Health
Happier and healthier people do these 6 things every day, says wellness expert
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The goal for most people is to live a long and happy life.
There are several habits that happy and healthy people observe as they age, according to behavioral scientist and happiness expert Arthur Brooks, professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School in Boston.
In a recent appearance on Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s FoundMyFitness podcast, Brooks referenced data from the Harvard Study of Adult Development – an 85-year longitudinal study of adult life – which identified six typical habits of people who are happier and healthier.
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While the first three habits are “obvious,” Brooks said, the other three are often overlooked.
No. 1: Follow a healthy diet
Research shows that a nutritious, balanced diet supports both physical health and mental well-being over time.
No. 2: Exercise frequently
For exercise, Brooks noted that doing too much can backfire. Those who are “exercise maniacs” could run the risk of doing “mechanical ill” to the body, he warned.
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No. 3: Abstain from smoking and drinking
“They’re very moderate on substances, none of them were addicts,” Brooks said. “Or if they had trouble with it, they quit.”
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“Lifelong smokers have a seven in 10 chance of dying of a smoking-related illness – and that’s an unhappy way to go.”
“And actually, you’re probably not happy and there’s a lot of compensation that’s going on,” he continued. “That’s how a lot of former alcoholics re-sample: They become addicted.”
Balanced exercise is a strong, foundation habit for health and happiness. (iStock)
No. 4: Never stop learning
People who are lifelong learners tend to be healthier and happier, according to the expert.
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“That’s usually a lot of reading, but it’s just curiosity is how that comes about, which is really, really important,” he said on the podcast.
Lifelong learning can boost happiness and overall health, according to the expert. (iStock)
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No. 5: Become a skilled problem-solver
Brooks described this concept as “your technique for dealing with life’s problems.”
“You’ve got to get good at it,” he said. “You need skill at dealing with life’s problems. If you don’t get good at it, you’re going to be bad when things actually crop up.”
People who have the best lives have a strong marriage and/or close friendships, Brooks said. (iStock)
“All the happy and well people have their way [of dealing] with it, and they’re highly skilled in doing it.”
Some healthy ways to cope include therapy, meditation, prayer and journaling, according to Brooks.
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No. 6: Love
“People who have the best lives, who are happy and well when they’re older, have a strong marriage and/or close friendships,” Brooks said.
“That’s it. There’s no substitute for love. Happiness is love – full stop.”
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Yoga is known to boost relaxation, strength and flexibility – and now a new study has found the practice could improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances after cancer treatment.
The findings were presented last week at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
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The study was conducted across multiple U.S. community cancer care sites, including 410 adult cancer survivors averaging 54 years of age. Around 75% were breast cancer survivors, and none of them had practiced yoga regularly within the prior three months.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances in cancer survivors. (iStock)
The participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Half of them received only standard survivorship care without the yoga, while the other half received standard care and were also enrolled in the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training.
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Based on questionnaires completed by the patients, the survivors in the yoga group experienced “moderate-to-large” reductions in overall mood disturbance, “small-to-medium” reductions in anxiety and “medium-to-large” reductions in fatigue, the study found.
The improvements in mood and fatigue appeared to be linked to yoga’s beneficial effect on sleep quality, according to the researchers.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training. (iStock)
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug,” lead investigator Yuri Choi, PhD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, New York, told Fox News Digital.
The study did not reveal any major safety concerns or serious adverse events related to the yoga practice.
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug.”
The study did have some limitations, chiefly that the findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed for a medical publication.
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“The sample in our clinical trial was relatively homogeneous, with most participants being women (96%), breast cancer patients (75%), Caucasian (93%), and having some college or higher education (82%),” noted Choi.
“We are adapting our intervention to reach all cancer patients and survivors, including the creation of a mobile app to reach people in rural communities.”
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The research also excluded patients with metastatic cancer (whose disease had spread to other parts of the body).
The total study was only four weeks, so more research is needed to determine long-term benefits.
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted. (iStock)
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted.
Some yoga studios may use different names for Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga, such as Foundations Yoga or Healing Yoga, Choi noted.
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“Survivors should also look for certified yoga instructors who have experience working with cancer patients/survivors or individuals with other challenging health conditions,” the researcher advised. “They should not be afraid to ask their oncology team for referrals to qualified instructors in their community.”
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Choi also noted that the research did not reveal whether other types of yoga, such as heated-room or rigorous-flow yoga, are safe or beneficial for cancer survivors.
The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute.
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