The received wisdom is that the older we get, the happier we find ourselves. Known as the paradox of aging, there’s a “U” curve in the aging literature that seems to suggest that most people reach a low point of happiness in midlife but then begin to climb back up into happier times as they reach an older age. And while there’s some disagreement as to whether this holds true for all populations across the world, most commentators on aging seem to buy into this notion that older populations, despite the health, social and financial challenges they may face, generally have a happier disposition than their younger counterparts. And a new study from AARP and National Geographic seems to further bolster this proposition.

Called The Second Half Of Life Study, this research was conducted in January 2022 through a 15-minute survey of thousands of people across the country, ages 18-90, in order to gauge levels of happiness at different stages of life. The general findings of this study correspond to the received wisdom: Self-reported happiness appears to rise as people get older, with a large spike in happiness among those aged 70 and above. Through these surveys, it was revealed that as age creeps up, so too does clarity about what matters in life and what brings happiness. Ironically, the quantity of life becomes less important as the quality of life, bolstered by strong family relationships, becomes central. As well, survey respondents emphasized the importance of taking care of oneself as a crucial component of maintaining a high quality of life (and bolstering a strong desire to remain independent). In fact, the study authors, pointing out the defiance of ageist stereotypes that they found, suggested that, “Older people are often models of healthy living that younger generations should emulate.” Furthermore, 2 out of 3 adults aged 80 and above said they were living their best possible life, as compared to 1 out of 5 younger adults. Researchers attributed this to the fact that “psychologically, people notice and prioritize the positive and let the negative go as they age.” 

Another new article in Big Think, citing recent research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, discussed the findings that older adults, despite the challenges they face, appear to be better at finding joy and experiencing positive emotions than their younger counterparts. Why is that? It’s hypothesized that as we get older, we may be better able to focus on happiness in the moment and the here and now, while also having improved abilities to regulate our emotions given the ups and downs we’ve experienced during life. 

If, however, you need some tips as to how to find happiness at your age and stage of life, there are recommendations out there. For example, a recent article in The New York Times suggests that we embrace “anticipation” as a way to generate happiness. So, that grandchild’s wedding you are looking forward to next year, or the upcoming arrival of a new great-grandchild, can bring about as much happiness as the actual occurrence of the event. Even little things (“mini” thrills), such as looking forward to an upcoming social outing or a scheduled lunch date, can bring about feelings of enjoyment and happiness. 

Finally, it’s useful to listen to Arthur Brooks, the Harvard professor and contributing writer at The Atlantic who’s written an entire series of articles and books about living a happy life. Brooks recently compiled a list of 10 practical ways to improve happiness, with the goal of giving readers actionable strategies to improve and enhance their happiness. What’s interesting is that many of his recommendations follow the expert advice for how to age in the healthiest way possible: Get physical exercise, build up your social network of family and friends, join a club to socially engage with others of like interests, be proactive about your health and spend time in nature. As Brooks makes clear, “You don’t have to leave your happiness up to chance. No matter where you live or what you do, you can manage your own joy and share it with others.” And while you’re growing happier, you may just be getting healthier as well.