will depend on what’s most important to you, uniquely. Consider basics like salary and job security, but then also weigh the levels of purpose, happiness and connectedness each role will deliver.

And remember you can always shift careers as well. Choose something you love today, and be ready to evolve your role as you grow over time.

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3 Secrets to Happiness at Work According to Research

After all, the benefits are obvious. Happy workers enjoy what they do and work harder and smarter. Companies take fun, play, and satisfaction in the workplace seriously because they recognize the importance of happiness for productivity, staff retention, and employee wellbeing (McKee, 2014).

This article explores happiness at work in light of psychological research findings, sharing what we know of the concept, its advantages, and its implications for work-life balance.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Happiness & Subjective Wellbeing Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients identify sources of authentic happiness and strategies to boost wellbeing.

This Article Contains:

How to define work happiness, what research reveals about happiness at work, advantages of happiness in the workplace, happy work & life balance, how to be happy at work, even if you hate it, 6 work happiness ted talks, finding happiness at work quotes, best resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message.

Happiness, as a concept, is so slippery that, despite advanced tools for measuring emotions and predicting behavior, we still need to figure out precisely what it is, suggests Shawn Achor, the author of The Happiness Advantage (Achor, 2011).

As a result, it is sometimes easier to speak about happiness indirectly in relation to other mental phenomena, such as joy, engagement, and motivation. Indeed, according to Achor, happiness refers to the experience of positive emotions combined with much deeper feelings, including purpose and meaning (Achor, 2011, 2014).

Similarly, Martin Seligman–often referred to as the father of positive psychology –linked happiness to the following three components in his original authentic happiness theory (Seligman, 2011, 2011a):

• Positive emotions Pleasure, warmth, comfort, and even rapture, as examples, create a “pleasant life,” as Seligman calls it (Seligman, 2011, p. 11).
• Engagement Also known as flow, involves merging with the activity and losing one’s sense of self.
• Meaning A “meaningful life” consists of belonging to, or serving, something more significant than the self (Seligman, 2011, p. 12).

When Seligman first wrote about the authentic happiness theory, he thought the goal of positive psychology was to pursue such happiness. However, his subsequent wellbeing theory evolved his approach, suggesting the “goal of positive psychology is to increase flourishing” (Seligman, 2011, p. 13).

As such, while positive emotions, engagement, and meaning are essential, they are best combined with positive relationships and achievement. Together, they form part of Seligman’s far-reaching PERMA model and offer a path to a deeper level of flourishing and more profound happiness (Seligman, 2011).

In her book Positivity, Barbara Fredrickson also recognizes the problem of definition. She suggests the term ‘happiness’ is both murky and overused and better described in terms of feelings such as love, gratitude, and joy. Indeed, according to Fredrickson, happiness should, more usefully, be wrapped up in the concept of ‘positivity,’ where, as part of her broaden and build theory , each positive emotion supports and leads to others (Fredrickson, 2010).

While conceptually, happiness is tricky to define–in the workplace at least–in practical terms, it is intimately connected with staff motivation, deeper self-knowledge, spirituality, and finding meaning in tasks (Awada, 2019).

As a result, Achor rejects the traditional view that working harder leads to success and, ultimately, happiness—both in work and outside. Instead, happiness is relative to who we are and how we feel about our jobs and lives (Achor, 2011).

1. Happiness in the workplace is essential

Research suggests that it improves sales, productivity, and accuracy while boosting health and quality of life. Despite a clear link between employee happiness and business outcomes, it needs to be taken more seriously (Achor, 2011).

2. Positive psychology

When Achor introduced positive psychology principles into KPMG, one of the big accounting companies, following the 2008 banking crisis, they saw an increase in life satisfaction, work optimism, perceived effectiveness in work, and a reduction in perceived stress. Moreover, the effect was not short-lived. Four months later, improvements to personal and professional happiness were maintained (Achor, 2014).

3. Job crafting

However, while research typically finds a positive link between happiness and productivity in the workplace, chasing it may leave us feeling less happy and even frustrated.

Download 3 Free Happiness Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to discover authentic happiness and cultivate subjective well-being.

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Happiness at work matters because happy workers are more engaged with their jobs and colleagues and work harder and smarter. In fact, a happy employee is good for everyone: their psychological and physical wellness is boosted, they interact better with customers, and they are more productive for their employer (McKee, 2014).

Research confirms the many advantages associated with happiness in the workplace, including (Rahmi, 2018; Thompson & Bruk-Lee, 2021):

• Productivity
• Customer satisfaction
• Flexibility
• Financial losses
• Worker stress

Ultimately, healthy and happy employees are more productive, produce the best goods, and offer customers more satisfying services (Rahmi, 2018).

Increasingly, research recognizes that workplace happiness can “significantly mediate the relationship between job demands and organizational outcomes” (Thompson & Bruk-Lee, 2021, p. 1419).

In her book, The Burnout Fix , she points out that while we should all be making time for silence and sanctuary, support, and connection, the time required for each varies. We are all unique, and so are our needs (Jiménez, 2021).

We vary in our circumstances, abilities, life experiences, work cultures, stressors, and what a successful sustainable life looks like. Work-life balance is whatever feels balanced to the individual (Jiménez, 2021).

Our article Work-Life Balance in Psychology: 12 Examples and Theories considers the multiple roles each of us plays: partner, parent, manager, team member, and teacher. Each one has unique needs and challenges and the potential to upset our life balance (Kalliath & Brough, 2008).

As a result, changes to any of the following can create an imbalance that brings unique demands (Guest, 2002):

• The work environment
• In individual attitudes

Greater awareness of our many roles can help us anticipate how changes impact our lives and happiness.

In What Are Life Domains & How Can We Balance Them? we look at how we attempt to juggle each of the following five life domains (Vanderweele, 2017):

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Sometimes it is necessary to say ‘No’ to new or changing demands. Other times, we must accept and acknowledge that we cannot do everything—we have limits. Furthermore, increasing focus on positive life domains and reducing attention on negative ones is a powerful strategy that creates a better life balance and improved wellbeing (Lee & Sirgy, 2018).

Job crafting is the process of personalizing work to better align with one’s strengths, values, and interests. (Tims & Bakker, 2010). Any job, at any level can be ‘crafted,’ and a well-crafted job offers more autonomy, deeper engagement and improved overall wellbeing.

As you can see, the benefits of job crafting are seemingly endless.

The PositivePsychology.com Job Crafting Coaching Manual outlines a seven-session framework to help you or your clients navigate the ins and outs of crafting a job to align with their values, strengths, and interests.

Research suggests that work happiness and life satisfaction are in the hands of the individual and the organization.

Firstly, it’s essential to recognize that happiness is an advantage at work, and rather than waiting for future successes, we can find it in the present. Secondly, by creating good habits that increase life satisfaction, you can train your brain and prepare it for higher levels of happiness (Achor, 2014).

Psychology recognizes that no matter whether you like or loathe your workplace, you can change the lens through which your brain views and assesses the world.

This can be done by

• showing gratitude,
• practicing kindness and compassion,
• engaging in mindfulness, and
• taking part in regular exercise.

In turn, we can learn to build positive emotions that impact our workplace happiness and overall life satisfaction (Achor, 2011, 2014; Seligman, 2011).

Research by Annie McKee and her team at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education found that to be genuinely engaged and happy, employees need (McKee, 2014):

• A meaningful vision of the future When our personal vision is aligned with our organization’s vision, we feel engaged and part of its future.
• A sense of purpose We need to feel part of something that matters. Working towards meaningful goals can both excite and engage us.
• Great relationships The connections we form–or don’t–with our colleagues and boss are vital. When we experience them as close, trusting, and supportive, we are more willing to contribute to the team.

While team-building and fun days are valuable, profound, enduring engagement and satisfaction require a consistent environment where people can flourish (Seligman, 2011; McKee, 2014).

Research continues to highlight the benefits of positive psychology and the closely related concept of happiness in the workplace, including (Fredrickson, 2010; Donaldson et al., 2019; Ryan & Deci, 2018):

• Setting and working toward goals Goals are powerful tools for motivating individuals and teams and increasing overall happiness.
• Boosting positive emotions Creating a culture of gratitude, joy, optimism, hope, and other positive emotions can positively influence happiness.
• Increasing intrinsic motivation Targeting intrinsic triggers and satisfying needs such as relatedness (or connection), autonomy (or control), and competence (or mastery) can have significant positive effects on happiness and wellbeing.
• Awareness and use of strengths Knowing our strengths and finding or creating opportunities to use them improves performance and mental wellness.

World’s Largest Positive Psychology Resource

The Positive Psychology Toolkit© is a groundbreaking practitioner resource containing over 500 science-based exercises , activities, interventions, questionnaires, and assessments created by experts using the latest positive psychology research.

Updated monthly. 100% Science-based.

“The best positive psychology resource out there!” — Emiliya Zhivotovskaya , Flourishing Center CEO

There are plenty of TED Talks that can guide organizations and their employees in creating an environment, culture, and mindset more conducive to happiness:

1. The happy secret to better work

Shawn Achor’s talk is fast-moving and funny, taking the audience on a journey that inspires increased happiness and improved productivity in the workplace.

2. Grit: The power of passion and perseverance

Watched over 28 million times, Angela Lee Duckworth recognizes and explores the importance of grit to success and a happier life.

3. What makes us feel good about work?

Money is not what ultimately makes us happy at work. Instead, we need purpose, progress, and growth, explains Dan Ariely in this illuminating talk.

4. The new era of positive psychology

Martin Seligman, one of the most important people in positive psychology, talks us through its ability to help us flourish and improve positive emotions.

5. How to make work-life balance work

For many, achieving the ideal work-life balance can seem an almost impossible goal. In this talk, Nigel Marsh says that this task is too important to be left to the employer, and it is up to us to find the best balance between family, personal, and productive time.

6. Why having fun is the secret to a healthier life

We spend much of our lives at work, yet it often isn’t associated with having fun. Catherine Prices discusses the importance of “true fun” and how to weave playfulness into our day.

The following quotes offer inspiration as our clients identify and build happiness in their workplace through living their values, finding purpose, and creating lasting connections (Robinson, 2022; Work quotes, n.d.):

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Rumi

“This is the real secret of life – to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” – Alan Watts

“Goal setting is the most important aspect of all improvement and personal development plans. It is the key to all fulfillment and achievement.” – Paul J. Meyer

“Earning happiness means doing good and working, not speculating and being lazy. Laziness may look inviting, but only work gives you true satisfaction.” – Anne Frank

“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.” – Buddha

“Work without love is slavery.” – Mother Teresa

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.” – Simon Sinek

“To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness.” – John Dewey

“Happiness does not come from a job. It comes from knowing what you truly value and behaving in a way that’s consistent with those beliefs.” – Mike Rowe

“Work hard, be yourself, and have fun!” – Michelle Kwan

17 Exercises To Increase Happiness and Wellbeing

Add these 17 Happiness & Subjective Well-Being Exercises [PDF] to your toolkit and help others experience greater purpose, meaning, and positive emotions.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

We have many resources available for coaches working with their clients to build a realistic and enduring work-life balance and the resilience to reduce workplace stress and experience more positive emotions.

Our free resources include:

• Your Best Work Self This helpful tool supports professionals in identifying what fuels their passion and building the environment, relationships, and tasks that encourage happiness in the workplace.
• Strengthening Ikigai in the Workplace A helpful worksheet for understanding what your clients enjoy doing, are good at, and can get paid for at work. The aim is to optimize performance, boost intrinsic motivation, and encourage a happier time in their chosen career.
• Workplace Mindfulness Mindfulness positively impacts happiness across multiple life domains. This worksheet uses a set of simple questions that clients can ask themselves to help improve workplace satisfaction.

Another extremely useful resource:

Balancing Life Domains© is a coaching masterclass that will teach you how to help others effectively manage attention and energy between our most valued life domains, such as family, work, and leisure. This is taught by addressing the roles of attention, need fulfillment, and actions required to create life balance. Your clients will be given all the necessary tools to create a more balanced life through fun and engaging exercises and techniques.

Balancing Life Domains© Masterclass is exclusive to Life Navigation© , our comprehensive positive psychology certification program. As such, it can only be accessed through joining Life Navigation© and can not be purchased as a stand-alone masterclass.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others develop strategies to boost their wellbeing, this collection contains 17 validated happiness and wellbeing exercises . Use them to help others pursue authentic happiness and work toward a  life filled with purpose and meaning.

Happiness in the workplace is a serious business. It can have a dramatic effect on employee and organizational performance and boost wellbeing.

And yet, the concept of happiness, even for psychologists, remains unclear. However, whether easily defined or not, happiness in the workplace is intimately connected with other members of staff, our work, and our environment—it is not something experienced in isolation.

The effects of happiness at work are far-reaching: satisfied staff are less absent and more accurate, creative, and productive. And crucially, they are better able to handle stress, reducing absenteeism and improving mental wellbeing.

Beyond that, a happy workforce can successfully mediate the often challenging relationships between job demands and organizational outcomes.

Finding a successful work-life balance that works for us is crucial. There is no one-size-fits-all. We are all unique, and so are our circumstances. As a result, there will be times when we have to say ‘no’ to new opportunities and others when we may need to re-prioritize according to our evolving needs.

Why not try out some of the above tools and others we have available with your clients? A positive environment and helpful habits can create a more balanced lifestyle and improve our happiness inside and outside the workplace.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Happiness Exercises for free .

• Achor, S. (2011). The happiness advantage . Random House.
• Achor, S. (2014). The happiness dividend . Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://hbr.org/2011/06/the-happiness-dividend
• Awada, N. (2019). Happiness in the Workplace. International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering , 8(9S3), 1496-1500.
• Donaldson, S. I., Lee, J. Y., & Donaldson, S. I. (2019). The Effectiveness of Positive Psychology Interventions in the Workplace: A Theory-Driven Evaluation Approach . In: Van Zyl, L., Rothmann Sr., S. (Eds) Theoretical Approaches to Multicultural Positive Psychological Interventions. Springer
• Fredrickson, B. (2010). Positivity: Groundbreaking research reveals how to release your inner optimist and thrive . Richmond: Oneworld.
• Guest, D. E. (2002). Perspectives on the study of work-life balance. Social Science Information , 41(2), 255–279.
• Jiménez, J. M. (2021). The burnout fix overcome overwhelm, beat busy, and sustain success in the New World of Work . New York: McGraw Hill.
• Kalliath, T., & Brough, P. (2008). Work-life balance: A review of the meaning of the balance construct. Journal of Management & Organization , 14(3), 323–327.
• Lee, D. J., & Sirgy, M. J. (2018). What do people do to achieve work-life balance? A formative conceptualization to help develop a metric for large-scale quality of life surveys. Social Indicators Research , 138(3), 1–21.
• McKee, A. (2014). Being happy at work matters . Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://hbr.org/2014/11/being-happy-at-work-matters
• Rahmi, F. (2018). Happiness at workplace. Proceedings of the International Conference of Mental Health, Neuroscience, and Cyber-psychology – Icometh-NCP , 2018.
• Robinson, A. (2022). 71 best job satisfaction quotes for employees in 2022 . Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://teambuilding.com/blog/job-satisfaction-quotes
• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2018). Self-determination theory: basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness . New York: The Guilford Press.
• Spicer, A. & Cederström, C. (2015). The research we’ve ignored about happiness at work . Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://hbr.org/2015/07/the-research-weve-ignored-about-happiness-at-work
• Seligman, M. (2011). Flourish: A new understanding of happiness and well-being and how to achieve them . London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
• Seligman, M. (2011a). Authentic happiness . North Sydney, N.S.W.: Random House Australia.
• Tan, C. (2014). Search inside yourself: The unexpected path to achieving success, happiness (and world peace) . New York: HarperOne.
• Thompson, A., & Bruk-Lee, V. (2021). Employee happiness: Why we should care. Applied Research in Quality of Life , 16(4), 1419-1437.
• Tims, M., & Bakker, A. B. (2010). Job crafting: Towards a new model of individual job redesign. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 36(2) , 1-9.
• Vanderweele, T. J. (2017). On the promotion of human flourishing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , 114(31), 8148–8156.
• Work quotes (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/work

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What our readers think.

This is a great article. I believe all of us are always trying to do our best each day at work. Employees in a positive mood are more productive than those who are not. Employees who feel confident about their abilities and are able to focus on their tasks are more likely to be productive. These employees will be less likely to become distracted by negative thoughts or feelings about the workplace or about themselves. This will enable them to focus on achieving the goals set out by their bosses or supervisors without being distracted by negative thoughts regarding these goals or about themselves. One way I think will effectively help employees to be more productive is by giving them a room where they can concentrate and focus on their tasks, for example, an office which can be used whether for group meetings or just simple phone calls.

Wow! This is really a very engaging, inspiring & helpful article. Now, i realized this is what is gone & missing in our workplace. I really wish & hope to be an instrument to help my colleagues happy at work. How can I share this article to my manager?

Hi Josephine,

Glad you liked this post. While we don’t currently have an option to download our posts, you are very welcome to share them with others. If you scroll to the end of the post and respond positively to the question ‘How useful was this article to you?’ several sharing options will become available to you.

Hope this helps!

– Nicole | Community Manager

Excellent article on Happiness at work. Thanks for sharing. We are in the process of designing a program on Employee happiness at our organisation . Look forward to using some of the information and references given here for the same. Thank you so much.

This is one the great article that guides people to be happier at work irrespective of what is happening in their lives. If you are happier at work you will be more productive and will show optimum growth in the coming time.

Nice Blog!!! Thank you for sharing the information. Wonderful blog & good post. It’s really helpful for me. Happiness the most important for live healthy and long life. The Happiness Shot is the most preferred source of happy news, good news and positive news from around the world to spread hope, inspiration, and optimism.

Hi Dennis, So glad you took something meaningful from this post. All the best living your own happy life! – Nicole | Community Manager

Great information . Could I reshare this article on my website obviously with all your credentials and approval? Please do let me know. Best May a

Hi Maya, Of course! Please feel free to link to us on your website. 🙂 – Nicole | Community Manager

Just checking on the subject and found it. It is great.Will be sharing the ideas with collesgues.

A wonderful piece on happiness! Thanks for sharing. Wish you happiness always! This article is very helpful to teach about how to create happy workplace to my students. Thank you!

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Creating a Happier Workplace Is Possible — and Worth It

• Jennifer Moss

Too many of us are disconnected, disengaged, and bored at work.

Being happy at work isn’t just a win for employees; it’s also a win for employers. Research shows a causal link between happy workers and a 13% increase in productivity. On the flipside, unhappiness at work costs the world $8.8 trillion in lost productivity, equal to 9% of global GDP*. But too many of us are disconnected, disengaged, and bored at work. 50% of the global workforce is quiet quitting and  18 percent are loud quitting – sharing openly that they are unhappy at work. Social media trends like #QuietQuitting and #ActYourWage have reached over 1.2 billion views and their virality confirms that we’re all still feeling the effects of chronic stress and burnout from the pandemic. Obviously, the current state of workforce unhappiness is a big problem to solve. Happiness at work has to come from a deeper, more intrinsic connection to why we’re there. A culture of autonomy, belonging, and purpose comes from a shared vision, and right now, it’s fair to say that many companies and their employees are simply not seeing eye-to-eye. This article covers three steps organizations can take to turn that around.

For many of us, being an adult at work today is like being a kid at a school without art, gym, and recess — no fun. And, that’s a huge reason why so many of us are disconnected, bored, and disengaged.

• Jennifer Moss is a workplace expert, international public speaker, and award-winning journalist. She is the bestselling author of  Unlocking Happiness at Work (Kogan Page, 2016) and The Burnout Epidemic  (HBR Press, September 2021).

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What Makes People Happy: Well-Being and Sources of Happiness in Russian Students

Higher School of Economics Research Paper No. WP BRP 31/PSY/2014

15 Pages Posted: 3 Feb 2015

Dmitry Leontiev

National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow)

Elena Rasskazova

Date Written: December 31, 2014

This paper presents an investigation of sources of subjective happiness and their relationships to subjective well-being, taking into consideration cross-cultural specificity. 76 participants from two different Russian cities (Moscow and Petropavlovsk) were asked to write down things which make them happy and then to evaluate their actual attainability for them. The data were compared with Italian data (Galati et al., 2006) from 133 participants. The results reveal some cultural and regional differences in sources of happiness and a large degree of similarity. Paradoxically, regional differences in both the importance and attainability of separate sources of happiness within Russia are more pronounced than the differences between Russia and Italy. The mean indices of the attainability of happiness were similar for Italian and both Russian samples. We also found significant correlations between the mean individual attainability of happiness and well-being, which were much higher in Moscow than in Petropavlovsk. Some interesting correlations between sources of happiness and demographic and personality variables are revealed. A cluster analysis of the sources of happiness distinguished two large clusters, one including common ‘mundane’ sources, and another more individual sources. The last finding is in line with Leontiev’s two-level model of happiness. A cluster analysis of participants was in line with the analysis of sources and revealed two groups: the first one tends to choose happiness sources ‘passively’ and the second choosing individualized happiness sources.

Keywords: happiness sources; happiness attainability; well-being; cultural and individual differences

JEL Classification: Z

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Dmitry Leontiev (Contact Author)

National research university higher school of economics (moscow) ( email ).

Myasnitskaya street, 20 Moscow, Moscow 119017 Russia

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The Happiness Museum is looking for interns for 2021 

Opened in July 2020, The Happiness Museum is the first of its kind in the entire world. Guests are given the opportunity to dive deep into the big questions in life, such as “Does more money make you happier?”, and “Why are the Nordic countries the happiest in the world?”. 

Every day at The Happiness Museum is different. Some days we are joined by journalists and TV crews for interviews, other days we host group visits from companies who are looking to make their workplace happier. Generally, we are here to make sure whoever visits us leaves the museum a little wiser, a little happier and a little more motivated to make the world a better place. 

As the host of the museum, a typical day at the museum will involve: 

Welcoming all guests with a smile and organising their ticket

Introducing guests to the museum and the Happiness Research Institute 

Explaining the concept of the museum, the topics they will explore and the research behind them 

Taking guests on small tours through the museum if requested 

Checking in with guests throughout their museum 

Generally engaging in conversations about the topic of happiness research 

Ensuring all guests leave the museum having had a happy experience

Having been open for 1 year now, we are focussing on a new phase of developing the museum. Therefore, we are aiming to work with someone who would enjoy working independently and also together with the experts at the Happiness Research Institute to brainstorm and implement on: 

Business development 

Social media and content creation

Public relations and outreach

Marketing and communications

Event planning 

As our new intern, we would like for you to gain insight into the workings of the machine behind The Happiness Museum, the Happiness Research Institute. Led by Meik Wiking, the Happiness Research Institute is an independent think-tank exploring why some societies are happier than others.

We are a highly diverse and international team - your new colleagues are Danish, German, Spanish, Lebanese, British and American. 

As a company we speak to each other in English, so we are looking for candidates who are fluent.  

We look forward to hearing why you think we are a good fit for each other.

Perks and benefits

This job comes with several perks and benefits

Free coffee / tea

Near public transit, skill development, central office, work life balance, working at the happiness research institute.

Read more about The Happiness Research Institute

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LAB RESEARCH ANALYST I

Durham, NC, US, 27710

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Occupational Summary 

Under the direction of the principal investigator will be expected to assist with various projects in the lab through conducting fundamental gene and protein expression analysis, cell culture, tissue collection, immunochemistry, immunofluorescence, microscopy, and tissue morphometric analysis. Responsible setting up, conducting, and assisting in mouse surgeries and physiology experiments. Responsible for maintenance of laboratory equipment, training of lab personnel for fundamental skills needed to perform various projects, and cleanliness of the lab. In support of various projects expected to conduct data quantification and preparation of, graphs, charts, and figures for scientific publication. 

Expected to maintain database for raw data and organize/prepare data for analysis by the principal investigator. Assist with performing small and short-term basic experiments and completing individual parts of an overall large experiment/project. Responsible for the maintenance, management of associated paperwork, and ordering of sufficient inventory of material, supplies, and equipment for performance of duties and laboratory projects. Responsible for awareness and implementation of laboratory safety procedures along with the making of; stock solutions, culture media, chemicals, and reagents. Will assist with mouse colony management including breeding, genotyping, organization of multiple transgenic mouse colonies with appropriate software, and maintaining mice for experiments. Previous experience particularly with mice preferred. Previous experience with/or willingness to learn muscle physiology desired. Ability to work in a department and lab team and environment with a diverse group of personnel is essential. 

Typical Assignments and Responsibilities (see percentages below) 

In accordance with broadly outlined objectives, requirements, and approaches, will set-up and conduct technical procedures, non-routine and complex in nature. Sets up and operates state-of-the-art equipment or instruments. With latitude for modifying methods and techniques, will analyze data, prepare reports, present data at laboratory meetings, ensure appropriate documentation of work and experiments, and make recommendations. Directly report to the principal investigator through scheduled mandatory meetings. Will be responsible for ordering laboratory supplies and interacting with vendors. Will organize and manage mouse colonies. Will work with computers, scientific software, Excel, Word, etc. 

ESSENTIAL TASKS 

40% Mouse surgeries, physiology, microscopy, gene expression, cell transplants, cell culture, and cell signaling analysis. Work in an independent manner with minimal supervision, to set-up and perform standard mouse experiments such as tissue injuries, injections, muscle physiology, cell engraftments, radiation treatments, muscle physiology, and gene expression analysis. Perform or assist with tissue sectioning, immunofluorescence, immunochemistry, cell culture, and other cell biological and physiological experiments. 

30%Research Analysis, Presentation, Searches. Analyze and present findings to PIand in laboratory meetings. Develop graphs, charts, and figures for scientific publication. Design research projects or subprojects, assist with grant proposal writing, draft animal, transgenic breeding, or related regulatory protocols following specified formats. Prepare written reports, contribute to the design and interpretation of research results, and assist with the final writing of research publications to meet the expectations of co-authorship of scientific publications. 

20% General laboratory maintenance. Order supplies and work closely with departmental administrative office staff on purchasing and account issues. Prepare common reagents, train other laboratory workers, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in fundamental laboratory techniques and equipment use. Provide support and technical assistance on experimental problems that may arise during their experiments. Maintain functionality of lab equipment, as well as the overall organization of the lab, and comply with all institutional laboratory safety procedures. Maintain careful laboratory notebooks, organize raw data, analyze data, and assist with the implementation of new protocols. Interviews and trains laboratory personnel and rotating graduate students on laboratory and departmental-shared equipment and laboratory procedures. May supervise and evaluate the work of other laboratory personnel. Advises laboratory personnel on technical issues, problem solving, or as issues arise. Develop and install operating procedures for the laboratory, operate complex equipment. 

10% Maintenance of mouse colonies. Assist in the maintenance and breeding of wild-type and transgenic mice relevant to specific projects with appropriate software. Responsibilities include generation of ear punches and tail snips, maintaining breeding records with appropriate software and setting up weekly breeding schedules. Responsibilities include PCR analysis of genomic DNA obtained from ear punches and tail snips, as well as detailed record-keeping of mouse genotypes in laboratory database. 

Non-essential tasks: Not Applicable 

Position Requirements 

· Associate's degree in appropriate discipline plus 2-3 years specialized experience in related field; B.A. or B.S. degree in Biology, or other appropriate discipline strongly preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Willingness and ability to work with mice is required. 

· Strong computer skills, including experience with scientific software, Excel, Word, etc. 

· Ability to work in a lab team environment with a diverse group of personnel is essential. 

· Ability to work with minimal supervision once trained and to listen to, convey, and exchange information with other laboratory personnel. 

· Requires the use of eyes, hands, and fingers with skill and the ability to perform mathematical calculations using algebra and practically apply percentages, fractions, and ratios. 

· Ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal; follow instructions; and record information accurately. 

· Must have excellent interpersonal skills and strong attention to detail. 

· This position may entail prolonged periods of standing and walking and requires the safe use of toxic chemicals. 

· License/Certification Required: Institutional certification for laboratory personnel (e.g., laboratory safety training, vivarium, etc.) 

· Annual renewal of grant-funded positions are dependent on the viability of funding. 

CONTACTS: Daily interactions with Principal Investigator as well as other administrative and laboratory staff.

Minimum Qualifications

Work requires a bachelor's degree in botany, biology, zoology, psychology or other directly related scientific field.

Work requires two years of research experience. A related master's OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE degree may offset required years of experience on a 1:1 basis, e.g., a two year master's degree in lieu of two years of experience.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Nearest Major Market: Durham Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Duke is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.

Married to the job? How having a self-employed partner might be hurting your happiness

Senior lecturer, Swinburne University of Technology

Disclosure statement

Hassan Kalantari Daronkola does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Swinburne University of Technology provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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Ever considered working for yourself? Some of the oft-touted perks make it seem like a dream. You get more control over your time, total freedom over creative and business decisions, and a better work-life balance.

For many self-employed entrepreneurs, however, this promise proves a cruel mirage. Financial insecurity, unforeseen obstacles and having to work lonely late nights can all make the reality very different.

And although they might be running a business solo, entrepreneurs don’t get to exist in their own little bubbles. The pressures they face can put serious strain on all of their relationships.

Perhaps none so much as that with a spouse, who gets a front-row seat to all the ups and downs.

My recent research sought to examine what it’s like when a partner’s business becomes the other significant other.

What it found was troubling, but perhaps unsurprising – that having a self-employed partner can significantly reduce your life satisfaction, especially when family, leisure and work are your own key priorities.

Read more: Having it all is a myth: family and personal commitments are pushing women out of their own businesses

An important contribution

The self-employed form a small but significant chunk of Australia’s total workforce – just under 16% in 2022. They also make an important economic contribution.

It’s important to note that self-employment isn’t always a choice. In challenging economic periods, the percentage of self-employed will often rise as people are “pushed” into starting their own businesses out of necessity.

This phenomenon, also known as the “ unemployment push ” or “ refugee effect ”, suggests that people often turn to entrepreneurship when faced with limited job opportunities or a poor job market.

This kind of necessity-driven entrepreneurship can provide a crucial source of income for entrepreneurs. It can also generate new job opportunities for others, if these new businesses become successful enough to start hiring.

But it’s not easy, and can pose significant challenges for their spouses and other close family members. These should not be overlooked.

Partners bear the costs, too

My study examined data spanning more than 80,000 respondents and 60 countries from the latest World Values Survey , which is conducted every five years.

It found the spouses of self-employed individuals tend to have lower life satisfaction .

A range of factors could be contributing to this effect, from the heavy stress of financial uncertainty to difficulties disconnecting from work, which can strain personal relationships.

My research also found the perceived importance of family, leisure and work amplified this effect. The more important these aspects were to a spouse, the lower their life satisfaction was likely to be.

This is largely in line with what you’d expect. The demands and irregular hours associated with self-employment can lead to less family time, less time for shared leisure activities, and increased stress.

On top of this, ambitious, career-focused individuals might struggle to manage the additional responsibilities and stress that come with their partner’s self-employment, leading to lower life satisfaction.

The picture was even worse when both partners were self-employed – life satisfaction was significantly lower. This reflects some unique challenges that are different again to those of the other households.

Having just one self-employed partner can significantly disrupt the work-family balance. Now imagine both! It can quickly become extremely challenging to manage responsibilities like caring for children, let alone find time off to be together.

In Australia, where work-life balance is a deeply valued cultural norm, the strain of having a self-employed spouse can be particularly challenging.

Read more: Life's big moments can impact an entrepreneur's success – but not always in the way you'd expect

What should be done?

The self-employed and their partners make a valuable contribution to Australia, so it’s important we look after them.

Our findings suggest we need to create better support systems for families where one or both partners are self-employed, particularly in economic downturns.

This could include mental health supports to deal with the stress of self-employment and financial planning services to assist in managing the ups and downs.

Policies designed to directly address the financial insecurity of self-employment could have a disproportionate impact. This could include new tax breaks specific to solo entrepreneurs.

Expanding access to affordable childcare could also make it easier for both partners to juggle their work and home responsibilities, especially when money is tight.

The benefits of working for yourself shouldn’t cost the wellbeing of those closest to you. By creating better support systems for self-employed families, we can slowly fix this equation.

• Relationships
• Entrepreneurs
• Work-life balance
• Entrepreneurship
• starting a business
• Women entrepreneurs
• Financial stress
• New research
• New research, Australia New Zealand

Senior Lecturer, Digital Advertising

Associate Professor, Professional Communication OR Professor, Professional Communication

Department Chair, Media and Communication

Professor, Digital Media

Director of STEM