It's no secret that things don't bring happiness, people do[1] . And now, there's science to back it up.


Researchers from Sahlgrenska Academy and Lund University analyzed more than 1.5 million words that appeared in Swedish newspapers in 2010, and found that while "people" words -- like you or me, grandmother, and proper names like soccer star Zlatan -- tended to appear with the Swedish word for "happiness," "thing" words -- like iPhone, millions and Google -- did not.


"It's relationships that are most important[2] , not material things, and this is in line with other findings in happiness research," study researcher Danilo Garcia, of the Sahlgrenska Academy's Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, said in a statement.


Researchers noted in the study, published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking[3] , that the findings mirror a "collective theory of happiness" -- that is, what society generally agrees brings happiness.


"This consensus influences the content of newspapers and recursively feed the collective theory of happiness itself[4] ," the researchers wrote in the study.


Indeed, a past study in the Journal of Consumer Research also suggested that things won't make us happy when we need a boost. That study showed links between materialism and loneliness[5] , with more materialistic people reporting increased feelings of loneliness, and more lonely people reporting increased feelings of materialism.





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  • Follow Your Own Advice


    While advice from others is nice, recognize that no one is in a better position to take care of you than yourself. You have likely given friends and loved ones guidance many times in the past. Return the favor to yourself.




  • Exert Self-Control


    Resist just one urge to eat something unhealthy, crack your knuckles, or say something bad about someone. You’ll feel better for it and will be more likely to resist the urge again at some point in the future.




  • Forgive Yourself For A Mistake


    Mistakes are inevitable. Identify one thing you’ve done that was unplanned. Release any guilt you’ve been harboring because of it and recognize something positive that resulted from it.




  • Reconsider Your Needs


    Identify something you own that isn't expensive, and quantify its inherent value -- a picture your child drew for you; a love note your husband scribbled on a napkin on your first date; a family heirloom... Finding the value in inexpensive things will help you reevaluate your need for excessive amounts of money that we have a tendency to crave.




  • Celebrate Your Age


    Consider how fast the joyful times in your life seem to have passed and rejoice in the time you have ahead of you. Commend yourself on how your experiences have enriched your character and think about how you’d be different had you never had them.




  • Learn Something From Your Children


    Marvel at the ease with which a child interacts with the natural world, and make an effort to release some of the fear that’s attached to our boundaries as adults.




  • Defy Your Schedule


    When planning your week, make a commitment on one day to wake up when the sun comes up and go to sleep when the sun goes down. Honoring the sun’s cycle will keep you more in tune with nature, and ultimately healthier.




  • Welcome The Unknown


    Think of a time in your life when you didn’t know that shortcut on your way home from work or you’d never met your warm neighbors after moving into an unfamiliar neighborhood. Shed the fear attached to change by considering how different things would be without what you’ve gained from these differences.




  • Thank Someone For Something


    Considering what a person has done for you lately will help you realize and appreciate what you have.




  • Commend Yourself For A Job Well Done


    We are our greatest teachers, so it’s important to bestow praise upon ourselves when we deserve it.