Free: The Science of Well-Being Yale University Course @ Coursera.org

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Free: The Science of Well-Being Yale University Course @ Coursera.org
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beatthatflight on 11/08/2025 - 20:12 coursera.org (2118 clicks)
Last edited 11/08/2025 - 20:18 by 1 other user
The Science of Well-Being (Coursera — Yale University)

What’s the deal?
A super-popular, free online course by Yale’s Dr Laurie Santos—adapted from her campus hit Psychology and the Good Life—that blows up myths about happiness and actually teaches you how to be happier.

Why it’s a big deal
- It’s Yale’s most popular class ever, both on campus and online, with millions enrolled
- Rated around 4.9/5, and learners consistently say the course gave them a real boost

Course Highlights
1. Misconceptions about happiness — Spoiler: more money, promotions, bubble baths—they don’t actually make you happier. Our expectations are often misleading.
2. Mind’s dumbass features — The brain lies. It adapts fast (hedonic adaptation), screws up comparisons, and tricks us into chasing the wrong stuff.
3. Science-backed strategies — Build habits that actually work. Think social connections, mindfulness, exercise, rest, and downtime—not stuff that just looks like self-care.
4. “Rewirements” in action — It’s not just theory. You'll get daily habit challenges to help you actually be happier—do them right, and you’ll feel it.

Quick Specs
- Duration: ~10 weeks total; flexible pace (Coursera site says 2 weeks if you smash ~10 hrs/week)
- Includes: Video lectures, readings, and practical “rewirement” assignments

Why ozbargain should care
- It’s totally free (unless you want a certificate) .
- It's packed with actionable advice that cuts the crap and focuses on real, research-backed happiness.
- Great for frugal folks who want smarter, not shinier—learn to actually feel better without buying more crap.

Previous offer

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Comments

  • TheJoker on 11/08/2025 - 20:42
    +5

    Quick course for you all: happiness isn't a thing to achieve

  • frewer on 11/08/2025 - 20:47
    +12

    Unplugged from social media, get real life connection,
    Sun bathe,
    Moves/exercise,
    Eat whole/raw foods,
    Sleep 7-8 hours,
    Pray.

    Too much? Surfing ozbargain while walking in the bush will cover it all

    • 2ndeffort on 11/08/2025 - 21:22
      +14

      Gods not real though

        • Autonomic on 12/08/2025 - 01:09
          +4

          How does that follow?

        • SBOB on 12/08/2025 - 07:18
          +7

          Based on your view, gravity is also not real.

          Though one of those two repeatedly observable, verifiable, and identical across all countries across the planet

          • easternculture on 12/08/2025 - 20:39
            -3

            @SBOB: Can you see gravity? no.
            Can you feel gravity? no.
            You believe in gravity because of what you are taught, but you havent physically percieved it with any of your senses. And gravity remains a theory, not proven yet FYI.
            They say something is pulling you down, but what if it wasnt the case. Your belief system convinced you that gravity exists based on what was taught in science classes. Same thing applies to religion, its a belief system.

      • Jaspa7 on 11/08/2025 - 22:11
        +10

        to some extent, it doesn't matter. secular prayer, without invoking any deities, could still encourage mindfulness, promote gratitude, foster hope, build connection, support resilience etc.

        • Serious Lee on 12/08/2025 - 05:15
          +5

          Or meditate, hence look inwards. Prayer looks outward. The real magic is within ;-)

          • EightImmortals on 12/08/2025 - 07:09
            +1

            @Serious Lee: "Prayer looks outward."

            That's what they want you to think. :)

            "The real magic is within."

            Indeed, once someone figures out that God is not 'out there' things start getting very interesting.

        • illogicalerror on 12/08/2025 - 05:02
          +6

          Atheism is a disbelief in Gods, not a subscription to a philosophy.

          • Chmmr on 12/08/2025 - 05:45
            -1

            @illogicalerror: Atheism is a belief there is nothing.

            Like all religions, you get offended and upset when challenged.

            • illogicalerror on 12/08/2025 - 08:43
              +7

              @Chmmr: No, the word literally says what it means. I'm not offended I just know the English language.

              Theism = belief in God/s
              Atheism = no belief in God/s

              Atheism is not a belief system nor a religion. You can be Buddhist and atheist, a Confucian can be atheist, Taoist and atheist.

              Some atheists believe nothing, some believe the world is powered by energy, others believe the universe is a cosmic infinite joke, or whatever… it's irrelevant what they do believe, the term defines what they don't believe.

              The philosophy that believes in nothing is nihilism. That's also not a religion.

              • robert2024 on 12/08/2025 - 10:39
                +1

                @illogicalerror: Atheism is not an absence of belief, it is a belief that there is no God. To have no belief about God you must be agnostic.

                • illogicalerror on 12/08/2025 - 11:45

                  @robert2024: This is dictionary stuff my OzB fam.

                  Theism = belief in God/s
                  Atheism = no belief in God/s

                  Atheism is not a belief there is no god, but literally an absence of belief. This is because of burden of proof, and the proof that atheists have to confirm their viewpoint is what they perceive to be a lack of proof. So it remains a disbelief rather than a belief. Some atheists might even be confused about this until you ask them for proof, at which point they point to lack of proof. People don't really realise what they think sometimes.

                  Anti-theists believe there is no god, as a philosophy.

                  Agnosticism is not knowing whether God is real or not. An agnostic can be either theist or atheist depending on their disposition.

                  • robert2024 on 12/08/2025 - 15:23
                    +1

                    @illogicalerror: A quick google reveals that my view of the meaning of these words is more widely shared than yours.

                    • illogicalerror on 12/08/2025 - 18:22

                      @robert2024: Dictionary is just what it is though. Selected results from Google returned chats aren't meaningful. Just because lots of people think something doesn't make them right. (ad populum)

                      I understand the confusion though, I tried to explain it a little but it seemed rambling. No worries though friend.

      • ChairmanMeow on 12/08/2025 - 05:13
        -1

        Have you given it a go? Or did you just jump to that conclusion because of what the media and your surrounding tells you? Or did you had a bad experience growing up because people don't act the way they preach? Genuinely curious.

    • ChairmanMeow on 12/08/2025 - 05:17

      This. If studying is not your thing, just watch Netflix Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zone

    • Mingenibbler on 12/08/2025 - 09:07
      +1

      So expensive to eat decent whole foods and live somewhere you can actually sleep peacefully…

      • heineken016 on 12/08/2025 - 10:21
        +2

        That's a great point, MingeNibbler

  • zoltanc on 11/08/2025 - 20:51
    +18

    This helped me a lot during the COVID lockdowns in Melbourne. Highly recommended.

    It’s all backed by research, which is welcome in this day and age.

    • caperite on 12/08/2025 - 21:25

      What's this? A comment by someone who actually has a reason to provide input. Am I on OzBargain anymore?

  • SBOB on 11/08/2025 - 20:52
    +6

    that blows up myths about happiness and actually teaches you how to be happier.

    Don't worry about the future or worry knowing that knowing that worry is just as affective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
    The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind.
    The kind that blindsides you at 4 PM on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing every day that scares you.

    Don't waste your time on jealously. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and in the end, it's only with yourself.

    Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

    • shkippy on 12/08/2025 - 01:58
      +2

      “Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride.”

      – Anthony Bourdain

      • Serious Lee on 12/08/2025 - 05:19

        Wow, Mr B equated beer n steak with happiness… I'd rather listen to Epicuros. -freedom, friends and an examined life" (paraphrased)

      • VerticallyIntegrated on 12/08/2025 - 07:22

        Why fly a kite when you can pop a pill.

        -Cosmo Kramer

      • serpserpserp on 12/08/2025 - 10:15
        -1

        Do I follow that advice to end up depressed like he was?

        • rodericb on 12/08/2025 - 13:46
          +1

          The path of excess leads to the tower of wisdom (sometimes).

          That said, AB's exit from this world seemed a bit strange as he was still voraciously eating life and he didn't seem that he was anywhere near finished. Certainly not by the side of a pool at a Bali resort or in a hotel in Alsace in the middle of filming for that matter….

  • U30004 on 11/08/2025 - 20:56
    +1

    Ozb only live in the moment

  • King Steuart on 11/08/2025 - 21:02

    Happiness is a simple formula.

    Reality - Expectations

    • KiwiTheGreat on 11/08/2025 - 21:11
      +2

      Let's improve on that.

      Reality - Expectations <= 0

      • King Steuart on 11/08/2025 - 21:21
        +1

        Mine's smaller but I've still got both balls

        • KiwiTheGreat on 13/08/2025 - 01:29

          After the above improved formula, if you are left with anything more than zero, you have no happiness.

          At least that is how I interpret that one. 🤣

  • MagicTsukai on 11/08/2025 - 21:02
    +16

    Happiness is when you find a good ozbargain deal

    • jee on 12/08/2025 - 08:10

      And courage is when you resist to buy

    • serpserpserp on 12/08/2025 - 10:13

      Happiness is when you didn't bother ordering a price error deal that was never fulfilled

      • heineken016 on 12/08/2025 - 10:22

        It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all

    • illogicalerror on 12/08/2025 - 21:08

      And serendipity is when you get all the good bargains

  • Bunnyburger on 11/08/2025 - 21:05
    +2

    Money. Money used the right way brings happyness!!!

    • dealsforlife on 11/08/2025 - 22:27
      +2

      But can't buy spelling

      • Serious Lee on 12/08/2025 - 05:20

        Yeah, but can buy access to AI that can spell and "hallucinate"

  • polol on 11/08/2025 - 21:06
    +2

    Did this a while back, its quite practical

  • AustriaBargain on 11/08/2025 - 21:18
    +9

    Own at least five houses. And the real secret is to inherit them all.

  • Gdsamp on 11/08/2025 - 21:26

    What is happiness? It's the moment before you need more happiness

    • illogicalerror on 12/08/2025 - 05:03

      It's the moment you don't need anything else. :)

  • bigpoppa on 11/08/2025 - 21:58

    Wonder if they teach the art of finding the perfect plump couch

    • Mingenibbler on 12/08/2025 - 09:08

      Sorry no couch only cooch

  • amsaini15 on 11/08/2025 - 22:15

    Real Happiness is serving others with kind intentions.

  • magnitude on 11/08/2025 - 23:19
    +1

    ive signed and paid for maybe a 100 of these. never done a single one.

  • Buddy195 on 11/08/2025 - 23:39
    +1

    How much is the Certificate? Very reward focused, need money a medal or a certificate to do anything :)

    • Gaoras on 12/08/2025 - 01:16
      +3

      $74

  • I-NeedDeals on 12/08/2025 - 04:29

    Finally an excuse to go back on Oz study

  • timhn on 12/08/2025 - 07:19

    Do I get a student email?

  • Lastchancetosee on 12/08/2025 - 08:28
    +2

    Thanks Beatthatflight.

    • beatthatflight on 12/08/2025 - 09:57
      +1

      happy to help. I'll be doing it too!

  • Mingenibbler on 12/08/2025 - 09:07

    Good book to read alongside this: a new earth by eckhart tolle

  • TheCunningLinguist on 12/08/2025 - 10:03

    Most people on this website need this for their mental health

  • serpserpserp on 12/08/2025 - 10:11

    I've been listening to her podcast on and off since it started. The Happiness Lab. For those that are interested. The earlier seasons are probably more impactful.

    • beatthatflight on 12/08/2025 - 14:16

      ooh, thanks, been looking for more. There's something like 'flanderization' but for podcasts, I find, early seasons are the best then they either become generic, or just interview other people who have probably paid to be on to schill their latest book/movie/podcast. Which is what I've found with "How to Be a Better Human".

      • serpserpserp on 12/08/2025 - 14:18
        +1

        The earlier seasons are better. The newer people are sometimes pushing their agenda a little. But it is pretty well balanced and not in your face.

  • Valjew on 12/08/2025 - 10:45
    +1

    Do you need to start the course today, or can you do it at your own pace?

    • beatthatflight on 12/08/2025 - 14:14
      +2

      It's ongoing, 'starts' every day ie whenever you want.

  • RolePlayer88 on 12/08/2025 - 15:07

    Surprise this hasnt been addressed - Does this provide you an edu email?

    • I-NeedDeals on 12/08/2025 - 16:06

      Well it has been addressed, so dont be too surprised

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