There is a lot of guidance out there about the best diets for your health, but is there any particular way to eat to boost or maintain happiness?

“The answer, of course, is much more subjective and individual than figuring out which diet is best for your blood-cholesterol levels,” leading happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks wrote in a recent article for The Atlantic.

Eating food in general activates areas of the brain that are responsible for pleasurable feelings, according to Brooks, who is also the instructor of a course at Harvard University about managing happiness. “But for the stimulation of this whole system to transcend mere pleasure and become a source of happiness, we need to experience enjoyment,” he added.

Brooks did a deep dive into various studies to compile the elements of what he calls the “ultimate happiness diet.” And he found that experiencing enjoyment from eating was less about what you eat and more about how you eat.

One of the drivers of happiness as it relates to eating that stands out to Brooks is the importance of having meals with others. Eating in a group setting and having memorable experiences during meal time are associated with an increase in happiness, according to research conducted in Asia.

Some additional factors Brooks says are key to a happiness diet include:

• Varying the foods you eat, especially eating more proteins and healthy fats than carbs
• Only drinking alcohol moderately
• Eating less processed foods like refined sweets and junk food
• Avoiding obesity, “but not to the extent of going on a crash weight-loss program in a way that mimics starvation”
• Having formal meal times “rather than eating on the run or foraging all day long”

Still, it was the use of meal time for social gathering that stuck with Brooks.

The practice is not uncommon and was actually recommended for longevity by Dr. Frank B. Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, to CNBC Make It earlier this year.

“The connection between food and social connections is very natural, because food does bring people together,” Hu said. “Eating healthy food together, not only nourishes our bodies, but also nourishes our souls.”

Prioritizing meals as a time to connect with others allows you to practice two behaviors that are linked to longevity, eating a healthy diet and engaging in social connection, Hu said.

But in Brooks’ opinion, “The food isn’t the point at all,” for happiness. “It’s about the love.”

Want to master your money this fall? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course. We’ll teach you practical strategies to hack your budget, reduce your debt, and grow your wealth. Start today to feel more confident and successful. Use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off, now extended through September 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

A recent U.S. News and World Report ranked the best countries for a comfortable retirement based on an international survey of nearly 17,000 people and a subset of 5,900 respondents in their mid-40s and older.

The 89 countries were ranked based on the following seven attributes:

1. Affordable
2. Favorable tax environment
3. Friendly
4. A place I would live
5. Pleasant climate
6. Respect property rights
7. Well-developed public health system

While Florida and Delaware often rank highly as some of the best states to retire, in other surveys conducted by services like Bankrate, the United States didn’t place at all in this top 10. The U.S. ranked at No. 30, coming in after countries like Mexico, Malaysia and Dominican Republic.

For the second year in a row, Switzerland is the best country for a comfortable retirement. It came in second place for being business-friendly and third for quality of life.

Switzerland’s biggest draw for retirees is its healthcare system and low taxes, however the country is also among the most expensive countries for retirement. The cost of living in Switzerland is on average 60.5% higher than the United States and rent is, on average, 18.2% higher, according to Numbeo.

The European country offers a type D visa for long-term residency and a single retiree will need upwards of $3,500 a month to live comfortably. In the larger cities, a retired couple can expect to pay $4,000 a month for rent, utilities, food and healthcare, according to Smartasset.

The landlocked country is about the size of New Jersey, but Switzerland is one of the world’s wealthiest countries. Switzerland doesn’t have an official language but most people speak Swiss, German, French and Italian.

Switzerland has continued to remain neutral in conflicts around the world and is not a member of the European Union.

1. Switzerland
2. New Zealand
3. Portugal
4. Australia
5. Spain
6. Canada
7. Denmark
8. Netherlands
9. Sweden
10. Luxembourg

New Zealand is the No. 2 best country to retire comfortably, up two spots from last year.

The country has a temporary retirement visitor visa for those 66 and older.

To take advantage of this two year visa, participants will need to have $750,000 NZD or $460,299 USD to invest in New Zealand. In addition, visa holders must have an additional NZD $500,000 or $306,866 to live on and an annual income of NZD $60,000 or $36,824.

New Zealand’s retirement visa doesn’t allow one to work in the country, but there is an option for applicants interested in finding a job. The Parent Resident Retirement visa has different financial requirements and the biggest difference is that applicants have to prove they have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.

New Zealand’s cost of living, is on average, 5.5% lower than in the United States, while rent is on average, 36.2% lower, according to Numbeo.

Because taxes pay for public health care, residents of New Zealand receive subsidized or free healthcare, Smartasset reports.

New Zealand is known for its natural beauty and diverse landscapes. The country was a major backdrop for “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movie trilogies among many other major movies.

Fans of the Tolkien series of books and Peter Jackson’s iconic films can travel to the Hobbiton movie set in Matamata, which is about two hours south of the city of Auckland.

Want to master your money this fall? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course. We’ll teach you practical strategies to hack your budget, reduce your debt, and grow your wealth. Start today to feel more confident and successful. Use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off, now extended through September 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

Many of us claim to want to live to 100, but we don’t always do what it takes to increase our chances of getting there.  

I’ve spent years studying and writing about traditional Italian habits for living la dolce vita. When it comes to exceeding the average life expectancy, I can’t help but be inspired by the inhabitants of Sardinia, especially Ogliastra, Barbagia di Ollolai and Barbagia of Seulo. They comprise what’s called a “Blue Zone,” an area of the world where people tend to live exceptionally long lives.

Longevity researcher Dr. Giovanni Mario Pes and his colleagues discovered that happy, productive centenarians were not outliers in this part of Sardinia. When compared to other parts of the world, there are more people here celebrating their 100th birthdays and beyond. 

DON’T MISS: How to master your money and grow your wealth

You might think good genes alone are required to be able to live to 100. But Pes offers a more hopeful narrative for those of us who might not be so fortunate. While genetics do have some impact on longevity, according to Pes, they most likely account for only about 20% to 25% of differences in lifespan.

Lifestyle habits — which we can control — drive the rest. And we can learn from the cultural traditions and lifestyle habits Sardinian elders have maintained.

Here are some practices that may be linked to their exceptional longevity — and may help the rest of us live longer, healthier lives.

The people of this Sardinian Blue Zone have no use for a grueling morning workout followed by a day of inertia. Instead, they continually move their bodies while performing ordinary tasks. 

The hilly landscape provides plenty of opportunities to get the heart rate up and strengthen leg muscles without needing a treadmill or mechanical stair-stepper. Outdoor activities like shepherding, farming, gardening, walking, and foraging for wild greens and mushrooms burn calories and keep the body and mind strong. 

Research has found that physical activity has a major influence on health and longevity, so it makes sense to follow Sardinians’ example in this regard.

We might not all be fortunate enough to live in an environment where we can be active all day without even trying, but we can find opportunities to increase physical activity by taking a daily brisk walk, getting up from the couch during TV commercials and marching in place, and taking the stairs instead of an elevator whenever feasible. 

You won’t find most elders in this Blue Zone chomping on a fast-food hamburger with one hand on a steering wheel. Nor are they likely to be found paying hundreds of Euros for a fancy meal at a five-star restaurant.  

They’ve traditionally opted for locally grown ingredients and simple, seasonal food combinations made in their own kitchens without appliances that do the work for them. Staying loyal to these culinary traditions and dietary practices has a positive effect not only on their bodies, but also on their well-being. 

Sardinians tend to eat fresh, home-cooked meals. There are no additives or preservatives when they make their own pasta or bread, like pistoccu bread or su coccoi sourdough bread.

They eat meat only four or five times a month. The bulk of their protein comes from beans, a rich source of fiber and other important nutrients.

A glass or two of local Cannonau red wine with some bread and cheese is a snack shared with friends in a celebratory moment of relaxation.

One way to avoid the common temptation to eat fast food on the run is to prepare simple recipes like Sardinian pasta fagioli or minestrone soup on the weekend and keep a bowl of fresh fruit always within reach on the kitchen counter. 

The oldest Sardinians report high levels of psychological well-being and low levels of depressive symptoms, thanks in part to their resilience and social ties. 

The elders of this part of the island aren’t isolated. Instead, they enjoy an important role both within their families and in the broader community. They’re given an honored place at the family table. Their wisdom is valued by the younger generations.

They find purpose and solidarity in communal activities such as shared meals, religious ceremonies, a game of bocce (similar to lawn bowling), gardening, or just hanging out with each other for a good long chat and a stress-reducing dose of laughter.  

It’s hard not to fall into a pattern of self-isolation, mesmerized by a TV or computer screen for hours. One idea to help reverse this trend is to invite: Ask a neighbor to take a walk with you, or invite friends over for an impromptu spaghettata di mezzanote, or “midnight spaghetti.”

The older residents of Sardinia and other parts of Italy tend to be religious. Some research has shown prayer and spirituality may account for life satisfaction as we age. The social interaction associated with religious services also contributes to a positive outlook on life.

Not everyone adheres to a formal religion, and you don’t need to in order to learn from Sardinian centenarians. Consider alternative ways to gain a sense of spirituality, like joining a meditation workshop, developing a yoga practice, or starting an inspirational book club.

Raeleen D’Agostino Mautner, Ph. D. is a widely published writer and authority on ways to adopt Italian cultural traditions to enhance personal contentment and well-being. She’s the author of ”45 Ways to Live Like An Italian: Italian-Inspired Self-Care Traditions for Everyday Happiness,” ”Living la Dolce Vita: Italian Secrets to Living a Healthy, Passionate, and Well-Balanced Life,″ and ”Lemons into Limoncello: From Loss to Personal Renaissance with the Zest of Italy.″

Want to master your money this fall? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course. We’ll teach you practical strategies to hack your budget, reduce your debt, and grow your wealth. Start today to feel more confident and successful. Use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off, now extended through September 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season.

In a presidential debate that critics said lacked on concrete policy points, one financial issue may have stood out to money-conscious Americans: tariffs.

President Donald Trump doubled down on his plan to install a blanket tariff of up to 20% on all imports, with additional tariffs of 60% to 100% on goods brought in from China. Trump characterized the plan as a way to extract money from rival nations.

“Other countries are going to, finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that we’ve done for the world,” he said.

Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that the Biden administration kept Trump Era tariffs in place, but characterized the former president’s new proposal as a “20% sales tax on everyday goods that you rely on to get through the month.”

As with any policy proposal, soundbites fail to fully convey how voters will be affected. But as a general rule, economists tend to agree that, for U.S. consumers, higher tariffs tend to mean higher prices.

“If President Trump raises tariffs on imported goods, it means inevitably that American consumers are going to pay more,” Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, told CNBC.

Here’s what the proposed policy means for your money.

Simply put, a tariff is a tax on imports, though not one paid by the exporting country, as Trump often characterizes it. Rather, if you’re a company in the U.S. seeking to import goods from China, you have to pay more to bring them in.

This generally serves two purposes. One is to protect certain domestic industries. By making it more expensive to import a product, the U.S. government effectively prevents foreign firms from undercutting the prices of American companies.

The other is to generate revenue for the U.S. government, though tariffs haven’t been a major contributor to what the government takes in for more than 70 years.

DON’T MISS: How to master your money and grow your wealth

A side effect of imposing tariffs — and what Harris and her campaign are homing in on — is that importing companies that pay the tax tend to pass that cost along.

“Ultimately, the cost of tariffs will be paid by us, the consumer,” says George Ball, chairman of investment management firm Sanders Morris. “They’ll be buying things at higher prices than they otherwise would.”

Exactly how much higher prices would go, though, is tricky to pin down, and it certainly isn’t as much of a straight line as Harris’ “20% sales tax” characterization makes it sound, says Clark Bellin, chief investment officer at Bellwether Wealth.

“Especially when you throw the inflation we’ve been having into the mix, it’s hard to come up with a line item like, this is how much things have gone up because of tariffs,” he says.

Notably, Trump instituted a new set of tariffs on certain products when he took office, and inflation remained moderate throughout his presidency.

Still, a number of organizations say that Trump’s new tariff policy would have a negative tangible effect on American consumers’ finances.

Harris said in this week’s debate that the policy would cost middle-class families $4,000, a number in line with estimates from the left-leaning Center for American Progress and the right-leaning American Action Forum. The non-partisan Peterson Institute for International Economics pegs the yearly cost at $2,600.

Plus, financial experts say a more aggressive tariff policy could be viewed as a form of economic saber-rattling.

“Typically in a situation where a country is imposing a number of new tariffs, what you tend to see is reaction from the other countries that are impacted,” says Sam Millette, director of fixed income at Commonwealth Financial Network.

“That creates a trade war. And effectively, what that does is create a situation where both impacted countries are seeing this government intervention. It tends to lead to higher prices for consumers in both countries.”

Want to master your money this fall? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course. We’ll teach you practical strategies to hack your budget, reduce your debt, and grow your wealth. Start today to feel more confident and successful. Use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off, now extended through Sept. 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

Like a lot of hiring managers, Adriane Schwager likes to ask candidates about times in their career they’ve made a mistake. Usually, it’s to get an idea of how you handle stressful situations and how you learn from previous errors.

For Schwager, the CEO and co-founder of the hiring platform GrowthAssistant with 20 years of recruiting experience, the answer can uncover a big red flag: whether the person has low ownership of their work.

In listening to the response, Schwager tells CNBC Make It that she tries to assess whether the person can own up to the mistake, or if it seems like they’re making it out to be someone else’s fault.

Take an example where someone forgot to send something important to accounting, and it cost the business $250,000, she says. If the candidate discusses how the accident was the result of someone else not sending them the right information, or their manager not helping to provide oversight, “and it turns into someone else’s fault, that shows me they have low ownership,” Schwager says.

On the other hand, she says, a better response might be: “I didn’t send something to accounting once and it cost us $250,000. I thought I was going to lose my job. So I immediately created a calendar reminder so that I send that to accounting every Tuesday.”

“I believe that all situations are co-created, and we all play a part in some of this failure,” Schwager says. “A company fails, your department fails — even if you aren’t running that department, you still played a part in it. That doesn’t make you good or bad. It just is. So be aware of your participation in that outcome, and be able to talk about the learning you had from it.”

Ultimately, Schwager says, “I need somebody who is that aware of how they participated in the outcome.”

Sometimes, she can also tell whether a candidate has low ownership based on how they describe why they left their previous job.

For example, if someone says “I left because my manager had it out for me” or “I wasn’t being managed well,” Schwager says she wants to hear about whether the candidate tried to take ownership and manage up.

Or, if they burned out at a previous job, Schwager wants to know if they learned from the situation to identify their burnout patterns, can communicate them to a boss or colleagues, and that they have acquired strategies to cope: “They recognized it, they learned from it, and they’ve applied those changes to their to experiences.”

Want to land your dream job? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview to learn what hiring managers really look for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay. 

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.