"Come on, get HAPPY!"

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

I love radio. Really, I do. But it seems like 4 or 5 times each hour, Pharrell's "Happy" song is on. And every morning I wake up to:

"Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do."


Instead of being annoyed, I decided to embrace the suggestion. What a great song with a positive message! Even at 5:30 in the morning. Who could argue with wanting to be happy? We all go through the highs and lows of life because, well, that's LIFE. But did you know there are ways to improve your level of happiness? Sometimes, the things you do, and the thoughts you cultivate, can lead to a better frame of mind -- or happiness.

Here are a few common-sense tips to help improve your mood or outlook on life:

1) Invest time in your family and friends. Strong ties to family and friends reduce rates of depression, suicide and stress. Better yet, it may even help you live longer!

ACTION: Schedule more time with friends and family for dinners and outings.

2) Find your purpose. Happy people have a reason to get up in the morning, and are able to fuel their passions to help their communities and their personal lives.

ACTION: What makes you happiest? When do you feel your best? What do you want your life to look like in a year . . . 5 years. . . 10 years? Go for it!

3) Get your financial house in order. This is a biggie! And here's where we could really help to get you back on track. First, you should be happy you're a credit union member to begin with :) Next, remember that the happiest people may not be rich, but they have enough money to be comfortable. (Food for thought: If being rich made you happy, there would be no reality TV.)

ACTION: Create a budget and stick to it. Come talk to us about helping you manage your debt better! We're your credit union, and we're here to help.

4) Exercise and eat right. Exercise releases endorphins, the ultimate mood booster. Eating a diet full of veggies, fruit, beans and nuts has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholosterol and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

ACTION: Take a walk during your lunch break, join a gym or recreational sports team, and BUY healthier food. Stick to it!


Source: New York Times best selling author and National Geographic Fellow, Dan Buettner, is the author of The Blue Zones and Thrive. He studies happiness and longevity and created a test that measures happiness. Find out more and take the test at bluezones.com.