Getting older isn’t easy. Your body starts to ache, your skin begins to sag, your hair fades to gray—and, needless to say, these things don’t exactly make you want to jump for joy. But while aging comes with its fair share of suffering, that isn’t to say that you can’t find happiness in your 40s, 50s, and even well into your senior years. On the contrary, all it takes is a little bit of gratitude, some good friends, and the occasional shopping spree to live your best life (despite your wrinkles and graying hair).
According to a study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, study participants over 40 scored higher on measures of confidence, security, coping, and intellectual ability, while experiencing reduced self-criticism, making it clear that, for many people, turning 40 is just the beginning of a well-lived life. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some science-backed ways to find happiness as you age.
1. Enroll in a Dance Class
Grab your partner and head to the nearest dance studio to find happiness, improve your health, and maybe even pick up a new hobby. When Queensland Ballet and
Queensland University of Technology studied the effect of ballet classes on senior citizens for three months, they found that taking dance classes was correlated with
higher energy levels, a greater sense of accomplishment, and immense feelings of happiness.
