How to reach the two types of happiness

This weekend my colleagues from the New York Times Magazine A special song everything about happiness: how to define, discover and increase it.

In particular I loved a quiz called: ‘What makes you happy?“I enjoyed answering the questions, but it also made me think.

It appears that happiness can be grouped in two main categories, and the concept goes back to ancient Greece. One species is called Eudaemonic well -beingWhich you may consider to be meaning and goal in your life. The other is mentioned Hedonic well -beingWhat means feeling pleasure and avoiding pain.

Both are researchers important to thrive.

I asked my colleague Laura Bennett, an editor of the magazine Times, who came up with the quiz, to tell me more.

This interview has been processed and condensed for length and clarity.

Can we start with a few examples of the two types of happiness?

For Hedonic well-being, think about eating a stunning cookie, laughing at a funny social media post or lounging through a fireplace during a snowstorm.

In the meantime, Eudaemonic Welfare refers to the deeper sense of significance and goal that can result from, for example, feeling a sense of control of challenging work, volunteering in your community and a bond with loved ones.

And experts say you both need, right?

Yes, although there is clearly no one-size-fits-all guideline for happiness, some researchers tend to think that you are too bad in one direction if your well-being is more than 75 percent hedonic or eudaemonic.

What if your life has a good amount of simple pleasures and not so much meaningful joy?

The research is quite clear that eudaemonic happiness is linked to strong relationships.

So first, I would say: find the people in your life who make you feel the most and try to give priority to spend time with them. Occasionally send a random check -in text to a beloved friend with whom you have not spoken for a while.

Cultivating new skills or hobbies can also be a great source of Eudaemonic well -being, whether you are taking weightlifting, outlining landscape scenes or learning a new language.

What if someone is light on Hedonic happiness?

Find small things to do that you bring pleasure and excitement at the moment, whatever that means for you. When I’m looking for a small dose of Hedonic happiness, I plan small adventures for my family, say, a beach picnic. I also have a beloved playlist that my husband describes as ‘bad pop music for teenagers’, and that listens to that also gives me a reliable shock of Hedonic pleasure.

Why do you ask people if they have had a ‘fun sexual encounter’?

It seemed negligent to discuss Hedonic happiness without a question about sex!

I would originally describe this question as ” Good Sex, ‘and one of the wise researchers who worked with us pointed out that’ good sex ‘, based on the fact that you feel emotionally connected to another person, can also be considered eudaemonic.

It simply shows again how difficult “happiness” is to define – and in how many ways there are to gain access.

My score revealed that I am a ‘Flourisher’. And you?

Listen, Jancee, I don’t want to brag, but I also have ‘The Flourisher’. Did I claim the scales to my own advantage in coming up with these questions? Who can say? But anyway, I was happy, Hedonic.

You can take Laura’s quiz here. Also in the issue: a story about the longest running happiness study, an exploration of “the happiest country in the world” and A few lucky tips of yours really.

One last thing: I am planning to write about “the ick” – that sudden sense of disgust that can arise around a potential love stake, inspired by a way of way or action.

If you want to share an “icks” that you have experienced, write me to me bee well_newsletter@nytimes.com. I can use them in an upcoming column.

Squats are sometimes known as ‘the king of all exercises’. Here you can read how you can do them well.

The squat is a full-body movement that improves and can be done without equipment. Get the most out of the movement with our guide.