We’ve noted previously that despite the vicissitudes and life-altering events that can happen as one gets on in age, most older adults experience a period of happiness and contentment in their later years. In fact, a recent study published in the Psychological Bulletin found that subjective well-being varies across the stages of life but it appears to peak when a person is in their 70s (though then drops off by the time someone is in their mid-90s). 

While there is a lot of evidence that supports the notion that adults get happier in their later years, it’s always valuable to learn some lessons to ensure you maintain that happiness, especially during times of difficult personal or societal circumstances. So, for example, a recent article in Fortune focused on 3 habits to boost your happiness as you get older: choosing and sustaining good friendships (perhaps more important than family relationships); not being afraid to ask for help when needed; and taking on responsibilities that you enjoy. All of these suggest the necessity of social connection and engagement as a key factor in sustaining later-in-life happiness, something we have previously addressed, and something confirmed by the real-life relationships developed by 101-year-old Paul Snyder, recently profiled in The Washington Post.

Another centenarian, 107-year-old Shirley Hodes, also has some advice on how to stay healthy and happy into your later years. Her advice? Try to be content with who you are and what you can expect of yourself. Focus on what makes you grateful (her list includes a scoop of ice cream, a walk, and listening to books on tape) and re-route your thoughts if you find yourself going down an unproductive mental path. This sort of mental control is also the subject of a recent thought-provoking piece in The Wall Street Journal, written by Arthur Brooks (an expert on finding and sustaining happiness) and Oprah Winfrey, who together recently published a book, Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier. Their hypothesis is that, while there are circumstances around you in life you can’t control (something we all know well these days), what you can control is your emotional response to those circumstances, using the concept of “metacognition,” which means consciously separating out your emotions from your behavioral response to those emotions. Brooks and Winfrey posit that you should objectively observe your emotions (as if they were happening to someone else), write down those emotions, which will force you to put them into words, keep a list of positive memories to keep you feeling happier, and look for the meaning you can get out of the difficult circumstances.

Given the state of the world these days, it would be folly to assume we can always stay happy and keep our emotions from damaging our sense of happiness. But there are tips and tricks to keep your mood more positive, including the notion of recognizing what in life you are grateful for, as Shirley Hodes recommends. For other suggestions on how to stay happy and find joy during these difficult times, crank up your favorite song and take a look here.