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| Photo courtesy of Nia Vaia
As a student, our lives are crammed with studies, extra-curricular activities and sports. We are constantly being told by teachers, parents and coaches that we must participate in everything and be perfect at it all.
On top of it all, we try to balance a healthy social life and lifestyle. It can be hard on our minds and bodies by trying to juggle it all. That's why finding happiness is so important, for teens, and for anyone. We must make our own joy. Here are three simple ways to make your own happiness and feel better all around.
Live healthier.
As easy as it may to be save 10 minutes in the morning and skip breakfast, it is extremely important not to skip any meals. According to an article entitled Your Guide to Diet & Diabetes, written by students at the University of Illinois, having a constant eating schedule can regulate blood sugar. This, in turn, helps by keeping your mood and energy up. So if you think it’s not worth it to sit down and eat a bowl of cereal, you may want to reconsider.
Keeping a healthy, consistent diet is not the only way to be happier and healthier. Exercise is incredibly important for a happy mind, body and soul as well. To quote one of the world’s most famous blondes, Elle Woods, “exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” The Legally Blonde character has a point, though. According to WebMD.com “When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain.”
Look on the bright side
During times where you’re feeling down, it may be difficult to see the good in things. After all, optimism can be tiring. But, doing so could actually affect your health for the better. Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania has worked extensively with other researchers from various schools, such as Dartmouth and the University of Michigan, to study how participants "levels of pessimism or optimism influenced their overall health. They followed people from an age range of forty years." The study found that the cynics health worsened far quicker than the optimists.
"Fake it ‘til you make it"
Smile, even when you’re not feeling all happy-go-lucky. While of course it’s okay to feel sad sometimes, and if that’s the case, you should by no means exert yourself trying to feel better. Smiling, whether genuine or fake, can actually make you feel happier and more relaxed.
In a study from The Atlantic, researchers manipulated the facial muscles of participants into different expressions— neutral expression, a standard smile, or a Duchenne smile— by using chopsticks to hold the position. Then subjects were instructed to partake in a series of stress-inducing tasks. In the experiment, heart rates and self-reported stress levels from the participants were monitored. The results showed that those who were smiling felt less stressed than the subjects who held a neutral face. “[Even] those with forced smiles held only by the chopsticks also reported more positive feelings than those who didn't smile at all.”
These are the best years of your lives. Make the most of the time and enjoy the simple things in life.
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How to Be a Happier Person
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