zumba quicklist 6category happiest healthiest cities in americatitle fargo nd spiritual pioneersurltext why it won very high scores in regular church attendance happiness hub northern plains botanic garden designed by horticulturists to inspire mental reflection rejuvenation and artistic expression sure the winters are long snowy and cold but fargos fans say the citys strong sense of community which shows up in high scores for regularly attending religious services makes up for it its also a big clue to the towns warmth says stephanie tollefson 35 a pastor at hope lutheran church which welcomes some 5000 worshippers weekly people say a generous heart is a happy heart and i see that here the more you connect with other people the more joy you get back she says and the more joy you have the more you want to give back in fargo she says people genuinely seem to want to belong to something thats bigger than just themselves takeaway flex your faith research shows that participating in any formal religion or worship increases happiness measures including wellbeing a sense of belonging and a sense of meaning it also reduces anxiety and depression quicklist 7category happiest healthiest cities in americatitle san francisco calif culture cureurltext why it won almost endless cultural offerings perhaps one reason it has high physical and mental health scores too happiness hub golden gate parks treasures including bison and a tea garden when it comes to bigcity charm san francisco has all the usual urban offerings but when it comes to nourishing the soul the citys vibrant arts entertainment and recreational offerings set it apart while it may seem obvious that those options make people happier they also make them healthier research suggests that attending cultural events may lower blood pressure and help ward off anxiety and depression those who love it here say the citys constantly changing cultural scene including arts entertainment architecture and food feeds their spirit people here seem so very settled says kimberly hayes 36 executive director of the african american art culture complex where she oversees theater music dance and gallery events a recent transplant from new york city she loves exploring the citys neighborhoods when she runs in the evenings ive been going to hear lots of music including the symphony she says its winning her heart theres so much to do here and most people seem very content takeaway up your culture consumption a study of more than 1200 us adults found that the more times people had been to an art exhibit dance performance music recital play or movie in the past year the healthier they said they felt no matter what their age looking for a moodbooster discover the daily habit that triples your happiness quicklist 8category happiest healthiest cities in americatitle madison wis safe sound and well fedurltext why it won highest scores in low crime rates and affordable fresh produce happiness hub the university of wisconsinmadison arboretum which includes prairies savannas and 20 miles of trails