Happiness key is balanced time perspective, say researchers

The key to happiness is finding a balanced time perspective, says new study.

Psychologists involved in the study say that taking solace in the past, enjoying the present and striving for future happiness should be balanced to maintain happiness.

"If you are too extreme or rely too much on any one of these perspectives, it becomes detrimental, and you can get into very destructive types of behaviors," said lead author, Ryan Howell, director of The Personality and Well-Being Lab, according to Everyday Health.

"It is best to be balanced in your time perspectives." 

Dwelling in a cheery past may be detrimental to future happiness and living for the present may obstruct a better tomorrow.

"If you're too future-oriented, it might be good to give yourself a moment to sit back and enjoy the present," Howell suggested, said Zee News.

"If you're too hedonistic and living for the moment, maybe it`s time to start planning some future goals."

The data was collected on the website, beyondthepurchase.org, which looks at consumer spending habits and how they relate to values, said Medical News Today.

"We would expect that people with certain time perspectives would be much more likely to make consumer choices that fall either in the more experiential or more materialistic side of things," said Howell, reported Medical News Today.

The study is online in the Journal of Happiness Studies.