Skip to main content
  • Individuals
    • Individuals
    • Business
    • Adviser
    • Financial Wellbeing
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Claims
    • AIA Vitality Member Login
  • Search
  • AIA Australia
  • Health Insurance
    • Member Benefits
    • Member Login
    • Get a quote
    • Make a claim
  • Life Insurance
    • Life Cover
    • Total and Permanent Disablement
    • Crisis Recovery
    • Income Protection Core
    • Business Expenses
    • Make a claim
    • Medix
  • Retirement & Investment
    • Guaranteed Annuities
    • Investment Growth Bond
    • Unit Prices
    • Invest Well
  • AIA Vitality
    • Partners and Rewards
    • Already a member? Login
  • Content Hub
    • Move Well
    • Plan Well
    • Eat Well
    • Think Well
  • Help & Support
    • Making a Claim
    • Forms & Documents
    • Policyholder Information
    • Complaints process
    • Contact AIA
    • Customer feedback
    • COVID-19
AIA
  • Individuals
  • Business
  • Adviser
  • Financial Wellbeing
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Claims
  • AIA Vitality Member Login
  • Health Insurance

    Health Insurance

    Cover that protects and rewards.

    • Member Benefits

      Learn more about the range of benefits available to AIA Health Insurance members.

    • Member Login

      Existing members login here to your online account.

    • Get a quote

      Ready to get started?

    • Make a claim

      Get help with making a claim.

  • Life Insurance

    Life Insurance

    We’re here to help protect your family, your lifestyle and your future.

    For Individuals

    For Business

    • Life Cover

      Helps protect your loved ones if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness or pass away.

    • Total and Permanent Disablement

      A lump sum benefit if you can’t work due to injury or illness

    • Crisis Recovery

      Helps ease the financial burden should you suffer a traumatic event.

    • Income Protection Core

      Can provide you with a monthly income if you become disabled due to injury or illness.

    • Business Expenses

      May assist to pay expenses of your business if you cannot work due to injury or illness.

    • Make a claim

      Get help with making a claim.

    • Medix

      Personal Medical Case Management.

  • Retirement & Investment

    Retirement & Investment

    Plan for a more comfortable tomorrow.

    • Guaranteed Annuities

      Can provide you with a regular, guaranteed income stream throughout your retirement.

    • Investment Growth Bond

      Also known as an insurance bond, it offers a tax-effective way to invest for the future and is flexible enough to suit a wide range of needs.

    • Unit Prices

      Find unit prices for a range of superannuation and investment products.

    • Invest Well

      Plan for a more comfortable tomorrow by making the most of your super and investments

  • AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality is a personalised, science-backed health and wellbeing program that supports you every day to make healthier lifestyle choices.

    • Partners and Rewards

      Learn more about our partners and rewards.

    • Already a member? Login

      Check your AIA Vitality Status and get access to the tools you need to help improve your health.

  • Content Hub

    Content Hub

    The AIA Vitality Content Hub is your go to for science-backed, health and wellbeing inspiration and advice.

    • Move Well

      Find your further when it comes to exercise and fitness.

    • Plan Well

      Tools and support for your future, because a good tomorrow starts today.

    • Eat Well

      Care for your body with food that makes you feel good.

    • Think Well

      Tools and information to help you cultivate a healthy frame of mind.

  • Help & Support

    Help & Support

    We strive to assist you for all your inquiries with high touch customer service.

    Contact AIA
    • Making a Claim

      Get help with making a claim.

    • Forms & Documents

      A selection of forms and other important product related documents.

    • Policyholder Information

      Useful information for policyholders.

    • Complaints process

      If you have a complaint, we'll do our best to resolve the situation.

    • Contact AIA

      How to get in contact with us.

    • Customer feedback

      Let us know how we're doing.

    • COVID-19

      How we are responding.

  • Search
  • Contact Us
    • Call Us

      Open: 8am to 6pm, AEST Mon - Fri

    • Find an adviser

Plan Well
Back to Top
  • {{title}}

    {{label}}
  • 4 things we think make us happy (but actually don’t), according to science

    Staff Writer - 5 min read

    10 May 2021


    We might think that things like having more money or taking longer holidays will bring us joy. But science says cultivating happiness is actually much more easily attained. Here’s how.

    4 things we think make us happy (but actually don’t), according to science

    We are all, in our heart of hearts, simply searching for true happiness. But according to science, many of the things we’re striving for – a bigger house, more money, longer holidays – won’t actually bring us joy. 

    Instead, we should be cultivating happiness from the inside out. If we know our own why, our own unique purpose in life, it becomes easier to find joy in helping others, and gratitude for what we already have.

    Here are four common things that don’t actually bring us more happiness, according to science:

    1. More money

    Almost everyone in the world, at some point in their lives, has wished for more money. It’s generally because we believe that more money will bring us more happiness. We’ll be able to buy that car we’ve always wanted, pay off those bills, take that holiday. And while having enough money to meet our basic needs can definitely improve life, getting “rich” probably won’t. 

    A 2010 study from Princeton University asserts that an annual salary of USD 75K a year (that’s around $97K AUD) was the tipping point for happiness – any more than that and people tend to become prone to social comparisons, greed enters the building, and the grass starts to become infinitely more green on the other side.

    And this 2019 study found that prioritising money over free time – say, picking up an extra shift at work over hanging out with friends – might even undermine our happiness.

    So what are we to do? Try to practice daily gratitude for the things we have, and everything we can already afford to do. 

    2. Material goods

    When was the last time you told yourself “I’d be so much happier if I had that pair of shoes/woollen coat/new release iPhone”? While shiny new purchases provide a brief hit of dopamine, the feeling is just that: extremely fleeting (and can often lead to feelings of shame/”Why did I buy that??”/unhappiness).

    This 2014 study found that experiential products – goods that will enable you to have experiences – have a far more positive effect on your happiness than, say, a new pair of shoes. If you’re keen to treat yourself, consider things like camping equipment for an adventure with friends, a musical instrument and lessons to help you master the art, or a new set of paints to boost your creativity.

    3. Long holidays

    Yes, we all need a holiday. After all, holidays are good for our mental health, allowing us to spend quality time with friends and family, and to take a break from our everyday commitments. But are holidays the ultimate ticket to happiness, and does a longer holiday really equal better? 

    The answer is actually no. This study, from Finland’s University of Tampere, shows that a two-week holiday isn’t necessarily twice as good as a week-long one. Why? Because after a week, all our fond memories start to blur together. Instead, why not embrace the quick getaway? You’ll be getting away more often, creating more memories and feeling more satisfied. 

    4. Receiving gifts

    Unwrapping presents on your birthday is undeniably a good time. The joy! The surprise! The thoughtfulness! However, did you know that science suggests the gift-giver often receives as much joy (if not more) than the person receiving the gift?

    A 2008 study reported that people’s levels of happiness actually jumped up when they spent money on others instead of themselves, and, ironically, that the less money people have, the more likely they are to spend it on others. This extends beyond gift-giving too; that happiness levels boost when you’re helping out a friend in need, or donating to a charity.

    Know what else may increase your happiness? AIA Vitality members can donate their weekly Active Benefits to charity. Check out aiavitality.com.au for more info.


    Staff writer icon

    Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

    Disclaimer:
    This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

    Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    Sign up to receive a monthly email with links to all our latest articles on health and wellness information for a healthier, happier and longer life. 

    Health and Wellbeing Inspiration

    This inspirational content is brought to you by AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality is a science-backed program that helps you learn more about your health, offers ways to improve it and motivates you with rewards along the way.

    Contact AIA

    Choose your preferred way to receive information and support

    Contact AIA

    Choose your preferred way to receive information and support

    Help and support

    Make a claim

    Frequently asked questions

    Customer feedback

    Complaints process

    Whistleblower disclosure

    Forms and documents library

    Target Market Determinations

    Explore AIA

    AIA Vitality

    Health insurance

    Life insurance

    OneLife

    About AIA

    Careers

    Our people

    Our commitments

    Media centre

    Our awards

    FSC commitment

    Help and support

    Make a claim

    Frequently asked questions

    Customer feedback

    Complaints process

    Whistleblower disclosure

    Forms and documents library

    Target Market Determinations

    explore Aia

    AIA Vitality

    Health insurance

    Life insurance

    Retirement & investment

    Content Hub

    about AIA

    Careers

    Our people

    Our commitments

    Media centre

    Our awards

    FSC commitment


    Copyright © 2021. AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Priority Protection and Priority Protection for Platform Investors products are issued by AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861, AFSL 230043). AIA Vitality, a personalised, science-backed program that supports members every day to make healthier choices, is available with eligible products issued by AIA Australia. AIA Health with AIA Vitality is issued by AIA Health Insurance Pty Ltd ABN 32 611 323 034, a registered private health insurer governed by the Private Health Insurance Act 2007, Private Health Insurance Rules 2007 and the AIA Health Insurance Pty Ltd Fund Rules. The information on this website is current as at 1 April 2021 and may be subject to change. It is general information only and is not intended in any way to be financial, legal, tax, health, medical, nutritional or other advice. You should consider your own personal circumstances and needs and view the relevant product documents, fact sheets, fund rules and terms and conditions before making a decision to acquire such products. If necessary you should obtain professional advice from a financial, tax, medical or health professional. Unless expressly stated, any views or expressions of opinion (including any video content) do not represent the opinion of AIA.
    Terms of Use | Privacy