Does leisure make us happy? Often the answer is no

PremiumMaggie PenmanWashington Post·18 Jul, 2026 10:00 PM5 mins to readHaving more leisure time doesn’t necessarily make people more likely to rate their day as happy, says research. Photo / 123rfPsychologist Laurie Santos said we often pursue low-effort activities while looking for happiness. Here’s what actually works, according to the research.You might think spending more time relaxing would make you happier.

But recent research suggests that having more leisure time doesn’t necessarily make people more likely to rate their