In 1937, 268 Harvard sophomores were asked to participate in a study to learn how to maximize the amounts of happiness in their lives. The study continues returning results to the present day. According to the findings, there are several keys to maintaining happiness, and two of them apply directly to you and to boating. One essential element for a joyful life is to include at least one healthy outlet, and a second is to share your happiness with family or friends. It doesn’t take much to reach the conclusion that realizing these two ideas is part of the mixture needed for contentment.

It seems quite obvious that everyone needs ways to blow off steam, such as hobbies. Lifestyles today tend to build up frustration, for even the most mild-mannered individuals. Without release valves, we may turn to anger and then must deal with its effects on our bodies; these can include greater concentrations of stress hormones, which can lead to high blood pressure and an increased likelihood of heart disease.

Most of you reading this already own boats, or are fascinated by them. However, even if you already have a vessel, you may think you don’t have time to get away and enjoy yourself on the water, even for a few hours. We believe that you simply can’t afford to think that way. If you don’t have a hobby to release pent-up emotions, they’re going to affect you later in life.

To be happy, share your time with others. For an example of this, compare telling a joke to friends to simply reading it online. Which is funnier? I would bet that telling a joke to friends is more humorous than reading it alone. Boating is a wonderful hobby partly because it frequently incorporates the second key to happiness, involving friends and family in your life.

You can see how spending time on your boat can contribute to your happiness. You can also help others add happiness to their lives by regularly including them on your outings. Boating can exponentially increase happiness.

If you add to the number of friends you invite on your boat, you may help them and help yourself, too. By taking other friends with you when you’re boating, you can improve and lengthen all of your lives.

It’s in everyone’s interests to spend, and to enjoy, the time on their boats. It will increase your happiness, helping you to live longer, and enriching your quality of life by increasing the amount of time you spend with the people you care about. You can also take pride in helping to strengthen the boating industry by introducing others to this pastime.

We recommend following this recipe of boating more, and with more people; it will lead to more happiness for everyone.