Can money buy happiness?

Plus more health news |

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Why you should stop spending money to avoid uncomfortable emotions By Angela Haupt Editor, Health & Wellness Somewhere around week three of the pandemic, I started stress-shopping: First for jewelry and dresses I imagined wearing to an office I’d never return to; later, for fancy pens and even fancier plants. Surely these purchases would help me feel content again. In a new essay for TIME, happiness expert Jenn Lim takes that age-old idea—that money can buy happiness—and offers fresh thoughts. It turns out having a padded bank account isn’t that important, at least when it comes to being as happy as most of us want to be. Among Lim’s most intriguing points: Money can lead to short-term pleasure—but this sensation wears off as soon as the newness of whatever you bought does. When we focus only on what makes us feel good, we’re missing out on the opportunity for sustainable happiness, which requires confronting and embracing difficult emotions. It’s smart to aim for a “greenhouse mindset,” which means experimenting with conditions to see what we need to thrive, and then nurturing what works. READ THE STORY.

What else to read ​​​​The Upcoming Lunar New Year Holiday Threatens a Grim COVID Toll in China By Charlie Campbell / Singapore The combination of millions of people crammed onto public transport traveling to a predominately elderly, under-vaccinated population in villages with rudimentary healthcare threatens to be a perfect storm. Read More » Column: My Father's Brain Helped Develop Treatment For Alzheimer's By Rebecca Leventhal Rebecca Leventhal's dad never found proper treatment for his Alzheimers. His brain is now helping solve that problem for other patients. Read More » As COVID-19 Barrels Through China, Some Are Turning to Black Market Amid Drug Shortages By Armani Syed Hong Kong customs officials seized over the weekend thousands of contraband antivirals headed for the mainland. Read More » Psychologists Explain Why You Procrastinate—And How to Stop By Jamie Ducharme Procrastination is a normal, near-universal phenomenon. Learn why it strikes and what to do about it. (Originally published in 2018.) Read More » What's the Best Way to Stare at Screens All Day? By Markham Heid Computer eye strain is real, and adjusting your monitors will help. (Originally published in 2017.) Read More »

ONE LAST READ The future of sexual-assault care Telehealth has exploded in popularity since the pandemic started, becoming widely used in fields ranging from psychiatry to dermatology. And as Kaiser Health News reports, it’s also bringing badly needed improvements to the field of sexual-assault care, remotely connecting health care providers with experts all over the country who can help them perform needed exams as quickly, efficiently, and painlessly as possible. Read More »

If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, click here. Today's newsletter was written by Angela Haupt and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Elijah Wolfson.

Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters. Subscribe to TIME

TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice.   Connect with TIME via Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters       UNSUBSCRIBE     PRIVACY POLICY     YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS   TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508   Questions? Contact health@time.com   Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.