According to a new Gallup report, Americans are happiest between the ages of 75 and 79, and unhappiest between 40 and 44. The Huffington Post writes, “The survey found that about 28 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 were emotionally healthy. Emotional health then stayed constant at about 25 percent — or 1 in 4 Americans — until the age of 55, after which it began to rise again. Emotional well-being reached its peak at the age of 75, with 36 percent or more than 1 in 3 Americans reporting themselves as emotionally healthy. ”
While it’s no secret that the golden years are filled with the bliss of retirement and primarily relaxation, I wonder if Americans would experience a peak of happiness at an earlier age if our lifestyles weren’t so stressful. The majority of us work jobs that we hate, dedicate at least 40 hours of our lives per week to something we could care less about, and then proceed to save the fruition of all our desires, dreams, and aspirations until we reach the age of classification for “senior citizen.” If we changed the way that we live, would we experience the amount of stress and unhappiness that weighs on our physical health and peace of mind?
Do you believe Americans naturally get happier with age? Or is the peak of happiness a by product of our unhealthy lifestyles? Drop your thoughts!