The Future of Happiness: 5 Modern Strategies for Balancing Productivity and Well-Being in the Digital Era

by Amy Blankson, Shawn Achor (Foreword by)

Overview

Technology, at least in theory, is improving our productivity, efficiency, and communication. The one thing it's not doing is making us happier. We are experiencing historically high levels of depression and dissatisfaction. 

But we can change that. 

Knowing that technology is here to stay and will continue to evolve in form and function, we need to know how to navigate the future to achieve a better balance between technology, productivity, and well-being. Technology can drive—not diminish—human happiness. 

In The Future of Happiness, author Amy Blankson, cofounder of  the global positive psychology consulting firm GoodThink, unveils five strategies successful individuals can use, not just to survive—but actually thrive—in the Digital Age: 

   • Stay Grounded to focus your energy and increase productivity
   • Know Thyself through app-driven data to strive toward your potential
   • Train Your Brain to develop and sustain an optimistic mindset
   • Create a Habitat for Happiness to maximize the spaces where you live, work, and learn
   • Be a Conscious Innovator to help make the world a better place 


By rethinking when, where, why, and how you use technology, you will not only influence your own well-being but also help shape the future of your community. Discover how technologies can transform the idea of "I'll be happy when . . ." to being happy now.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781942952947
Publisher:	BenBella Books, Inc.
Publication date:	04/11/2017
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Amy Blankson is the only person to be named a Point of Light by two Presidents (President Bush and President Clinton). She received a Presidential appointment to serve a five-year term on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National Service, and was one of the youngest delegates to the Presidents' Summit for America's Future. Amy received her BA from Harvard and MBA from Yale School of Management. She went on found the Future of Philanthropy Conference at Yale University. In 2007, Amy cofounded GoodThink to bring the science of happiness to life for organizations and individuals. Amy brings both passion and practicality to GoodThink. She is currently doing research in partnership with Google to determine how to make positive psychology strategies stick and create sustainable positive change. She serves as a Visioneer for the Xprize Foundation for Personal Health, and is a featured expert on Oprah's Happiness OCourse. Amy is the author of the award-winning book Ripple's Effect, and lives in Dallas, TX with her husband and three beautiful daughters who teach her about the joy of positivity and the importance of gratitude on a daily basis.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction

Part One: The Three Burning Questions of the Digital Era

Where Are We Heading?
Would We Be Better Without Tech?
What Will Happiness Look Like?

Part Two: The Five Strategies

Strategy #1 Stay Grounded
How to Focus and Channel Your Energy with Intention

The Challenge: Navigating Digital Distraction and Addiction
The Strategy: Grounding Ourselves with Intention

Strategy #2 Know Thyself
How Quantifying Yourself Helps Eliminate Limiting Beliefs on Your Potential

The Challenge: Recognizing Limiting Beliefs
The Strategy: Magnifying Your Microdecisions

Strategy #3 Train Your Brain
How to Put Together the Building Blocks of a Smarter, Happier Mind

The Challenge: Dealing With a Brain That Has a Mind of Its Own
The Strategy: Optimizing Your Mindset

Strategy #4 Create a Habitat for Happiness
How to Build Greater Happiness into Our Homes, Workplaces and Communities

The Challenge: Deciding Whether Technology Is Our Friend or Foe?
The Strategy: Reshaping Spaces, Places, and the Fences in Between

Strategy #5 Innovate Consciously
How to Use Your Innate Power to Shape the Future of Technology and Happiness

The Challenge: Seeking a Happiness Upgrade
The Strategy: Creating a Balanced New World

A Concluding Letter
Summary of Key Points
Glossary
Technology Referenced
Notes
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About GoodThink

Editorial Reviews

"Impressive, thought-provoking."
Foreword Reviews

"Too often, the concept of personal happiness is left out of discussions about technology and the future of our world. The Future of Happiness is a timely reminder about the importance of happiness, meaning, and our fragile, promising selves."
—Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

"The Future of Happiness gave me tactical tips in the first few minutes and a genuinely happier life by the end. In an age of endless interruptions, this book couldn't have arrived at a better time."
—Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Equation and The Book of Awesome

"Volumes have been written about how bad technology can be for us, but Amy Blankson is the first author I've seen to lay out a simple, achievable path to explain how to stay grounded and balanced in the digital era."
—Laszlo Bock, former head of people operations at Google and bestselling author of Work Rules!

"Rather than fighting against the digital movement, we need higher-level help to harness it for our greatest joy, success, connection, and fulfillment. Amy's book is the perfect pathway to this—offering amazing new strategies to help us access more joy and meaning while at the same time leveraging the power of technology to enhance and enrich our lives."
—Kathy Caprino, MA, "Brave Up" writer, speaker, coach, and leadership developer

"Sometimes innovation doesn't have to be a brand-new technology, but a segment clearly redefined that can lead to greater well-being. I am so happy to see Amy address the link between technology and happiness. This book is long overdue for both professionals and parents, and I'm sure will be wonderfully received globally."
—John Stix, public speaker and founder of KidsWifi

From the Publisher