According to a recent research by Canadian scientist Daniel Levitin, happiness has a number attached to it: Apparently, we are the happiest in our lives at the age of 82. So, if you are younger, the best is still ahead!

Happiest times at the age of 82

Daniel Levitin, a neuroscientist and professor of psychology from Canada, crunched numbers from the World Health Organization from 60 countries, and they point out that people feel the most content with their lives when they are 82 years young.

This may come as a surprise to people who are used to believing that age is something we should fear. In fact, people’s contentment with life starts dropping at 30 but picks up once they turn 54, and keeps increasing with time, to reach its peak at 82.

In all the different cultures in every country, older people tend to be merrier than the younger folk. It holds true to all destinations from Albania to Zimbabwe, the professor pointed out.

In his book “Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives” Levitin offers tips for living happily into our 90s and beyond.

How does it work?

Levitin points out to neurochemistry. The body’s chemistry changes with age, providing the physical basis for feelings of happiness.

There are psychological factors to the feeling of happiness as well. Adjusting expectations of the need to reach top heights is one things that makes people more content with what they have. By the age of 82, apparently, people are not feeling stressed about reaching for the stars.

Another factor that has been proven to be the modern “longevity pill” is physical exercise, which Levitin highlights as well. He recommends not only exercising your body, but the brain as well. For this, even simple things as walking in the woods are an excellent tool, as you have to be alert to the environment, even as simple as brunches and potholes on paths.

People in wheelchairs are not an exception in this regard. “Navigating under your own locomotion is very helpful, if you can do it”, the Canadian neuroscientist states.

By the age of 82 people come to the pinnacle of their contentment with life, a researcher discovered.

Personality matters

Psychologists confirm that not only our personalities change as we age, but we also are able to improve the necessary ingredients such as conscientiousness and openness to new experiences — two important factors of the Big 5 traits. It is those two factors that matter in successful aging and happiness, when statistics are analysed.

For instance, a conscientious person looks after his health and rings the doctor asking for an appointment when starting to feel unwell, takes his medication and follows the advice of the professionals. This is paramount to quickly fixing any health problems at early stages when it can be successfully managed, thus conscientious people live longer.

And while personalities are shaped by childhood experiences and social relationships, which drive brain’s development, we all are able to live happier and more fulfilling lives, Levitin explained to Greater Good Magazine.

Even the phenomenon of bad memory isn’t connected to age, he stresses. Young students at colleges also forgot appointments and mix up things. The behaviour isn’t the hallmark of old age.

Diets work, but there is no single answer to everybody’s prayer

In regard to dietary advice, Levitin consulted multiple professionals in nutrition and reviewed a variety of related studies, which demonstrated there is no one diet that is the best, “If one of them was clearly superior to the others, we’d know about it by now.”

His quotes advice from Michael Pollan of Berkely, which states to “eat a variety of foods and eat more plants than you probably are eating.”

At the same time, fats and carbs aren’t the enemies of healthy eating. “Fats are essential for myelinating neurons and for building amino acids in the brain,” points out the author.

Consume a variety of foods and eat more plants than you are likely to eat, if you wish to live a long and happy life.

Be happy with what you have

Being satisfied with what we already have as opposed to suffering because we don’t have something, as well as being grateful for that, is one common thread coming up in tips by multiple personalities, from Warren Buffet to Nobel prize winner Herb Simon.

“Certain amount of striving” is a good thing, however, constantly looking at what is missing is not.

There are also advantages to the advanced age. Older people are more informed and experienced, they are able to analyse situations and solve problems better. For instance, a radiologist who is 70 would be a better specialist than a 30-year-old, simply because he had seem more X-rays in his life and knows how to interpret them in detail.

Older people are better at identifying patterns and judging situations.

To lead a good life in advanced age and feel happy, one needs ‘coach’:

• Conscientiousness
• Openness
• Affiliations
• Curiosity
• Healthy lifestyle

Following these principles, you too can be happier as the years progress.

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