When we discuss mental well-being and health, we often focus on negative aspects such as depression, anxiety, and social media addiction. However, I think this focus makes life too heavy. I think we should focus more on positive things, such as what we can do to flourish, grow, and feel the happiest.
In this article, we’re looking at recent research on who the happiest people are, what we can do to become happier according to positive psychology, and how we can use technology to increase our happiness.
Who Are the Happiest People?
To find out what we need to feel the best, we can look at recent research on who the happiest people on earth are.
In the World Happiness Report for 2026, it seems that the happiest people live in the Nordic countries. This is not surprising as the Nordic countries have strong safety nets provided by the state, as well as free education, healthcare, pension schemes, and are generally safe places to live in.
Further, the World Happiness Report shows that youth who use the internet for communication are happy, but those who use social media a lot are less so. The study indicates that you should keep your social media usage to a maximum of 1 hour per day and that you should focus on your relationships.
When it comes to the happiest group of people, it seems to be unmarried and childfree women.
So it seems that if you are an unmarried, childfree woman, living in a Nordic country, who has good relationships, and does not use social media too much, you can expect to be pretty happy.
But of course, if you are not in this category, there are still things you can do to increase your happiness. For this, we can look towards research in positive psychology.
What is Positive Psychology?
Positive psychology is defined as the study of human flourishing, focusing on human well-being, happiness, and fulfillment. It’s based on fostering optimism and building strengths, rather than mental illness.
In positive psychology, it’s encouraged to foster mental well-being through practices such as:
- Journaling
- Practicing gratitude
- Knowing your personality and strengths
- Practicing mindfulness
- Nurturing good relationships
- Enjoying career satisfaction
- Focusing on improving physical and mental health
- Engaging in flow activities
- Living a life of meaning and purpose
- Accomplishing one’s goals
I believe all of these practices are doable, but require intention and daily habits.
Related reading: How to Use Positive Affirmations for Happiness
How Can We Use Technology To Become Happier?
Technology can be used in many ways, both positive and negative, for our happiness. As we saw in the World Happiness Report, using social media too much can have a negative impact on our happiness. But using the internet for communication can increase it. So, how do we do it? How can we use technology to feel happier?
One type of technology relevant to happiness is well-being technologies, such as self-tracking apps that help us monitor and set goals for our health and well-being. For example, fitness tracking apps, menstrual cycle tracking apps, self-reflection apps, and self-care apps.
We can also use the internet to connect and stay in touch with loved ones through direct messaging. This doesn’t require you to be on social media, but rather to use direct messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Signal, and email.
You can also use AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Claude, to reflect on your life and experiences, and ask for advice and tips on what you can do to improve your life.
Related reading: Using AI for Self-Reflection: Benefits, Risks, and How to Get Started
To summarize, our happiness can depend on what we do in life. We can choose to be happier by practicing happiness-inducing habits such as journaling, practicing gratitude, and nurturing relationships. We can also use technology to help us do these things.
References & Further Reading
- Article: Unmarried, childless women are happiest people of all, says expert
- Executive summary: happiness and social media
- World Happiness Report 2026
- Book: Happy Mind, Happy Life: The New Science of Mental Well-Being by Rangan Chatterjee (Goodreads)