Yale’s Laurie Santos Urges 5 Habits to Rewire Happiness as 40% of Students Report Debilitating Depression
Updated
Updated · Upworthy · Aug 7
Yale’s Laurie Santos Urges 5 Habits to Rewire Happiness as 40% of Students Report Debilitating Depression
1 articles · Updated · Upworthy · Aug 7
Summary
Dr. Laurie Santos says happiness is a trainable skill, not a default state, and argues many people must actively rewire their habits because the mind often misjudges what will bring lasting well-being.
40% of U.S. college students report being too depressed to function most days, Santos said, citing that decline as evidence that natural instincts and survival-driven psychology do not reliably produce happiness.
Five behaviors anchor her prescription: stronger social connection, more other-oriented acts, daily gratitude, savoring positive moments, and regular movement rather than extreme fitness goals.
20 minutes of exercise a day can improve well-being, Santos said, while simple practices like listing three to five things you are grateful for help counter negativity bias and diminishing emotional returns.
The broader message is that comparison, undersociality and inattention to good experiences can distort mood, but repeated small behaviors can shift those patterns without “strange tricks.”