The secret to a happy life - lessons from 8 decades of research - Robert Waldinger

The happiest and healthiest people are those who have warm connections with others, says psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, who leads the Harvard Study of Adult Development -- one of the longest-running studies of adult life ever conducted. Exploring the crucial link between social bonds and quality of life, he shares wisdom and insights into how to identify and strengthen the relationships that impact your well-being most.

The point on the importance of good relationships echoes the points in Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari.

... and as a full interview with Robert Waldinger, on the The Diary of a CEO, where he talks through the study ...

Dr. Robert Waldinger, a Harvard psychiatrist, Zen priest, and the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, is featured across both YouTube videos discussing the findings of the longest study ever conducted on human happiness and health. His TED Talk on this subject is one of the most viewed of all time, highlighting a universal hunger for this information.

1. The Harvard Study of Adult Development: An Unprecedented Endeavor

• Longevity and Scope: The study is the longest study of human life ever done, tracking the same people through their entire adult lives for 85 years, starting in 1938. It began as two separate studies: one on Harvard college students (young men considered "fine upstanding specimens") and another on boys from troubled backgrounds in Boston, focused on "normal development" rather than what goes wrong.
• Evolution of Methods: Over 85 years, the study has adapted its methods from initial interviews and medical exams to drawing blood for DNA and using MRI scanners to observe brain activity.
• Current Status: It initially followed 724 families, and now continues to collect data from the children of the original participants, totalling over 2,000 people. Some participants have even donated their brains, providing unique insights into normal brain development linked to life experiences.
• Mission: Dr. Waldinger's personal mission is to bring this hard-won scientific knowledge to people in understandable ways they can use to relieve "optional suffering".

The New Science of Cold Exposure: Reduce Stress, Boost Immunity & Increase Resilience - Dr Rangan Chatterjee with Dr Susanna Søberg

and Dr Andrew Huberman with Dr Susanna Søberg

Dr. Susanna Søberg, a leading expert on deliberate cold and heat exposure from the University of Copenhagen, highlights that while there's a growing awareness of these practices, modern society's pursuit of comfort has led to a reluctance to embrace beneficial stressors. Her research, including a seminal study published in Cell Reports Medicine in 2021, and her book "Winter Swimming," aim to provide scientific backing for these ancient practices, moving beyond anecdotes.

1. The "Why" We Need Cold and Heat Exposure

• Against Modern Comfort and Stress: Our society is "overwhelmed" by stress, leading to increasing rates of depression and lifestyle diseases. We have engineered discomfort out of our lives, from temperature-controlled environments to instant food delivery, narrowing our "window of tolerance" to stress.
• Evolutionary Imperative: Humans are "evolved with the cold" and our ancestors embraced temperature changes daily. This historical context suggests that exposure to cold and heat is fundamental for bodily and mental "reset" and optimal health.
• Holistic Benefits: Deliberate cold and heat exposure offer benefits across physical health (metabolism, weight, immune system, pain, cardiovascular health), mental well-being (resilience, mood, anxiety, depression, confidence), and athletic performance (recovery, endurance).