January, a month of new beginnings and New Year’s resolutions, a month of happiness, turned to disappointment and realization that, yes, this is just another year.

Maybe it’s the book talking, but I disagree. This will be a year of change, a year of happiness and good energy.

To start the year with a good attitude and a new perspective, I have been reading the book “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin. With this is mind you have to realize this isn’t normally my attitude towards life, all sunshine and butterflies.

I normally think about everything that could possibly go wrong and assume the worst is going to happen. After reading the first chapter of this book, though, I have decided to change my perspective on life and live a potentially happier life.

The book is split into months, and each month adds new tasks to creating a new and happier self.

The first resolutions in the month of January include the following:

• Go to sleep earlier
• Exercise better
• Toss, Restore, Organize
• Tackle a nagging task
• Act more energetic

Going to sleep earlier boosts your energy level and creates a more productive day. Not only does it improve your happiness but it also improves your overall health. Going to bed earlier also creates extra time in the morning to exercise.

Exercising before the rest of your day will create a new energy and release of endorphins leading to a happier day overall. Even the simple task of walking will help clear your mind and create clearer thoughts.

Toss, restore, and organize … your house, your closets and your planner. Go through all of it. Toss what you don’t need, organize what you keep and restore what needs fixing. These are all things that will help to create a happier and more organized life.

Disorder in your life is a drain. Rubin writes how seeing the mess and ignoring it only adds to stress in your life. This leads to tackling your nagging tasks. Have something little that continually gets put off? Just do it. Get it out of your way so you can go on with your life. The satisfaction of knowing you finally completed that task will bring much more happiness and satisfaction into your life.

These things all create more energy but simply acting more energetic will add happiness not only to your life but those who surround you. Positive energy plays such a large role in our everyday lives that it affects our happiness the most. To be energetic is to be happy. To be happy is to be you.