I just read an article written by sociologists from University of Maryland about the difference between happy and unhappy people. They concluded that unhappy people tend to watch more television than happy people, who tend to read and socialize more.

“TV doesn’t really seem to satisfy people over the long haul the way that social involvement or reading a newspaper does,” says University of Maryland sociologist John P. Robinson, the study co-author and a pioneer in time use studies. “It’s more passive and may provide escape - especially when the news is as depressing as the economy itself.”

I know personally when I tell people that I pick up a book occasionally I get weird looks. I get people questioning why I choose to read when I could watch TV. I had a friend in high school who read all the time and people would make fun of him. Its like the world makes reading look less cool nowadays.

From the General Social Survey, the researchers found that self-described very happy people were more socially active, attended more religious services, voted more and read more newspapers. By contrast, unhappy people watched significantly more television in their spare time.

I know when I talk to and meet new people I find it easier to smile everyday. Being social is a something that may force you to come out of your comfort zone but at the same time it could boost your happiness.  Read, Be Social, Be Happy!

Source:
http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/sociss/release.cfm?ArticleID=1789