Finding happiness within the Science of Well-being

Hedonic Adaptation: “Why does happiness always reset?”

Hedonic adaptation is the tendency of humans to return to a stable level of happiness after major positive or negative events and life changes. Some events may include having a stable job, money, perfect grades, or anything that can give happiness. This shows that we are resilient, but happiness is temporary. In order to have a more balanced life, we need to learn how to manage our hedonic adaptation, as it can result in negative or positive emotions.

Money & Hedonic Adaptation

Take lottery winners, for example—they are often only temporarily happy, as wealth, a bigger house, or a fancier car eventually feels ordinary. With an income below ~$100,000–$500,000 a year, more money strongly predicts higher levels of happiness (due to basic needs and security). Above that threshold, additional income has a diminishing or almost zero effect on day-to-day happiness because of rapid hedonic adaptation. Lottery winners aren't much happier long-term, and victims aren't as unhappy as expected, but both eventually return to their baseline level.

How to Slow Down Hedonic Adaptation?

• Savouring and Gratitude: You can keep a gratitude journal or take a moment to savour things that make you happy.

• Buy more experiences and fewer things: Happiness from experiences lasts longer than temporary happiness from material items.

• Focus on progress: Tracking improvements will give you small dopamine hits.

  
  

Acts of Kindness and How They Increase Your Happiness!

What is an Act of Kindness?

Acts of kindness are intentional behaviours that benefit another person with no expectation of reward—for example, writing a thank-you note or complimenting someone. Acts of kindness can release hormones that contribute to a positive mood. This feeling is called a “helper’s high,” and it is even used in some types of psychotherapy.

However, these feelings of happiness are not going to last for hours, which is why happiness needs to be a practice rather than a one-time act. According to a study on the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model, participants who performed a variety of different acts of kindness (such as helping friends) reported a more sustainable increase in overall well-being compared to those who did the exact same thing repeatedly. Varying these acts also boosted social connection and emotional well-being.

Practising Kindness

For kindness to become a practice, it must be worked into our daily routine:

"Acts of kindness help us feel better and they help those who receive them. We're building better selves and better communities at the same time." — Dr. IsHak

Kindness is not just about brightening other people’s day; it’s also about practising self-compassion and treating yourself with care. It even comes with physical benefits, such as lower blood pressure, reduced stress hormones, and improved immune function.

The Ripple Effect

Research shows that kindness is contagious. When someone is treated with kindness, they are more likely to pass it on. Optimism involves focusing on the positive aspects of life and maintaining a hopeful outlook, even in challenging times. By practising reframing negative thoughts into positive ones—whether it's lending a helping hand, offering words of encouragement, or simply smiling at a stranger—spreading kindness creates a ripple effect of positivity in our lives.

Go Make A Difference!

Reference

Science of Wellbeing QC, Presentations on Hedonic Adaptation & How Acts of Kindness Can Increase Your Happiness.

Written by Rachel Paw (2025–2026 Year 1)

On behalf of Science of Well-Being & Alumni Connect QC