Positive Psychology & Wellbeing — 2026-08-31
New research highlights a counterintuitive finding: the deliberate, effortful pursuit of happiness can deplete the self-control resources needed to maintain healthy habits. A recent study suggests that trying too hard to be happy may actually undermine long-term wellbeing by consuming mental energy required for self-regulation.
Positive Psychology & Wellbeing — 2026-08-31
Research Highlights
A study co-authored at the University of Toronto and reported in August 2026 reveals that effortfully trying to maximize happiness consumes the same mental resources used for self-control. The findings indicate that individuals who deliberately chase happiness become more vulnerable to temptation and less able to persist in activities that might genuinely improve their lives.
The research involved four studies linking effortful happiness maximization with weaker subsequent self-control. While the mechanism of shared resources was inferred rather than directly measured, the results suggest that the "paradox of hedonism" has a cognitive basis: the more we struggle to feel good, the less capacity we have to act in our own long-term interest.
Practice
Practice: Stop "Happiness Hunting" for One Week.
Based on the new findings regarding self-control depletion, try shifting from pursuing happiness to simply noticing it. Instead of setting goals like "I must feel happy today," focus on low-effort engagement in activities you already enjoy. By removing the pressure and the cognitive load of monitoring your emotional state, you may preserve the mental energy needed for other beneficial habits, such as exercise or mindful eating, which are often sacrificed when willpower is drained by emotional regulation efforts.
Book/Talk
No fresh data available for this section.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
