TL;DR: Psychology-Backed Habits to Boost Happiness and Business Success
Adopting psychology-backed habits, like prioritizing meaningful relationships, embracing uncertainty, and setting boundaries, can increase happiness and improve entrepreneurial success. These shifts enhance emotional resilience, creativity, and focus.
• Let go of validation: Build genuine connections over seeking approval.
• Embrace ambiguity: Use uncertainty as a space for innovation.
• Set boundaries: Preserve energy by saying "no" when needed.
• Focus on the present: Find joy in daily progress, not just milestones.
Start practicing these habits today to elevate both personal fulfillment and leadership potential in your business!
As you age, subtle changes in your habits can have a profound effect on your overall happiness. Research suggests that adopting certain behaviors naturally aligns with psychology-backed pathways to deeper fulfillment. As a serial entrepreneur juggling the demands of startups, I’ve experienced firsthand how these behavioral shifts bring clarity, focus, and joy not only in life but also in business. Let’s explore these eight behaviors and uncover how they might signal your journey toward lasting happiness, for you and your business.
What are the psychology-backed habits that boost happiness?
Throughout my entrepreneurial career, I’ve noticed how aging alters the priorities many leaders and founders hold. This isn’t accidental. These shifts reflect what psychologists call socioemotional selectivity theory, where individuals naturally focus their energy on meaningful experiences. Below are eight behaviors that, research confirms, contribute to improved happiness over time.
1. Letting go of the need to impress everyone
Entrepreneurs are often under pressure to prove their worth, but as you age, this tendency can fade. Instead of seeking validation from everyone, you begin to show up authentically, prioritizing genuine relationships over superficial connections. Studies published in Socioemotional Selectivity Research highlight that emotional selectivity strengthens in later years, leading to deeper and more meaningful ties.
2. Tolerating uncertainty
Life throws curveballs, not everything follows a predictable roadmap. With time, you learn that uncertainty isn’t a threat but a space for creativity. This mindset change has major implications for founders, helping them push for innovative solutions even in the face of chaos. Findings from Big Think suggest that tolerating ambiguity leads to better creativity and adaptability.
3. Prioritizing your energy, and setting boundaries
Burnout is the enemy of both happiness and productivity. As you grow, you learn that not every email needs an immediate reply and not every meeting deserves a spot on your calendar. Psychology studies show that older people excel at managing emotional energy, and it’s no coincidence that mental well-being often improves when saying “no” becomes second nature.
4. Finding joy in routines
For founders, the word “routine” can often feel restrictive, but psychology proves otherwise. Structure provides stability, creating space for creativity. Research demonstrates how habit formation aids emotional regulation and mental stamina, offering clarity amidst entrepreneurial chaos.
5. Stopping the habit of keeping score
I’ve learned to celebrate others’ successes without secretly comparing notes, and this makes all the difference. Gratitude research featured on ScienceDirect illustrates how focusing on what you have, rather than what someone else achieved, boosts daily fulfillment. Your happiness isn’t tied to “leveling the playing field.”
6. Learning to appreciate solitude
Founders, especially women, face expectations to be everywhere and do everything. Solitude becomes a balm, offering time for deep reflection. Experts confirm that intentional solitude (rather than enforced loneliness) profoundly improves focus and mood. For an excellent read on the benefits, check out The Conversation.
7. Accepting contradictions
Life isn’t black-and-white, and your emotional intelligence deepens when you begin to embrace complexity. For example, decisions in business often require juggling opposing truths, and with age, accepting paradox becomes easier. Psychological theories surrounding cognitive flexibility explain this fascinating shift.
8. Living for now, not later
The “arrival fallacy” affects so many entrepreneurs, it’s the belief that happiness lies in hitting milestones. But as I’ve learned through building companies, joy is often found in daily moments. Savvy founders incorporate mindfulness and enjoy the present instead of waiting for success to deliver happiness. Check out research on hedonic adaptation to break free from this mindset trap.
How can you apply these habits to business?
Beyond personal happiness, these behaviors carry enormous benefits for founders and leaders. Here is how they map to entrepreneurial growth:
- Authenticity Pays Off: Building trust with employees, partners, and investors while staying true to yourself.
- Embracing Ambiguity: Tackling challenges creatively during unpredictable seasons.
- Energy Management: Avoiding burnout by focusing limited energy on the highest-value tasks.
- Routines: Structuring your day so innovation becomes repeatable.
- Solitude Recharges: Using downtime wisely to sharpen strategic thinking.
- Nuance in Negotiations: Navigating tricky stakeholder conversations with emotional grace.
- Present-Centered Leadership: Savoring daily wins instead of obsessing over distant goals.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Overcommitting without boundary setting, it’s a fast track to burnout.
- Judging others harshly while chasing personal perfection.
- Postponing joy while waiting for ideal conditions to feel fulfilled.
- Ignoring solitude and assuming always being surrounded is beneficial.
By intentionally embracing these natural shifts, you’ll find not just greater happiness, but also stronger mental resilience and leadership capacity to weather both personal and professional challenges. The path is worth it. Let’s start today.
FAQ on Psychology-Backed Habits for Happiness
How can letting go of the need to impress others improve happiness?
Letting go of the need to impress others fosters authenticity and deeper relationships, which have been linked to greater emotional fulfillment. For example, socioemotional selectivity theory highlights how older adults tend to prioritize meaningful connections over superficial ones, leading to overall satisfaction. Emotional selectivity helps individuals focus on the people who matter rather than wasting energy trying to gain validation from strangers. Psychologists affirm that authenticity builds trust and reduces anxiety tied to seeking approval constantly. Adopting this behavior can transform not just personal happiness but also career success, ensuring that entrepreneurs and professionals work from a place of integrity and genuine connection. Explore socioemotional selectivity theory
Why is tolerating uncertainty pivotal in achieving happiness?
Tolerating uncertainty is pivotal in not only mental well-being but fostering creativity and adaptability, especially during unpredictable circumstances. Research argues that flexibility enables individuals to approach life’s challenges with creative problem-solving skills, lower stress levels, and a broader perspective. This behavioral shift lets professionals and entrepreneurs embrace ambiguity, treat chaos as a growth opportunity, and reduce the need for rigid certainty. Learn more about tolerating ambiguity
How does setting boundaries enhance energy management and happiness?
Psychological studies show setting boundaries is fundamental to managing emotional energy effectively, particularly in later years. This habit prevents burnout and encourages prioritization of tasks with the most value. By learning to say "no" to unnecessary commitments, individuals protect their mental health and focus on fulfilling activities. Businesses and entrepreneurial ventures also benefit when their leaders approach tasks with clarity and intention. Understand boundary setting
Can routines contribute to sustainable happiness?
Daily routines establish stability that fosters calmness and emotional regulation, enabling individuals to feel less overwhelmed. Far from being restrictive, routines can build consistency, mental stamina, and emotional clarity. While spontaneous activities are valuable, having a structured routine allows space for flexibility. Studies show that habits account for approximately 40% of daily actions and contribute significantly to personal productivity and wellness. Following structured habits, such as regular exercise or journaling, offers substantial mental health benefits. Learn how routines boost emotional regulation
Why is letting go of comparisons essential for happiness?
Letting go of comparisons and the habit of keeping score allows individuals to experience genuine gratitude and joy without envy or bitterness. Gratitude-focused behaviors, such as celebrating others' successes without resorting to toxic comparisons, improve overall emotional well-being. Psychological research confirms this shift as a vital factor in fulfillment, highlighting that envy can drain mental energy and shift focus away from personal growth. Learn about gratitude research
How does appreciating solitude contribute to well-being?
Appreciating solitude provides necessary time for reflection and emotional restoration, offering clarity that hectic, busy environments may not. Rather than viewing solitude as loneliness, individuals who embrace intentional alone time experience sharpened focus, improved self-awareness, and better mood regulation. Psychologists emphasize the mental benefits of creating space for yourself, particularly amidst complex professional demands. Explore the mental benefits of solitude
How does accepting contradictions improve emotional intelligence?
Accepting contradictions in life and work helps individuals shift away from black-and-white thinking, contributing to better judgment and decision-making. This cognitive flexibility becomes more pronounced with age and is essential for situations requiring compromise. By embracing life’s complexities, individuals cultivate tolerance, nuance, and increased emotional maturity, all of which help achieve a deeper sense of satisfaction and balance. Psychological theories explain how this cognitive growth fosters emotional resilience overall.
Why is living for now better than postponing happiness?
Living for the moment, rather than waiting for major milestones, allows individuals to find deeper fulfillment without relying on "arrival fallacy." This is the belief that you'll be happier when certain conditions are met, often leading to frustration when reality doesn’t match expectations. Adopting mindfulness practices and seeking joy in daily experiences counteracts these feelings. Research on hedonic adaptation warns against tying happiness to fleeting achievements, teaching people instead to cherish present moments. Read about the psychology of hedonic adaptation
How do these habits enhance leadership skills?
Psychologists agree that leaders who adopt these behaviors, such as authenticity, boundary-setting, and acceptance of contradictions, strengthen their ability to manage teams effectively. By reducing reactive tendencies and nurturing emotional intelligence, business leaders foster trust with employees and stakeholders, tackle challenges with creativity, and make decisions anchored in clarity while remaining adaptable during rapid changes.
What are common mistakes to avoid in achieving lasting happiness?
Some pitfalls include overcommitting to tasks, harsh self-judgment, postponing happiness by idealizing future achievements, and neglecting solitude due to social expectations. Avoiding these behaviors ensures that you build intentional habits and create space for true fulfillment in life. Recognizing these challenges paves the way for growth and deeper happiness.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the point of view of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.