Happiness, as a broad goal, is a pretty poor goal.

Most people won’t be in a permanent state of (or even semi-normal) happiness because life is hard and our brains have some kind of negativity bias. And, many of the things we humans tend to think will make us happy actually don’t.

Here are a few key reasons why trying to be happier doesn’t necessarily work, and what science says about it.

Happiness isn’t sustainable.

Happiness is not a great long-term goal simply because it is a “fluctuating emotion.” This is especially true for hedonic or hedonistic happiness, which is actually about increasing pleasure and reducing pain.

Pursuing this fleeting emotion too directly can indeed be counterproductive.

Research has found that people who “overestimate” their happiness – those who claim that their happiness at any given moment says a lot about how valuable their lives are – tend to become less happy, or Becoming less happy over time.

So if you’re too focused on becoming happier, you may spend too much time monitoring your emotions. Ask yourself, “Am I happy? Am I happy?” You may feel like a failure when something you think will bring you some kind of expected happiness doesn’t live up to your expectations.

Another key point? There is no point in being happy all the time. The goal is not to be happy 24/7.

For example, it is inappropriate to rejoice over the loss of a loved one. Or face many other traumas and challenges—like a global pandemic.

“Well-being” is a much better framework.

Taking all this into consideration, we prefer the word “well-being” to happiness.

Although it is inappropriate to feel happy in the face of grief or trauma, it is possible to maintain a high level of happiness when you are sad. Sadness and pain are part of life.

Furthermore, well-being is a legitimate long-term goal that people can achieve. Research provides how to achieve happiness through specific daily habits (more on that below)—and a free companion app.

Money helps, but only up to a point.

Poverty takes a significant toll on mental health and can be part of a vicious cycle. Financial stress can affect mood, physical health, and increase a person’s likelihood of experiencing trauma. All of this can worsen economic outcomes.

But plenty of research shows that there is a tipping point beyond which money doesn’t have much of an impact.

But plenty of research shows that there is a tipping point beyond which money doesn’t have much of an impact. For example, a 2018 study claimed that North Americans are very satisfied with their lives when they earn $105,000 a year, while above that number happiness may actually decline. (Of course, this is much higher than the average personal income in the United States.)

Other research shows that emotional well-being increases as people’s income increases—by as much as $75,000 per year.

So why doesn’t more money equal greater happiness? For one, people are used to what money can buy. (Again, hedonic happiness is fleeting.) Furthermore, the amount of money people say they “need” tends to increase the more they earn, and we humans tend to base our happiness on relative income on the basis of (how much we make compared to other people we work with) rather than how much we make compared to others.

Want to boost well-being? Awareness is essential.

In fact, numerous studies have linked mindfulness to happiness. But there is no need to develop a formal sit-down meditation practice. Instead, people should develop the habit of closing their eyes and taking 10 deep breaths every day, or adjusting their feelings during the day’s chores.

You can perform these exercises while you are engaged in other activities of daily living. You can do these things while you’re doing the laundry, while you’re walking, while you’re commuting, while you’re cleaning your house… and it doesn’t actually take another minute of your time.

Tap into your sense of purpose every day.

Numerous studies show that living and working with a sense of meaning or purpose can lead to a variety of physical and emotional benefits.

A 2019 study even found that a greater sense of purpose in life was associated with lower mortality rates. Researchers are still exploring the exact cause, but one possibility is that people who live with a sense of purpose actually have less inflammation in their bodies.

Experts believe that the pursuit of purpose is what truly sets us apart. “Humans may be similar to many other creatures in their pursuit of happiness,” the researchers wrote in a 2013 study. “But the pursuit of meaning is a key part of what makes us human and is uniquely ours.”

It’s all about understanding your core values, or your “true direction” in life.

However, it’s also important to find ways to connect mundane parts of daily life to these core values.

For example, you may feel that your connection with your family really drives you. So be aware that the things you do at home, such as washing dishes, cleaning after your kids or partner, or going to work to earn an income that contributes to your family’s financial stability, are actually serving the larger unit .

Even the most mundane tasks can be deeply imbued with a sense of purpose.

Again, how you view this effort—and all your efforts to improve well-being—matters.