Signing off

Well, it's been more than a week since my last post, and in that time, I haven't felt the slightest impulse to post (despite some great raw material, including a piece in today's Globe about how people are losing out on job offers because of their credit scores).

So I guess that means its time to quit, or at least go on hiatus.

I started this blog by saying

the funny thing is, while my net worth is about 100 times greater than it was when I was 25, I think I'm only about 2 or 3 times happier than I was when I was 25 (and most of that happiness is the result of being married and having children).

And now, six months later, I have decided that money really does have very little to do with happiness. So I'm closing this blog by repeating what I think is its best, or at least most useful, post:

1. Don't equate happiness with money. People adapt to income shift relatively quickly, the long lasting benefits are essentially zero.
2. Exercise regularly. Regular exercise is an effective cure for mild depression and anxiety. It also stimulates more energy, and is good for the mind and body.
3. Have sex (preferably with someone you love). Need I say more?
4. Devote time and effort to close relationships. Confiding and discussing problems and issues is good for happiness, so work on these relationships.
5. Pause for reflection, meditate on the good things in life. Focusing on the good aspects of life helps to prevent hedonic adaptation.
   
6. Seek work that engages your skills, look to enjoy your job. Doing well at work creates happiness, and the easiest way of doing well at work, is doing a job you enjoy.
7. Give your body the sleep it needs. Too many people have a sleep deficit, resulting in fatigue, gloomy moods and lack of concentration.
8. Don't pursue happiness for its own sake, enjoy the moment. Because people don't understand what makes them happy, pursuing happiness can be self-defeating. Additionally, if people start to aim for happiness they are doing activities for happiness's sake rather than actually enjoying the activity itself.
9. Take control of your life, set yourself achievable goals. People are happiest when they achieve their aims, so set yourself goals which stretch you, but are achievable.
10. Remember to follow rules 1-9. Following these guidelines sounds easy, but actually requires willpower and effort.