From Decoding Women's Health: Decoding Happiness in Midlife

In this episode of Decoding Women's Health, Dr. Elizabeth Poynor interviews Dr. Laurie Santos, a psychology professor at Yale and host of The Happiness Lab podcast, about happiness in midlife. They discuss the U-shaped function of happiness across the lifespan, the recent decline in happiness levels, especially among young people, and the misconceptions about what truly makes us happy, such as money and success. Santos defines happiness as having both cognitive and emotional components and offers practical strategies for boosting well-being, including prioritizing social connection, healthy habits, and free time. They explore the challenges midlife women face, such as loneliness and overwhelm, and Santos provides advice on finding community, practicing self-compassion, and recognizing the importance of negative emotions as evolutionary signals. The conversation also delves into burnout, its symptoms, and ways to address it by reconnecting with core values and reframing one's relationship with work.