I believe that if you put good out in the world, it will come back to you in more ways than you expected. It’s so easy to get caught up in senseless negativity nowadays. Here are some tips to be a happier and healthier you!

1. Exercise

Exercise not only changes your body, but it also changes your mind, your attitude and your mood. Elle Woods once said, “Exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy.” It’s true! When you work out you create endorphins that make you feel a natural and good kind of high. When you’re stressed, angry, overwhelmed or sad, exercise is a great therapy technique to make you feel happier (and look good in the process). If you’re not athletic, start out slow. Don't feel like hitting the gym? Take a yoga class. It's a great way to get rid of unwanted stress and stiff muscles. Need some inspiration? Pinterest is a great website filled with beginner workouts and funny gym memes.

When you exercise, you also inspire others to get moving! It's a win-win situation.

2. Smile

This is a simple, but very helpful psychological method to trick yourself into feeling instantly happier. Frowning gives you wrinkles and it makes you look older than you actually are. Also, flashing a smile to a stranger or a friend instantly improves their mood as well. You never know whose day you could make just by smiling at them. Overall, smiling is a great technique to lift your facial muscles and make yourself and others feel happier.

3. Volunteer

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life but what we give.
- Winston Churchill

Volunteering your time and helping others not only helps you feel good, but also helps the lives you are impacting while you're doing it. Research has shown that people who volunteer often live longer. Volunteering helps you give back and reach out to the community. I volunteer at a nursing home and let me tell you, nothing makes the residents happier than you smiling at them and asking them how their day is. Volunteering impacts many lives whether you realize you're doing it or not. If that's not something to be happy about, I don't know what is.

4. Treat Yoself

Aced your biology final exam? Treat yoself. You've been working or studying for 3 hours straight? Take a break and treat yoself. Dealing with an annoying classmate or coworker all day? Treat yoself. Feeling confident and rocking your favorite outfit? TREAT. YO. SELF. In the words of Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle from Parks and Recreation, just treat yoself. It's great to help others, but don't forget to take care of yourself in the process. You deserve to be spoiled sometimes; it's good for you and your health.

5. Let go of the past

It can be hard to let go of the past sometimes. We often beat ourselves up for what happened in our past. We said something we shouldn't have said, we lost best friends, we screwed up. The past is called 'the past' because it's over and done with. If it's in the past, then why worry? The beautiful thing is we can shape our future and learn from our mistakes. You will instantly feel happier if you focus on the present moment and make the best out of everything that happens to you, good or bad.

6. Be good to others

No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind. - Taylor Swift

If you see an elderly woman struggling to put groceries in her car, ask her if she would like some help. When you're in the drive-thru at Dunkin Donuts, pay for the person behind you. If a grocery store worker drops some boxes, help them pick them up. It's not hard to be a good person, you just need to be aware of all the people around you. We are all stories to other people. You have no idea what another person is going through, so be kind. One of the most important things in life is to value another human being's life whether you know them or not. It's hard to not hate somebody who treated us poorly, but hate only hurts YOU in the end. Being kind to others is very important and helps everybody live a move happier and healthier life at the end of the day.