I'm studying at Yale

This week I'm starting a short-course from Yale University. The topic is The Science of Well-being.

A big reason this blog started is for my own discovery about what does (and doesn't) bring meaning and joy to our lives. So I'm joining 338,000 other students to learn more from Yale's Professor Laurie Santos.

The professor will reveal "misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change". The course also promises we will "engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits".

Does it cost?

I'll be doing the free version of the course. I'm not interested in the certificate, just in learning. It's 100% online with videos and readings each week for 10 weeks.

The course includes misconceptions about happiness, what really makes us happy, and strategies we can use to improve our actions and happiness.

Want to know more?

If you want to join in, see the full course outline.

Update

I've finished the course and have written some follow-up articles:

Comments

Offline

Yes, by now we all know that smartphones and social media are doing us harm. How do we harness the benefits of them without the destructive effects. The book Offline makes 5 main points. If you've only got a minute, here they are: The addictive design keeps us on online platforms longer. The 'brain hacks' disrupt our brain's ability to function. Humans need "real" interaction, and social media does not deliver this. Technoference (digital over-riding direct interactions at the play ground, coffee shop, dinner table) result in something valuable being lost. Speed of the transformation is astounding. 75% of people are connected, with almost half using social media. We have no idea what the long-term effects of this real-life experiment will be. Going a bit deeper, here are some of my highlights from the book. So what are side-effects? According to various studies, the effects can be grouped into the physiological (poor sleep, neural re-wiring, and increased str...

What is Black Friday? (and how to beat it)

Black Friday is a contest. It's you versus the retailer. Read on to find out how to come out ahead. Here in Australia the 'Black Friday' sales have emerged in the last couple of years - but what does it mean? When is Black Friday? Black Friday is the first Friday after Thanksgiving. Yes, Thanksgiving - that American holiday we don't celebrate here. Pretty weird, huh? It's like having Boxing Day without Christmas Day. What happens on Black Friday? In the USA, and increasingly here, stores hold simultaneous sales in order to get shoppers into a buying frenzy. Some offer deals like 20% off everything. Other have big mark-downs on specific items in order to get you in the store - to sell you other stuff you never wanted in the first place. Isn't 20% off a good thing? Not really. There's a psychological effect called anchoring . If there's a jacket for $40 it's no big deal. But if the shop says it's on sale from $50, suddenly we think it'...

$500 free money for your super

If you're on a low-to-middle income, the Australian government will give you up to $500 co-contribution towards your retirement. Here's how to get it. Check your eligibility. What counts as "low-to-middle income"? Right now, people earning under $39,837 can get up to the full $500. People earning up to $54,837 can get at least part of it. There's some other technical eligibility rules , including that you are 70 or younger, have lodged your tax return (to verify your income) and that 10% of your income comes from employment or running a business. Not sure why that last rule exists, but it does. Oh, and here's the one that stops most people from getting their free money... Start saving yourself There's a reason it's called co- contribution. To get the money you have to put some of your own money into your superannuation. Some people don't like doing this. But really it's just giving money to your future self. It doesn't includ...

But wait... there's less!

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