In an interview with Intermediar, Ruut Veenhoven, Happiness Professor at Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organisation (EHERO), discusses happiness at work and in life. He discusses the effect of life satisfaction on labour productivity and the predictor of happiness.
‘Life satisfaction is about what you think of your life. This is not about certain aspects, but about your life as a whole. Life satisfactions is not only fun in itself, but also has all kinds of positive side effects. Research has shown that life satisfaction makes people more active, more social, and more creative, which contributes to increased labour productivity,’ says Veenhoven. ‘Contrary to what people think, the effect of job satisfaction on labour productivity is very small. Life satisfaction usually turns out to be more decisive for labour productivity than satisfaction with one’s work.’
‘The most powerful predictor of happiness is your health, and especially your mental health. Of course, your genes play a major role in this. 30 percent of the differences in the experience of happiness appears to be genetically determined. But a large part is in your own hands. The trick is to find out what kind of lifestyle suits you.’
‘On average, busy people are happier than lazy people. Especially when you are active in different areas, because when you lay all your eggs in one basket, for example your work, you are more vulnerable when things go wrong. What I have learned is that you have to find out where you are on the curve of boredom and anxiety. Where is your optimal level of activity?’
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Read the entire interview of Intermediar, 7 Augustus 2019 (in Dutch).