According To New Data On Generations

If you’re looking for happiness—and who isn’t, these days—you may be most successful by creating experiences that are based on your generation. A new survey finds there are significant differences in how generations spend their time and money to seek (and find!) happiness and great experiences.

And while it may seem fluffy, happiness is a worthy and substantive goal. We are more polarized today than ever, and people are reporting record levels of stress and mental health challenges. But when you’re happy, you tend to be healthier and live longer—and have less depression, anxiety or other mental or emotional challenges. You also tend to perform better at work and achieve more success.

And happiness is contagious as well. When you’re more content, you tend to positively affect others in your community and your network.

In addition, happiness is holistic across work and life. You already know that when you’re happier in your work, you tend to experience positive spillover to your personal life, but the opposite is also true. When you’re happier outside of work, you perceive that you’re happier within work as well.

Here’s how you can get happy—or happier—based on your generation.

Get Happy with Play, Like Gen Z

When asked how they prefer to spend their extra time and money, Gen Z is 69% more likely to say they want to play games as compared with other generations. They prefer video games, card games and even board games, according to a survey by RYA.

Playing together is a sure path to happiness. In fact, playful activity at work was found to boost productivity by 20%, according to research by Brigham Young University.

Play is powerful because it brings you together with others—virtually or in person—and links you in a common goal. Play offers enough structure and rules for meaningful interaction, at the same time it builds bonds by creating shared experiences.

Feeling connected with your people is a sure path to happiness—and play at work or in your personal life is a great strategy to get there.

Get Happy with Sports, Like Millennials

Interestingly, 33% more millennials than other generations prefer to play sports when they have time outside of work, based on the RYA data. For example, they want to do things like play soccer, tennis or pickleball.

There is good evidence that exercise is good for you and your happiness. In fact, it increases wellbeing and joy, and it reduces anxiety and depression, according to research by the University of Michigan.

And exercise is helpful for all ages. West Virginia University proved a link between exercise and happiness for middle school students and the University of Iowa found that seniors benefitted with improved cognitive function and memory when they exercised.

And sports can also offer the benefit of access to nature—which is also linked with greater wellbeing and happiness. You may play sports inside, but chances are good you’re outside as well. Sweeping research on 301 separate studies across 62 countries published in Science Advances found when you spend time in nature you contribute to cognition and better thinking, more cohesiveness and better communication as well as creativity, character and competence.

Exercise and nature significantly contribute to happiness, so embrace sports.

Get Happy with Entertaining, Like Gen X

Gen X tends to choose hosting or entertaining when they are spending discretionary time or money—and they choose these 12% more than other generations, according to RYA.

This too is a smart way to create the conditions for happiness—by building friendships and connections. In fact, when you have a few close friends its impact on your health (heart disease, blood pressure, cancer, dementia and mental health) is greater than your habits related to diet, exercise or alcohol consumption, and on par with smoking—according to research at Brigham Young University.

And when you host gatherings for your work colleagues, you’ll get an extra benefit, because when people felt more connection with their co-workers, they reduced stress, burnout, loneliness and anxiety, according to data from BetterUp.

Breaking bread together has marked effects on relationships as well. Academic studies by Dr. Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist, found when people ate together, they enhanced community, trust, satisfaction, happiness and their perceptions that life was worthwhile.

So take a page from the Gen X playbook and create happiness by hosting, entertaining and spending time with friends over a delicious meal.

Get Happy by Volunteering, Like Boomers

Volunteering is also a great way to get happy, and Boomers are 31% more likely to spend their time here as compared with other generations, according to the RYA data.

Volunteering contributes to happiness because it focuses you on helping others, which is proven through research to increase your feelings of joy and satisfaction.

In addition, when people volunteered, 45% experienced a greater sense of purpose, 36% felt happier, 26% improved their mental wellbeing, 20% had higher self-confidence and self-esteem and 11% reduced their stress, according to a survey by BioLife.

So seek opportunities to volunteer, help in your community and contribute your talents to others—for greater happiness.

Do What You Love

When you do what you love, either within your work or outside of work, you’ll contribute to happiness. So regardless of your generation, embrace the activities that energize you and you’ll reap greater happiness for yourself and for others as well.