Entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo spotlights seven research-backed techniques gleaned from Yale psychologist Laurie Santos’s celebrated well-being curriculum to rewire your brain for enduring happiness. First, confront social anxiety: your brain often underestimates how much joy comes from social interaction so commit at least 30 minutes to being with others.

Use the peak–end rule finish each day with a meaningful moment be it music, a walk, or a conversation, so your memory of the day leans positive. Swap shallow “nutrasweet” digital interactions for real ones like a call or face-to-face catch-up for true emotional nourishment. Embrace the dopamine principle the greatest satisfaction comes from effortful activities (exercise, learning, deep talks), not instant, passive rewards.

Acknowledge hedonic adaptation we rapidly normalize experiences so savor small delights and trust that struggles, too, will ease. Notice the daily delights like the smell of coffee or listening to favorite music and let them uplift you. Finally, rekindle play engage in unstructured, joyful activities like dancing or doodling but for their own sake, to fuel creativity and reduce stress. 

Warikoo encourages experimenting with these habits grounded in psychological science as practical, powerful ways to cultivate deep, sustained happiness and mental wellbeing.