10 Simple Ways to be Happy

Winter is setting in, the college semesters are wrapping up, and the crowds and tight holiday budget are a recipe for stress and depression. Here's how to keep a smile on your face no matter what:
1. Love yourself, flaws and all. Hating your body or habits is no way to feel good about yourself. Learn to respect every part of you, even the not-so-great parts, because they’re part of what makes you different. Now making peace with yourself doesn’t mean you have to accept your obesity or fiery temper. Work on your flaws, strive to improve yourself, but respect yourself along the way and don’t beat yourself up for a slip. That way, you’ll work with yourself instead of against yourself, which should be a natural concept when you think about it.
2. Help others. When you find yourself obsessing about some unpleasant aspect of your life, look for someone who has it worse than you and give them a hand. This doesn’t mean you have to spend twenty hours a week in a soup kitchen, although you could. Serving could be as simple as volunteering to babysit your neighbor’s children so they can go out, or shoveling someone’s driveway. Look around in your community and you’ll find opportunities, especially during the holidays.
3. Find a creative outlet. “But I’m not creative!” I hear this all the time, and I don’t think it’s ever true. Creativity doesn’t mean you have to paint or write novels or compose symphonies. This can be as simple as learning to cook or edit photos. Start a blog, learn to crochet, help a child learn their colors. Invent something. Make up a card game. If one thing doesn’t work for you, try something else, but don’t ever say you aren’t creative, because everyone is once they find their medium.
4. Keep busy. A full calendar means you’ll have less time to mope or over think things. Join a club, take a class, volunteer, plan a party, go out with friends, start an exercise program. You’re mind will stay active and you’ll feel more productive.
5. …but not too busy. Make sure to leave room for yourself, but not so much that you’re idle. If you’re constantly rushing between engagements and you feel strained, boot a few things off the calendar. Regular relaxation is vital to keeping stress down because it gives the mind and body a chance to refresh. Find the right balance of activity and rest for you and adjust as your needs change.
6. Appreciate what you have. Focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have. My favorite way to do this is to keep a gratitude journal. Every day, write down at least five things you’re thankful for that day. If you have a really bad day, write down ten or fifteen things. You’ll learn to be more optimistic and be glad you have the cooking skills to make a delicious homemade meal instead of feeling bad you can’t afford a lobster dinner on the town.
7. Tickle that funny bone. How can you be truly sad when you’re laughing? Spend time with good family and friends who make you laugh, watch funny movies and read funny books. Read the comics after you’ve read the front page disaster story. Make light of the disasters in your own life; they will sit lighter in your mind.
8. Have a support network. Surround yourself with family and friends whose company you enjoy and who make you feel good. Often, we shut ourselves off to others because we spend so much time wrapped up in our problems, but talking and laughing with others gives us a valuable sense of community, and a chance for you to help others and for others to help you. It’s a symbiotic relationship.
9. Forgive yourself and try again. Everybody messes up, so dust yourself off and try something else. Beating yourself up wears down your self esteem and eventually, you’ll feel so lousy you’ll just want to give up. So forgive yourself for pigging out at the Chinese buffet and eat something healthier for your next meal. Apologize to someone you might have hurt and forgive yourself, then watch your mouth next time.
10. If all else fails, fake it. You’ll even fool yourself. Studies have shown that smiling for sixteen seconds can boost your mood, so when you feel like a stick in the mud, smile until you feel better. The Balinese practice something called “smiling meditation”. Basically, they sit smile until they are filled with joy. Try it. Be pleasant to everyone around you, do things you enjoy even when you feel like staying in bed all day, because the only one who can truly make you happy is you.