Happiness is important to everyone. Most people want to be happy but few know how to find happiness. Money and success don’t bring long-lasting happiness. Happiness depends on ourselves. In other words, we make our own happiness.

Some people believe that if they are wealthy, with the money they will be able to do anything they want, which means happiness. On the other hand, some people believe that holding a high position in the government is happiness. In this way, you have not only money, but also many other things which can’t be bought by money. However, other people believe that having lots of money is not happiness, nor is holding a high position in the government. These people value (重视) their beliefs, or their intelligence, or their health. They think these can make them happy.

Here are a few ways to help you be happier.

The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future, for example, getting into college or getting a good job that we don’t enjoy the present. You should enjoy life’s simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have close friends usually enjoy happier and healthier lives.

The second secret of happiness is to be active. Many people go dancing or play sports. People can forget about their problems and only think about the activities.

Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. According to studies, people feel good when they volunteer their time to do many meaningful things for other people. If you want to feel happier, do something nice for someone. You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping to get food for an old neighbor, or simply help around the house.

Now maybe you know how to find happiness!

Many students think about how to best spend their time while studying. But what we can do before study can be important too—especially if you want to improve your memory of what you have learned.

Exercise

Before you study, doing cardiovascular exercise (有氧运动) may help you better remember what you learn. High-intensity exercise (高强运动) may be especially helpful. In a 2018 study, published in the journal Physiology and Behavior, researchers found that a group of young people who did 15 minutes of high-intensity training remembered more words.

Some studies suggest the importance of different kinds of exercise. It seems that both long, slow cardiovascular exercise and high-intensity exercise have different effects on memory. Researchers have suggested combining the two to get the best effects for your memory.

Location

Location is also important for improving your learning. While it is good to have a desk or a special study area, some research suggests that changing where you study could help you remember more of what you study.

Our memories sometimes depend on things in our environment. For example, a book might remind you of something interesting or strange you learned while reading it.

"Environmental Context and Human Memory," a famous study on memory, dealt with the question of memory and our surroundings. Researchers Smith, Glenberg and Bjork found that environmental context played a big part in how well people remembered words. The researchers noted that subjects who learned from a list remembered an average of 15.9 words, while subjects who learned in two different contexts remembered an average of 24.4 words.

Be sure to plan your location before you start to study.

Pre-study test

Students often study with a test in mind. They think the test is the final step to show how much they have learned. But taking a pre-study test is also important.

In 2018, researchers found that students who took a test before learning new material did much better after studying the material. The research was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

So, try to take a pre-study test.

We have explored three things you can do before study to improve your learning. In the future, we will explore things you can do during and after your study sessions to improve your learning.

“I always can’t find time to learn maths,” Robert says to Frank.

“You can use fragments of time（碎片时间）, We have 10 minutes now before breakfast, Why not begin?” his brother says.

“Ten minutes. That’s nothing. I must have a run with my dog now,” Robert answers and takes his dog outside.

After breakfast, the two boys walk to school. It takes them 15 minutes to get there. On their way Frank recites（背诵）something in maths. But Robert runs and sings happily all the way.

“Let’s play basketball” some friends say after school. Robert runs after those boys. Frank spends 30 minutes on maths in the classroom. Then he joins the boys and plays basketball. The two boys are tired in the evening and go to bed early.

The next day, Frank knows the answer to the maths teacher’s every question. But Robert doesn’t.

“_________, Frank?” he asks. “I am trying（努力）to use any time,” Frank answers.