We’re college students. We’re incredibly busy. We’ve got a million and one things on our to-do lists.

We have to start studying for all of those exams we have this month and keep up with our friends and make time to call our moms. Thinking about something as abstract as happiness seems out of touch. But if you read “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin, you just might change your mind.

What is “The Happiness Project?”

Gretchen’s goal was simple – to be happier. After doing copious amounts of research, she decided to challenge herself to reach this goal in one year. Each month, the author chose a theme (energy, money, friendship, etc.) and made specific resolutions for that month’s theme. The “energy” month included resolutions like “go to sleep earlier,” “exercise better,” “toss, restore, organize,” “tackle a nagging task,” and “act more energetic.” Each day, Gretchen would mark off which resolutions she adhered to on a resolutions chart. If it seems very regimented and strict, that’s because it is. You have to give it to Gretchen for really going after it.

Why should you, a college student, read this book?

The better question would be why shouldn’t you? It’s funny, brutally honest, a quick read, and will really make you think about your own happiness. Even if you’re not interested in starting your own happiness project (I don’t blame you, it sounds like a lot of work), reading the author’s account of hers is inspiring, thought-provoking, and entertaining. At the end of the day, we could all learn something from this book. Maybe your money problems are dragging you down, or you want to work on your relationships with your friends. There’s something for everyone in this book, I promise.

Can I get a SparkNotes version?

Like I said, a lot of the book’s sections are so relatable it hurts. It’s truly worth a read. However, if you really don’t have the time to read “The Happiness Project,” I’ll hit some of the highlights. 

Don’t expect to wake up one day and be happier

This is definitely my biggest takeaway from “The Happiness Project.” If you don’t actively try to be happier, it probably won’t happen. You have to identify what things will improve your quality of life and go after them. The author highlights the arrival fallacy, “the belief that when you arrive at a certain destination, you’ll be happy.” While job offers, good grades, and graduation are all exciting things to look forward to, these milestones won’t necessarily improve our levels of happiness. “The challenge, therefore, is to take pleasure in the ‘atmosphere of growth.’” 

Follow the “one-minute rule”

This makes so much sense, I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this before. Essentially, if it will take you less than one minute to do something, don’t put it off. Picking up a single piece of clothing off the floor is a lot less daunting than waiting until you can’t see your carpet on Sunday night. Doing these little tasks as they arise will keep you from getting overwhelmed by a mountain of responsibilities.

Surround yourself with good people

Even the most mundane tasks can be made fun if you’re with the right people. “Whether you are exercising, commuting, or doing housework, everything is more fun in company.” There are weeks where I feel like I have so much piled on my plate I couldn’t possibly make time to see friends. Instead of letting the responsibilities get me down, I try to include my friends as often as possible. Asking your friends to go to the grocery store or to the library with you can change a dreaded task into a fun(ish) outing.   

Figure out a work schedule that works for you

For Gretchen, 90 minutes was the magic number – “long enough for [her] to get some real work done but not so long that I started to goof off or lose concentration.” A lot of people swear by separating your work time into blocks, so give it a try the next time you sit down to study. The author also began to squeeze in 15 extra minutes of work every day, and she claims it boosted her productivity. Basically, don’t fall into the trap of sitting in the library for hours just because you feel like it’s what you should do. You know what they say, “Work smarter, not harder.”

If reading a book seems like too much of a commitment, follow the author’s blog or listen to her podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin. You’ll get the same nuggets of wisdom in much smaller doses. Let us know what you thought of “The Happiness Project” in the comments below or tag us on social media @AuburnCampusRec. Happy reading!

Be well, Auburn.

Photography: Abbey C.