I wrote a few weeks ago about Cary Cooper’s happiness-at-work habits.

Here’s a list of nine things I know about happiness:

• Progress towards meaningful goals contributes significantly to happiness.
• Happy people take time to do things that give them pleasure.
• Quality time with friends and family is top of the happiness list.
• Doing altruistic things for others creates enduring happiness.
• Expressing gratitude enhances your own wellbeing and the recipient’s.
• Regular exercise increases happiness.
• Positive experiences provide more enduring happiness than purchases.
• Beyond satisfaction of needs, more money does not make people significantly happier.
• We get no enduring pleasure from short cuts.

And a 10 point quiz for you to take to check out your own happy life.  Vote – yes/no/sometimes:

• My days are filled with fresh new ideas, sights and experiences.
• I am able to try out different activities to learn and grow.
• My life gives me the opportunity to be curious, inquisitive and amazed.
• My days are filled with meaningful activities that I love doing.
• Most days I feel productive and proud.
• I am able to take time to be proactive and choiceful about my goals.
• My life provides me with time to care for other people.
• I have a beautiful blend of work and life.
• I am happy about the amount of time I spend on Family, Friends and Me.
• I review my activities constantly, eliminating those that don’t make me happy.

7/10 and above – Happiness Runs.