Iowa State class sends students on the pursuit of happiness
Are you happy?
In a compilation of research and surveys on people from around the world, the World Happiness Report shows that the United States has fallen out of the top 20 happiest countries for the first time since the report was published in 2012 — dropping from 15 to 23.
Happiness is falling sharply for Americans under age 30, which is concerning to health experts, who say your happiness is critical to living a longer, healthier life.
Dr. Lena Rydberg, D.O. with the Iowa Clinic, says happier people make small habit changes that can have a big impact. She says regularly going for walks and getting a good night's sleep can help reduce blood pressure by 10-to-15 points, which could mean a patient would need less medication.
"Maybe it doesn't completely obliterate the need for it, but a lot of times, you can use half the dose or a third of the dose," Rydberg said.
Clinical psychologist Amie Zarling says habits of well-being pay off for the mind-body connection.
"Happier people get less colds, they are less likely to get chronic illnesses," she said.
Zarling says happiness is so important that she's teaching a new class at Iowa State University called the Science and Practice of Happiness. And there may be no better time.
"You know, 18- to 29-year-olds are an unhappy bunch right now," she said.
Zarling's goal is to give students the tools to navigate life's challenges.
"How can you maintain your well-being, even when life throws you curveballs?" Zarling said.
Zarling says research shows 50% of our happiness is a genetic set point we don't have much control over. Her class focuses on the things that can be changed — the 50% we have control over, something that has a lot to do with our habits.
"What research says is that the best way to change who we are, is to change what we do," she said.
Her students learn the science behind making habit changes and how it changes your brain. They also learn happiness isn't about love or money.
ISU senior Marah Allen is in the class.
"We all have different things that make us happy. For me, cleaning my apartment makes me happy," she said.
Zarling teaches that small habit changes increase your happiness and your overall well-being — an important lesson for ISU junior Alana Cordwin.
"Being able to understand putting your strengths into what you want to do in the future is really important," she said.
ISU senior graphic design student Joshua McCunn says the lessons he's learned from the class are already making a difference.
"Almost every time after I leave the class I feel I leave it better than I came in," he said.
The class will be offered again this fall at Iowa State.
But, for those of us who can't take the class, Zarling offers up things we can do to achieve happiness.
"It is never too late to start adding some happiness or well-being strategies to your life," she said.
Watch the video above to learn some of those strategies that can bolster your happiness.
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