An 80-year, multigenerational study on what makes a person truly happy over the course of a lifetime has come to one conclusion: Developing strong relationships is the single most important thing you can do to have a fulfilling life.
This is true whether you’re young or old, single or married, a parent or child-free. And that truth is supported by a robust body of research. Thankfully, it’s never too late to strengthen the relationships you have and even form new ones.
Starting on Jan. 2, 2023, the Well desk will help you to improve your relationships. Your guides will be Jancee Dunn, Well’s columnist, and Dr. Robert Waldinger, who along with his colleague Marc Schulz runs the ongoing study at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Waldinger and Dr. Schulz also co-wrote “The Good Life,” a new book with surprising lessons from their research.
Together, they will take you through small, impactful actions you can take to assess and build your social universe. By the end of the week, you will feel a newfound sense of connection to the important people in your life — and will have the tools to help keep those bonds strong throughout 2023 and beyond.
What you’ll get:
Each day of the challenge will help you address a different part of your social universe — family, romantic relationships, work, friends, strangers and even distant acquaintances (who are quite important, too).
How to access the challenge:
To receive each day’s challenge sign up for the Well newsletter, which is available exclusively to New York Times subscribers. You’ll get a new exercise in your inbox each morning from Jan. 2 to Jan. 8. And after the challenge ends, you will get our Well newsletter, which features guidance to live your healthiest life, delivered every Thursday.
If you already receive the Well newsletter, you will automatically get the challenge, and will not see a way to sign up below. You can find out which newsletters you are signed up for here.
