Between piles of student debt, a slowly recovering economy and the looming pressure of expectations from family and society at large, navigating the tumultuous waters of your 20s can be overwhelming and downright depressing. With so much of your future riding on the choices you make during this decade of life, it's no surprise that many 20-somethings are struggling to feel happy.

Luckily, people have a lot more control over their present happiness than they might think.

Here are five "happiness hacks" that will get you on track in your pursuit of happiness today.

Smile

People smile when they're happy, but did you know that it can work the other way around too? Studies show that consciously smiling can increase our levels of happiness and reduce stress.

The interesting thing is that positive results were not limited to genuine smiles. Even forced or fake smiles signal to your brain that you are happier, in turn, making you feel genuinely happy.

So next time you're stuck in traffic, stressed about paying your rent or just feeling sad, try smiling.

Keep a gratitude journal

One of the best ways to practice happiness is to focus on what is currently good in your life.

By focusing on the positive, you literally start to rewire your brain. Our brains are naturally programmed to focus more heavily on the negative stimuli in our lives. Scientists call this the negativity bias. It is the result of our natural flight or fight response, making negative experiences leave stronger impressions on us.

Luckily, though, people can rewire these natural negative thought patterns into positive ones with simple exercises like gratitude journals.

Keep a daily journal and write down the things you're grateful for. Research by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough showed that people who wrote down just five things they were grateful for each day were 25 percent happier than those who did not.

Surround yourself with happy people

While people have a lot of control over their perceived reality, cultivating a positive and happy environment goes a long way to nurture happiness. According to a study conducted by Harvard University and the University of California, happiness is actually contagious. This means your close associations can have a significant impact on your emotional well-being, including how happy you feel.

So be sure to surround yourself with happy people.

Nurture happy relationships with your neighbors, spouse, co-workers and friends. If there are toxic or negative relationships in your life, work to improve those connections or, if necessary, leave those negative influences behind you and move on.

Ask yourself if the people you spend time with at home, at work, or at school encourage you to focus on happy things or if they are caught in negative thought patterns. Serial complaining can be just as contagious as happiness, so keep those interactions to a minimum.

The more time you spend around happy people, the happier you will be too.

Identify your purpose

Many 20-somethings struggle to find their fundamental purpose and their life's raison d'etre. Instead, they may wander from job to job or relationship to relationship without a clear path or vision. Unfortunately, this can land you in a career you don't value and relationships that are unfulfilling.

It's easy to say "Find your passion" or "Figure out your purpose." It's much harder to actually do it.

Start by reflecting on your core strengths and values.

• What do you love doing? (It doesn't have to be career-focused)

• When was the last time you were really happy? What were the circumstances?

• What do you want your legacy to be?

• What do people compliment you on the most?

• Do you have special talents or gifts?

• What do you value most in life? (Family, adventure, health, justice, etc.)

Once you start answering these questions, you can begin to outline a clearer picture of your goals and purpose in life. And with that purpose, you can start living more authentically and align every part of your life with those values.

As your life aligns more clearly with your purpose, you will be happier and find more meaning and fulfillment in your work and relationships.

Unplug

Today's 20-somethings are part of the mobile generation. For many of us, disconnecting from our phones or devices feels akin to losing a limb. But there may be more serious consequences to our 24/7 reliance on technology.

Studies show that heavy use of computers and mobile devices can lead to sleep disorders, stress, and mental health issues in young adults. And there is a clear connection between lack of sleep and higher rates of depression in people of all ages.

One simple solution is to consciously disconnect regularly from your devices, especially right before bed. Experts recommend turning off your screens at least an hour before bedtime. This allows your brain to decompress and switch naturally into sleep mode.

Not only will unplugging improve your sleep patterns, it will also give you the opportunity to be present and mindful of your surroundings. Use this time to meditate, spend time in nature and connect in person with other people. All of these things will help you feel happier and more genuinely connected to the world around you.

Too often people subscribe to the belief that happiness is a state to be achieved or a prize to be won. While it is a good thing to strive to improve and progress, people do themselves a disservice to put off being happy until they reach some arbitrary benchmark.

Instead of prescribing to the mindset of "I will be happy if..." or "I will be happy when..." give yourself permission to be happy now.

The post How to be happy in your 20s appeared first on FamilyToday.

It's Friday night. You're home alone in your pajamas, cuddling your Tom Hiddleston body pillow on the couch and nursing a full pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream (okay, by now it's only half a pint-but we're not judging). How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is playing on TV. Dazzling Kate Hudson has just decided to write about ditching a boyfriend in ten days and you think to yourself, "I can't even find a boyfriend, let alone lose him."

In fact, it's been so long since you last had a man to "play The Game" with, you're not even sure you know the rules anymore. How does one even join The Game? Is there a Subscribe button somewhere or do you have to wait for an invite?

For some reason, you're never on the guest list and the Dating Bouncer keeps giving you the stiff arm.

The truth is, life isn't like the fairy tales we see on the silver screen. It's messier. And (to take a line from Jack Sparrow's book), the rules are more like guidelines in this dating game.

So, if there are no rules, no manual, and no boyfriends in sight, what's a girl to do?

But finding a boyfriend in ten days can be even easier than losing one. (And with these tips, you can even find one you'll actually want to hang on to).

Without further ado, here are ten things you can do to come closer each day to finding your next boyfriend.

Day One: Preparation

If you aren't prepared for a relationship, how can you expect to land a boyfriend when you do find him? Before you set off on a (literal) manhunt, work on yourself first.

Ask yourself:

• Are you getting enough sleep?

• Do you take time for personal hygiene and grooming before you head out the door?

• Are you eating well and setting aside time to regenerate each day?

• Do you spend time with friends and loved ones regularly?

• Do you pursue your personal interests and goals?

These aren't revolutionary, but they are crucial to setting a foundation for a healthy relationship. Take care of yourself, and you will become happier, healthier, and more confident. Not only will you be ready for a boyfriend, but you'll also start attracting guys who appreciate your "got-it-togetherness."

Day Two: Treat Yo' Self

Once you've got your foundation, set aside a day just for you. Your future boyfriend can wait. Do something that makes you happy. Happiness is attractive, and the more content you are with you, the more magnetic your personality will become. (Besides, you want to look and feel your best for that boyfriend around the corner.)

Day Three: Find Your Confidence

Men love a woman who is comfortable with herself and owns who she is. You don't have to be an extrovert or the center of attention wherever you go. Quiet confidence is just as powerful.

How do you generate confidence? Here are a few tips:

• Do power poses: Body language is one of the most important signals to others about your self-perception and level of interest in potential partners. Master power posing and watch the boyfriends come running.

• Fake it to make it. You may not always feel confident, but if you act confident, others won't be able to tell the difference-and eventually, neither will you.

• Smile. Like power poses, smiling has significant psychological impact on our self-perception. Smiling-even when you're sad-tells your brain that you're happy and confident. Plus, it makes you look friendly to eligible boyfriends-win-win!

Day Four: Get Up and Get Out

Unless you have a reservoir of boyfriends in your basement (in which case, you probably don't need to read this-and also, do we need to call the cops?), you'll have to leave your house to find a boyfriend. Luckily, you're armed with a balanced life and renewed self-confidence, so you're ready.

Plan a night out with some friends, head to the gym, or just run some errands. Whatever you decide to do, put yourself in situations where you can meet other people. You're not going to get anywhere (literally or figuratively) if you're always glued to the couch.

Day Five: Be Friendly

Finding a boyfriend is a lot easier if you're friendly. For the introverts out there, this doesn't mean you have to start conversations with a bunch of strangers, but don't linger in the shadows. Smile and engage in conversation. Show genuine interest in what others are saying-whether you want to date them or not.

Courtesy and kindness stand out. Curate good karma by spreading positivity and being generous with your time and interest. It won't be long before those positive vibes are reciprocated by a would-be boyfriend.

Day Six: Try New Things

Humans are creatures of habit. But don't let your routines turn into ruts. If you haven't found a boyfriend in your usual circles, you probably won't have luck waiting around for that to change.

Try a new restaurant, or attend an event you've never been to before. Consider striking out on your own. Even though going solo can be intimidating, it will force you to interact with others. You'll meet and connect with new people. And who knows? One of them might just be your next boyfriend.

Day Seven: Relax

Everyone needs a day off now and then. Sometimes the best way to find a boyfriend is to stop trying so hard. Take a day to relax and unwind. Let love have a day to come find you for a change.

Day Eight: Stay Open-minded

The people who are best suited for us are not always who we expect. As you put yourself out there and make friends, keep an open mind. Sometimes love is less about fireworks and more about a slow burn. Before you write a guy off as "non-boyfriend material," be open to taking the relationship to a romantic level.

Day Nine: Take Initiative

It's Day Nine and no boyfriend. Don't fret just yet! While everyone loves to be pursued now and then, there's nothing wrong with taking matters into your own hands. Most men love a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it. If you have your eye on a guy, harness your inner confidence (don't forget to power pose!) and ask him out.

You're a strong, independent woman! You can do this.

Day Ten: Commit

You made it to the finish line! Congratulations. By now you should have at least one guy on your radar who's interested. All you have to do is commit. Now, I know what you're thinking: "It's only been a few days. How can I just commit to a boyfriend so quickly?" Breathe. We're not asking you to put a ring on it or walk down the aisle (yet). Remember, the goal here was just to get a boyfriend­­­. But he's not your boyfriend until there is some level of mutual commitment. So woman up and make it happen, girl! Tell him how you feel. You won't know if he's The One until you give it a shot. So pick your guy, grab a love fern, and ride off into the sunset.

Finding a boyfriend isn't always easy. But if you are striving every day to improve and be the best version of yourself you can be, good things (including boyfriends) will surely come your way.

So sit back, finish your ice cream, and then go out and get one of your own!

The post How to find a guy in 10 days (or get a boyfriend for keeps) appeared first on FamilyToday.