‘Happy’ tricks can induce mood during tough times

The end of semester is a stressful time of the year for many students. Many just want to be able to smile and laugh, but it can be hard when you’re loaded with homework and assignments.

However, there are ways to trick your brain into making you feel happy, even when under a stressful situation.

Having a snack while in between studying can increase happiness. Serotonin is one of the four chemicals in your brain that affects your happiness, and over 80 percent of the serotonin in your body is located in the stomach. So, feeling a little hungry and a little grumpy? Have a snack and replenish your serotonin levels.

The term “fake it ‘til you make it,” is a popular saying, and actually holds some merit, according to the journal Psychological Science. Subjects that were told to hold a smile for four minutes, recorded feeling positive and happy up to 10 minutes after the allotted four minutes of held smiles.

Yoga is a trending hobby that promotes physical health and inner tranquility. Over the past years, a similar hobby is taking shape that promotes laughing and happiness, called laughter yoga.

Laughter yoga was brought over to America from Mumbai, India, by Dr. Madan Kataria. Laughter yoga consists of a group of people laughing together for no reason. The laughter helps to relax the body and provide physical benefits such as reducing pain and lowering stress.

Laughter yoga, combined with smiling, is guaranteed to make anybody happy.