The authors’ systematic review explored popular strategies for increasing happiness. Analyzing media articles, they identified five commonly recommended techniques: expressing gratitude, enhancing sociability, exercising, practising mindfulness/meditation, and increasing nature exposure. Then, they reviewed scientific literature and found 57 well-designed studies testing these strategies on subjective well-being. Surprisingly, some commonly recommended strategies lack a strong scientific foundation. To answer the effectiveness question, more well-powered studies investigating ways to promote happiness are needed.
