A new study has revealed the ten keys to living a life of contentment.

The study, which suggests we get happier, not grumpier, as we age, has also highlighted a few other revelations about putting a smile on our faces.

- The golden age of contentment is 58

- Doing a job you love is more important than career success

- 35 is the age we are most stressed

The list, though mostly containing what we’d expect, may surprise us in its order. There may also be a few curve-balls you didn’t expect to see.

1. Spending time with family 

It’s a classic. It seems that, more than anything, what keeps us cheerful is being with the people closest to us. Though the family changes time after time, and the average 21st century family is probably a far step from, say, the average family of the 1950s, spending time with the people that we love doesn’t fail to keep us content.

2. Doing a job you love 

What’s notable about this entry is that it says “a job you love,” not “a job that pays well.” Though payday is something we all look forward to, it seems that simply enjoying the thing you get up in the morning for is the key.

3. Being in a happy relationship 

Our family is one thing, but a spouse, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend is another. We all enjoy having somebody in our lives we feel a special connection with. It’s not just having somebody be there for us, but having somebody to share the most personal parts of our lives with.

4. Financial security 

Teetering on the edge of financial ruin, worry constantly about debts, scraping together money to pay rent – these aren’t the kind of things that are going to keep you happy. Money isn’t everything, and, for most of us, is far from the most important thing, but having enough to get by and feel secure is massively important.

5. Feeling appreciated at home 

Spending time with your family isn’t of much use if you don’t feel appreciated by them. It’s not a desperate craving for validation and attention, but a sincere thank you, whether spoken, or in the form of a small gift or nice meal, is something that keeps us going.

6. Laughing daily

How can you be happy if you spend your days walking around with a face like a funeral director? It’s important to laugh. Laughing doesn’t only bring us closer to the people around us, but it also allows us to take a step back and see the silliness in something that one day may have caused us some stress.

7. Feeling appreciated at work 

We’ve gone over feeling appreciated at home but this one is different. We need to feel as though we have something to offer the world otherwise it wouldn’t be worth getting ourselves out of bed in the morning.

8. Enjoying holidays 

One thing that cheers a great deal of people up is a temporary escape from it all. Even if we love our homes and our jobs, it’s always nice to put it all out of mind for a while and lay on a beach in the sun in some exotic land.

9. Spending time with friends 

Our friends are the family that we choose, and, if you chose right, you should have a group of people you can laugh with, have fun with, and, most importantly, depend on.

10. Working with people you like 

It isn't just the people in our personal lives that keep us happy, the people we see every day at our place of work are important too. Bonding with people over shared experience is something we all need in our lives. When has going it alone ever been more fun than doing something with others?

There’s a theme that you may pick up on when having a look over this list. People. Whether it’s our family, friends, colleagues, or the person we’re in a relationship with, the most common source of happiness is the people we share our lives with.

Why don’t you spend some time with them this weekend?

The research, which was commissioned to mark the launch of new handset the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, assessed the lifestyles of 2,000 British respondents to discover the age at which we are happiest, as well as when we are the most stressed.