Time and How to Spend It: The 7 Rules for Richer, Happier Days

Here’s the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s take on it: ‘The popular assumption is that no skills are involved in enjoying free time, and that anybody can do it. Yet the evidence suggests the opposite: free time is more difficult to enjoy than work. Having leisure at one’s disposal does not improve the quality of life unless one knows how to

If you think of all the items on the STORIES checklist, it’s clear that each is far less about painting a personality to show to others, and far more about developing your own, internal character. You can’t show character unless you’re tested. You need tension to push against. You need hurdles to overcome. Without those, there is no opportunity to

When you look for a ‘rich environment’, so Kotler says, you need to look for one that offers novelty, unpredictability and complexity.

‘Search at the beginning and savour at the end.’

Story, Transformation, Outside & Offline, Relationships, Intensity, Extraordinary and, finally, Status & Significance.

And anyway, what would you change? Where are you compromised right now? Are you on autopilot, going with the flow of what you’ve always done or was expected of you? Are you still playing a sport or following a hobby you’ve fallen out of love with? Are you hanging out with friends who, truth be told, you’ve had enough of? Are you trudging down a pat

Sixth, there should be what Csikszentmihalyi called the ‘paradox of control’. You should be at the absolute outside edge of your ability, so that you’re only just, not quite, but yes, just about hanging on in there. As

people do things when they want to do them, when they can do them, and when there’s some sort of prompt that nudges them to do them right now. If any of those are missing, so Fogg has observed, the behaviour doesn’t happen.

We’re happier when it’s hot and sunny. According to the analysis by the scientists, when it’s 24°C or more, we’re happier by 5.13 points. Or, in language you and I would use, much happier.

If you’re not happy with how things are in your ordinary world, for instance, maybe you’re refusing your call to adventure? Perhaps what you need is to hear and accept your call and maybe a mentor will help. Or, if something or someone seems to be deliberately trying to stop you achieving your aims – no need to fret, this is just a test or an enemy