How To Be Happy At SSU
January 29, 2015
By: Lisa Danca
During our last Red Skies meeting of 2014, the staff and I jotted down some article ideas for the spring semester. When our advisor, Professor Flynn, suggested a New Year Resolutions piece, the sounds of moans and groans immediately filtered the room. I was shocked that everyone on my staff viewed having a resolution as something discouraging and stupid. Although we should never wait for an arbitrary date to make positive changes in our lives, I think it’s important to set goals because they are all about bringing happiness into our lives. A major lesson I learned this past year, is that happiness is a moving target. Any college student will agree that every semester is a roller coaster, so here is a list of things you can do to improve your time at SSU.
1. Get Active + Eat Healthy Food: Now, I’m not saying you have to be an athlete, but it’s important to work out. Exercise releases endorphins and to quote the movie Legally Blonde, “endorphins make you happy and happy people don’t kill people.” Additionally, it’s important to eat healthy as you are what you eat. You don’t have to stop eating junk food, you just need to make sure you’re adding in more fruits and vegetables into your diet.
Grab a smoothie at Marsh Dining. It’s always smart to drink a smoothie at the start of the day before you have any bad food clogging your stomach.
Utilize the Gasset Fitness Center. There are tons of awesome free benefits there including intramural sports, yoga, and Zumba.
If you live in a apartment, take a trip to the Salem Farmer’s Market for fresh produce. It is open from April to October.
Dine at Life Alive on Essex Street in Salem. They were voted the Best Vegetarian Restaurant in 2014 by North Shore Magazine.
2. Express Yourself: It’s not shallow to take pride in how you look unless you let yourself only be defined by your looks. When you take care of yourself, you feel good and it in turn makes you better equipped to help others. Fortunately, Salem is a diverse city filled with a bunch of cool and eclectic stores to help you express yourself.
J Mode. This store includes designers like Three Dots, Nicole Miller, and Autumn Cashmere. You can even reserve a shopping party here with six of your girlfriends and have a personal stylist help.
Rouge has not only won the Best of Boston for makeup shopping, you can also go there for applications and lessons. Their team of makeup artists are always in demand for weddings, head shots, and proms.
You can your Clipper Card atLivingWell Body, Facial Treatments, and Nails & Spa Company.
Re-find’s Men is a store that specializes in new and resale clothing. Their average price is around $25. The store also sells collar stays, cool socks, caps and specialty soaps.
3. Donate + Take Care Of The Things You Own: Sometimes the only way to be happy is to cultivate a grateful heart. Remember the wise saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”? Though you may no longer like whatever it is you decide to donate, it will be a blessing for another person. Secondly, take pride in what you own. It will help you value the work you put into buying something and in turn will make you value yourself. All of these organizations accept clothes and jewelry, but the ones with a * also take home goods and furniture.
Life Bridge Thrift Shop*
Clever Diva
Witch City Consignment & Thrift Store
Re-find Boutique
The Taj Garage*
Re-find Mens
Modern Millie
Penelope’s Consignment
4. Love Other People + Continue To Grow: Take some time to reflect on a cause you deeply care about and join an organization or charity that supports it. This is another tip that will make you feel thankful and allow your blessings to flow through you.
Campus Educators on Sexual Assault- Offers training in sexual assault education and prevention right here on campus.
Community Service Group- Provides service events that will serve the well being of the Salem State community and the surrounding area.
HAWC- A non-profit organization that offers free confidential, and comprehensive services to all individuals experiencing domestic violence.
The Salem Children’s Charity- For more than twenty years, this non-profit organization has provided for children in need within the Salem community.
Want to know more ways on how to be happy? Check out the links below:
Happiness Jar: http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-a-Happiness-Jar Book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Happiness-Project-Aristotle-Generally/dp/006158326X
Contributor’s Note: Co Editor-in-Chief Lisa Danca was inspired to do this series after reading some blogs.