World Affairs And Beyond

One key factor in enhancing personal happiness is carving out time for yourself—achieving what can be termed as "time affluence." When you hear the word "affluence," you might think of wealth, abundance, or material prosperity. Indeed, a quick search defines affluence as "the state of having a great deal of money." Synonyms like opulence, riches, and fortune often come to mind, and images of money or gold are likely to appear. We’ve long associated affluence with financial success, and while money can certainly contribute to happiness by meeting basic needs and providing luxury, research has shown that beyond a certain point, additional wealth doesn’t significantly boost happiness. What’s more valuable than financial wealth is the concept of time affluence. Time affluence, as defined by researchers, is the feeling that one has enough time to engage in meaningful activities, reflect, and enjoy leisure. On the flip side, time poverty is characterized by cons