Although people across the world may differ in looks, language, and culture, everyone wants the same thing in the end: true happiness. But what is true happiness? Is it always feeling energetic and excellent, being able to make the best out of any situation, or feeling at peace with yourself and your world? The answer is that there is no answer! Happiness is an attitude and a way of life that applies to each person uniquely. So how do we reach true happiness? What can we do to make our lives just a little bit more joyful? And how can we learn to control the stress that ruins that joy? Happiness and stress relief will become simpler as you read on.

THE EFFECTS OF HAPPINESS:

Happiness affects your whole life, from your performance in school and your social interactions to your health and appearance. It can even help you live longer: A five-year study has shown that older people were 35% less likely to die within that time if they felt happy and peaceful within their bodies.

Aside from studies, some effects of happiness can be found in common sense. For one, feeling happy will make you more motivated to study and get good grades than if you feel discouraged and worried. Another effect is on your appearance. Happiness will make you more comfortable in your body, so rather than trying to fit into clothes and personalities that are not really you, you can develop the style that makes you feel the best. Finally, with happiness comes positivity and stress relief. So many things in life can be stressful, from deciding what to wear the next day to studying for finals, and working on simple happiness will help you look on the bright side and get perspective.

HOW TO PRACTICE HAPPINESS:

As we all know, you cannot just “become” a happy person. Though we all have problems that make happiness seem impossible at times, little adjustments can lighten the load. It takes many small changes in your mind and in your daily practices to keep a smile on your face and your spirits lifted.

1. Wake up to good-spirited music. If you arise to the dreadful beeping of an alarm clock, your mind adjusts your morning attitude to the tone of that sound. Instead, set your alarm for your favorite song or to your favorite radio station so that you wake up to something familiar with which your mind associates happiness. Maybe dance a little bit to lift your spirits! Listen to great music later as you do your homework so you can learn better while having fun.

2. Eat healthy foods. Although fast food and processed foods can be very tempting, try to incorporate more organic and natural foods into your diet. Next time you want grab for the potato chips, maybe eat some fresh fruit or make a delicious smoothie instead! You will be surprised at how clean and good your body feels when it is not loaded with sugar, salt, and fat.

3. Break a sweat. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. Fitness is a time just for yourself, to take out your anger, stress, or sadness and gain peace through working your body hard. Exercise sends endorphins rushing through the body, leading to a sharp cut in stress and triggering a positive feeling.

4. Have true friends. Do your friends support you in everything you do, or could they really care less about you? Evaluate your friendships and see if the people you hang out with make you feel self-conscious, unhappy or lonely, or if they make you feel inspired, supported, and enlightened. It may be hard, but if your friends are not true to you, break ties with them so you can finally be your best self.

5. Do not depend on money. You may be diverted at first because you got something new, but in the long run, does that cute Free People shirt or cutting-edge video game get you anywhere? Money cannot buy you good grades or supportive friends, and those things matter much more than an item whose novelty will last just a couple of weeks. Think about the experiences or people that enrich your life at no cost, and focus on them more than easily forgotten material goods.

It is easy to see that happiness is closely related to stress – as stress levels rise, happiness drops. As many Harriton students can tell you, stress is one of the biggest causes of fatigue, poor grades, and suffering relationships. Though stress is impossible to completely escape, practicing happiness is a great way to dramatically reduce your stress levels.

HOW TO RELIEVE STRESS:

1. Breathe. Take a deep breath in through your mouth, hold it for three seconds, and exhale for three seconds through your nose. Repeat 5-10 times or as long as you need until you feel at peace. When you feel stress beginning to overwhelm you, breathing deeply before a test, race or game calms your mind and helps you look at the situation from a less emotional mindset.

2. Drink tea. Studies have shown that drinking black tea can help you to relax and have a peaceful mind.

3. Write what is on your mind. Journaling is a very effective way to relieve stress through letting out your emotions in a safe setting. You do not need to write a five-paragraph essay every night, but try writing a few sentences about what made you happy that day or something that is bothering you that you feel you cannot tell anybody.

4. Play your favorite tunes. Listen to the words of your favorite song. Let it consume you and really pay attention to everything that is going on in the song. This will clear your mind and have you feeling ready to tackle your next big test with ease!

5. Be mindful. Stress in the mind is accompanied by tension in the body, and if you concentrate on loosening this tension, your stress will also melt away. You can stand or lie down as, starting at the head and going down the torso and throughout the arms and legs, you focus on relaxing and letting go of any tightness.

Controlling stress and cultivating happiness are vital skills for every Harriton student and every person. Try some of these strategies and improve your life, through standardized testing and finals, the end of the school year, and beyond. For more information on the practices of happiness and stress relief, visit mindbodygreen.com and greatist.com.