By: Matthew Desmond
Staff Writer
Happy New Year! At the start of every year, many people decide to make resolutions. They may be personal, academic, or relational changes; even so, there are a lot of opportunities to make a difference in the world. This year, one of the things that we can all do is to be happier.
Even before 2020, college students have struggled with being happy. Whether it’s academic stress, financial hardship or drama between friends or family; it can be difficult to see the bright side. Unfortunately, the events that occurred in 2020 have only worsened those feelings.
According to a survey conducted at Boston University, “83 percent of students said their mental health had negatively impacted their academic performance within the past month, and that two-thirds of college students are struggling with loneliness and feeling isolated.”
The pandemic changed many functions of college life including class modalities, events, and delayed important events such as graduations.
In the past two years, there have been plenty of justifications for not being happy. Ranging from the loss of a loved one, financial struggles, or social and political unrest, the quote by Perry Noble, “it’s OK not to be OK,” has become more relatable than ever.
However, what people must see is what is on the other side of this quote. It goes on to say, “but it’s not OK to stay that way.”
We must choose whether we want to be happy. It is never too late to decide this, especially at the beginning of a new year. In 2022, I think it would be a good idea for all of us to pursue happiness.
It is understandably hard to do, given how many uncertainties there are going into 2022.
So, in order to help us on our journey, I will be writing a series of articles this semester that I hope will help all of us gain a positive perspective. These articles will focus on mindfulness, positivity, and mental health. I hope these will help us see the good we all bring to the world and the power of choosing happiness.
It is important to know you are not alone in your struggles.
I know sometimes it can appear that everyone except you is succeeding and having the time of their lives. Not true. Social media does not help. People often create images of their lives online that do not reflect reality.
The truth is: we all rise, and we all fall. It’s part of being human. Another part of being human is having the ability to learn, adapt and evolve. We can take charge of our life’s journey and make it what we want.
Will every day be great? Of course not, but there are habits you can adopt to help with those days like meditation, carving out time for hobbies, and making time for friends. Taking small steps like these can help to soften a bad day.
According to a December 2021 article on HuffPost, one tip to becoming happier is to write in a gratitude journal. You can handwrite or type things that you are grateful for each day. Whether big or small, you can look for things that make you happy.
“Recording positive things about your day, whether major achievements or simple pleasures, can reduce stress, improve sleep and even foster better relationships by building a sense of empathy,” Amber Gibson from the HuffPost said.
As we begin a new year and semester, we all should take the time to consider how to be happier. I hope this series of articles helps us all see ourselves in a better light.
