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The Science of Well-Being

Laurie Santos

NEW TEEN VERSION AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being-for-teens

In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life.

THE SCIENCE OF WELL BEING WAS PRODUCED IN PART DUE TO THE GENEROUS FUNDING OF THE DAVID F. SWENSEN FUND FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Why take this course?

Misconceptions About Happiness

What do we think will make us happy?

Why Our Expectations are so Bad

Why do we mispredict what makes us happy?

How Can We Overcome Our Biases

How we counteract our annoying features of the mind?

Stuff that Really Makes Us Happy

What can we do to improve our happiness?

Putting Strategies into Practice

How can we intentionally put these strategies into practice and build healthier habits?

Start Your Final Rewirement Challenge

What rewirement will you commit to for the next 4 weeks?

Continue Your Rewirement Challenge

How can you rely on others to help you change your behaviors?

How can you design your environment to help you change your behaviors?

Submit Your Final Assignment

What mindset can you have to appreciate your progress so far and continue your progress beyond the course?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores misconceptions about happiness, which is a critical aspect of well-being

Constructs strategies for incorporating wellness into lifestyle, which is perfect for beginners

Provides a strong foundation in the science of happiness, which is highly relevant in both personal and professional life

Emphasizes hands-on challenges to reinforce learning, which is an effective approach to developing habits

Backed by research from the University of Pennsylvania, which is known for its contributions to the study of happiness

Requires substantial effort in putting ideas into practice, which may not suit all learners

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Science of Well-Being with these activities:

Find a Mentor

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Finding a mentor can provide you with support, guidance, and advice as you work towards your goals.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify what kind of mentor you are looking for.
Network with people in your field.
Ask people you trust for recommendations.
Interview potential mentors.

Review: Well-being: The Five Essential Elements

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Reviewing this book will help you to better understand the science of happiness and how to apply it to your own life.

View Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements on Amazon

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Discuss the book with a friend or family member.
Read the book.
Take notes on the key concepts.

Attend a Well-being Event

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Attending a well-being event can help you to connect with others who are interested in living a healthy and fulfilling life.

Browse courses on Well-being

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Find an event in your area.
Register for the event.
Attend the event and participate in the activities.

Five other activities

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Join a Study Group

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Joining a study group can help you to stay accountable for your studies and improve your understanding of the material.

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Find a group that is a good fit for your learning style.
Attend the study group meetings regularly.
Participate actively in the discussions.

Start a Gratitude Journal

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Keeping a gratitude journal can help you to focus on the positive things in your life and improve your overall well-being.

Browse courses on Gratitude

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Choose a journal or notebook.
Set aside a few minutes each day to write down at least three things that you are grateful for.

Practice Mindfulness

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Practicing mindfulness can help you to reduce stress, improve focus, and increase self-awareness.

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Find a quiet place to sit or lie down.
Close your eyes and focus on your breath.
Notice the rise and fall of your breath.
When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.

Create a Vision Board

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Creating a vision board can help you to clarify your goals and stay motivated to achieve them.

Browse courses on Goal Setting

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Gather images and words that represent your goals.
Arrange the images and words on a poster board or piece of paper.
Display your vision board in a place where you will see it often.

Write a Letter to Your Future Self

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Writing a letter to your future self can help you to reflect on your goals and values, and to stay motivated to achieve your goals.

Browse courses on Self-Reflection

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Think about what you want to achieve in the future.
Write a letter to yourself describing your goals.
Include advice and encouragement for your future self.

Career center

Learners who complete The Science of Well-Being will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Psychologist

Psychologists help people with a range of mental health issues. This could include anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. This course will help you understand the psychology of happiness. This understanding could aid in your ability to help your clients understand their circumstances.

See salaries and explore the career path for Psychologist

Wellness Coach

Wellness coaches help people improve their overall well-being. This could include improving physical health, mental health, and relationships. This course could help you to develop a greater understanding of the science of happiness. This knowledge could make you a more effective coach.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wellness Coach

Happiness Consultant

Happiness consultant is a type of life coach. They help people identify and overcome the obstacles preventing contentment. In a similar vein, The Science of Well-Being course at Yale will help you to identify misconceptions about happiness. Lessons will build your understanding of what truly makes people happy. Course activities and assignments could be used to demonstrate your abilities as a Happiness consultant. Further, the course will give you tools to practice your craft on yourself to develop expertise.

See salaries and explore the career path for Happiness Consultant

Social Worker

Social workers help people overcome challenges and improve their well-being. This could include helping people with mental health issues, poverty, and homelessness. The Science of Well-Being course will help you understand the science of happiness. This knowledge will help you to better understand and serve your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Health Coach

Health coaches help people make lasting, healthy changes to their lifestyle. This could include improving diet, exercise, and sleep habits. The Science of Well-Being course will help you build an understanding of the science of happiness. This knowledge will help you to better understand and serve your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Coach

Life Coach

Life coaches help people identify and achieve their personal and professional goals. The Science of Well-being course will help you build a foundation in the science of happiness. This knowledge will help you to better understand and serve your clients. As part of a coaching practice, you could even adopt some of the science-backed activities and assignments used in this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Life Coach

Registered Dietitian

Registered dietitians help people improve their health through nutrition. The Science of Well-Being course will help you understand the science of happiness. This knowledge will help you to better understand the role of nutrition in well-being.

See salaries and explore the career path for Registered Dietitian

Geriatric Social Worker

Geriatric social workers help older adults and their families cope with the challenges of aging. The Science of Well-Being will help you understand the science of happiness. This knowledge could help you to better understand and serve your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geriatric Social Worker

Hospice Nurse

Hospice nurses provide care to people who are dying. The Science of Well-being will help you understand the science of happiness. This knowledge could help you to provide more compassionate care to your patients and their families.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hospice Nurse

Teacher

Teachers help students learn and grow. The Science of Well-Being course will help you understand the science of happiness. This knowledge will help you to create a more positive and productive learning environment for your students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Yoga Instructor

Yoga instructors teach yoga classes to help people improve their physical and mental well-being. The Science of Well-being will aid you to understand the science of happiness. This course could help you include evidence-based information about well-being into your classes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Yoga Instructor

Addiction Counselor

Addiction counselors help people overcome addiction. The Science of Well-being will help you understand the science of happiness. This understanding could be useful in your practice, as addiction can be a major obstacle to happiness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Addiction Counselor

Chaplain

Chaplains provide spiritual support to people in hospitals, hospices, and other settings. The Science of Well-being will help you understand the science of happiness. This knowledge could help you to provide more compassionate care to your patients and their families.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chaplain

Marriage and Family Therapist

Marriage and family therapists help people improve their relationships. The Science of Well-being will aid you in understanding the science of happiness. This understanding could help you become a more effective therapist, as relationships are a major factor in happiness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marriage and Family Therapist

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists help people improve their ability to perform everyday activities. This could include activities such as eating, dressing, and bathing. The Science of Well-Being course will help you understand the science of happiness. This knowledge may help you to help your clients feel happier.

See salaries and explore the career path for Occupational Therapist

Reading list

We've selected 16 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Science of Well-Being.

Mindfulness in Good Lives

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Provides an overview of the field of positive psychology, which focuses on the study of human strengths and well-being. It offers practical strategies for increasing happiness and well-being.

The Science of Well-Being

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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