The secret to a happy life

Harvard study suggests that 40 per cent of your happiness comes from the choices you make

Whenever someone asks, what does it mean to be a 'student' or what exactly is the concept of 'student life', no one can really answer that in its entirety. We know that it means burning the midnight oil, trying to stick to submission deadlines, being like a sponge and absorbing all the information that is given to us by our lecturers.
However, can we ever answer the question, how does our behaviour at such an early stage of our life effect our future? After nearly 80 years, researchers at the Harvard Medical School finally have something to tell us.
As a part of the Study of Adult Development, under The Grant Study, researchers observed the lives of a sample of sophomore students at Harvard College. After this extensive study concluded, a number of factors were brought to everyone's attention, some of which every student today needs to realise and understand.
Researches are Harvard had some interesting things to bring to our attention. Here are some of the things that they found out:
It is better to let it go: As times goes by, you realise that the things you focused on and worried about were not as important as they appeared to be at the time. It is moments like these where we realise that it is better sometime to just let things go especially when they are out of your control. It can be a bad relationship or failures in life that really brought you down emotionally. The older you get, you actually realise how short and unpredictable life is. You should pay more attention to what makes you happy.
It is better to buy memories: There is a well-known saying that money can never buy happiness - this is very true! Money spent on material goods make you feel like you have achieved a lot at that given time, however, in the long run it is never satisfying. People would rather spend money on experiences and making memories they can cherish with the ones they love and care for.
 Exercise: Get up and move! A healthy body means a healthy mind, our parents used to always tell us that. Research has also proven the same. Exercise and happiness feed each other. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals knowns as endorphins which trigger a positive feeling in your brain. You also sleep better, which is very important for your body to gear up for whatever is in store for you the following day.
Join groups: Being a part of groups, regardless of your age, really help as you can connect with like-minded people. Everyone goes through various ups and downs in their lives, this is inescapable. Eventually the struggle becomes a burden too heavy to bear and that takes a toll on your health. Joining after school activities, for example, help us form a support group as you will be with those who share the same passion as you. Whenever you connect with others, you are reminded of the fact that you are not alone, and who knows, you just might learn a thing or two from someone who has been through the same struggle.
To sum it all up, staying happy means that:
-You are more productive in whatever you do.
-It is good for your health. The happier you are, the less likely you are to fall sick.
-It is good for people around you. Happy students tend to have happier relationships with their peers; that is always important especially when you are away from home.
-Happy people cope better with stress and trauma.
-Happy people are more creative and are better able to see the big picture.
 What is the real secret to being happy, you ask? Research suggests that 40 per cent of your happiness comes from the choices that you make. In other words, only you can make yourself happier. It is high time that you found your happy place!
 

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