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Be happy!

How much down time is need for peak happiness?  Turns out, not all that much, according to this article in The Atlantic. 

How Much Leisure Time Do the Happiest People Have?

Up and down the economic ladder, many Americans who work—and especially those raising kids—are pressed for time, wishing they had more of it to devote to leisure activities (or even just sleeping). At the same time, research has indicated that people who are busy tend to be happier than those who are idle, whether their busyness is purposeful or not. 

A research paper released late last year investigated this trade-off, attempting to pinpoint how much leisure time is best. Its authors examined the relationship between the amount of “discretionary time” people had—basically, how much time people spend awake and doing what they want—and how pleased they were with their lives. (Some examples of “discretionary” activities were watching TV, socializing, going to the movies, spending time with family, and doing nothing.) 

The paper, which analyzed data covering about 35,000 Americans, found that employed people’s ratings of their satisfaction with life peaked when they had in the neighborhood of two and a half hours of free time a day. For people who didn’t work, the optimal amount was four hours and 45 minutes. 

The research traced a correlation between free time and life satisfaction, but didn’t provide any definitive insight into what underlies that correlation—“which is exciting, because this is a work in progress,” says Cassie Mogilner Holmes, a professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and a co-author of the paper, which hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed or published in an academic journal. Holmes’s co-authors are her UCLA colleague Hal Hershfield and Marissa Sharif, a professor at Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania’s business school.

Obesity?

Opioid addiction? Gun violence? Smoking? There would appear to be a lot of choices for the worst statistic about Tennessee. From 24/7 Wall Street.

The Worst Statistic About Your State

Tennessee: 9.8% 

According to the CDC, 9.8% of Tennessee adults have a major cardiovascular disease of some kind, compared to the national prevalence of 6.9%.

Infographic Friday

Via: ClassesandCareers.com

Two-thirds of the Tri-Cities

Are the most stressed places in Tennessee. Hmmmmm. I know Bristol, Virginia has its problems. But Asheville is the most stressed city in North Carolina? From 24/7 Wall St.

The Most Stressed Out City in Every State

To identify the most stressed city in every state, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of data measuring the two most common sources of stress — money and work — in each state’s metropolitan areas. To capture money-related stress inputs we reviewed poverty rates, housing affordability, and food insecurity. For work-related stress inputs we included average weekly work hours, average daily commute times in hours, and annual unemployment rates. With the exception of food insecurity and unemployment rates, which came from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), respectively, all data used in the index came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey (ACS). The incidence of violent crime in each area came from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2017 Uniform Crime Report. All data are for the most recent periods available.

42. Tennessee: Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol

> Poverty level: 15.3%
> Commute time: 24.2 minutes
> Dec. 2018 unemployment: 3.3%
> Violent crime rate: 354.8 per 100,000

Source: TopMastersInEducation.com

Image source: Protection1.com

Please include attribution to Champlain College with this graphic.

Infographic Friday

Seasonal Affective Disorder Infographic by Mattress Online.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Source: Today I found out

The most romantic place in Tennessee

Is in the Smoky Mountain National Park. Next door to the ACHE South Conference on April 1. My wife and I just visited this exact place last December, and we've also been to some of the other most romantic places in North Carolina, Kentucky, South Dakota (Yes, South Dakota) and even Rhode Island. From Cheapism.

The Most Romantic Place in Every State

TENNESSEE: CADES COVE 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This gorgeous valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can draw a crowd, but it's big enough for couples to steal some private moments. Highlights include rustic churches, a working gristmill, log cabins, and ample chances to spot deer, coyotes, turkeys, and even black bears. It's also the starting point for the 5-mile round-trip hike to picturesque Abrams Falls.

by FlagshipConsulting.

From Visually.

Embedded from MGIC Connects

Infographic Friday

[Source: Today I Found Out]

Flu season

© ISSA

Reducing tuition

To stay competitive. A strategy for small private colleges that seems to be a bit desperate. And I though tbeing at a regional public university was tough. From CBS Money Watch.

As college costs keep rising, some schools slash tuition

Along with English literature and the beauty of campus life, recruiters at a small but growing number of private colleges now have another talking point: They're cutting tuition costs. 

Two dozen private institutions have cut tuition since 2016, according to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. 

Colleges have periodically done such tuition "re-sets," where they dramatically lower costs, since the late 1980s, but it's typically been no more than a couple institutions each year, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of research at Savingforcollege.com, an online guide to college savings plans. But that's changing. 

"There's been an uptick since 2011, and this past year we've seen a total of 18, so that's a big increase," he told CBS MoneyWatch. "The increase is a sign that more colleges are struggling financially. I would expect to see this trend continue."  

The sizable tuition cuts are being made by little-known institutions vying for a competitive edge, usually again other colleges in their area, and amid calls for free tuition, Kantrowitz said.

The oldest bar in Tennessee

Is in Nashville. I'm a little surprised it's not east of Nashville. If you scan all fifty states below, you'll find the White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island. America's oldest. I was there as recently as last October. Not too far away is The Tavern, in Abingdon, Virginia. I need to check it out. From Cheapism.

The Oldest Bar in Every State 

TENNESSEE: SPRINGWATER SUPPER CLUB & LOUNGE
Nashville  

Established in 1896, this watering hole was a speakeasy during prohibition. These days the Springwater Supper Club & Lounge in Nashville is known for its regular live music and no-frills vibe.

I'm living in

The best place to retire in Tennessee, according to 24/7 Wall Street. Let's just hope the economy lets me retire when I want to!

Best Places to Retire in Every State

42. Tennessee: Washington County

> Population: 126,437
> 65 and older population: 17.1% (62nd of 95 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 173.0 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,609.55 (82nd out of 95 counties)
> Median home value: $152,800

February is financial aid awareness month

From Visually.