Did you know that happiness is the single best word that captures the construct, or concept, of wellbeing? When we are happy, we experience positive emotions that allow us to broaden our perspective and build our resources, according to Dr. Barbara Frederickson, author of Positivity.

On the flip side, when we’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed or are experiencing the symptoms of depression, we get tunnel vision and make short sighted decisions out of our instinct for self-preservation. In these situations, we can often have trouble seeing the goodness in life, making it difficult to sustain the healthy habits that make us feel good and keep us on track. At its most basic level, stress can sabotage us and our best efforts.

Here are several strategies you can use to boost your level of happiness—the antidote to stress—in both the short term and long term:

Identify your unique “Flow states.” In his book Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes Flow as the “sweet spot” between challenge and skill. To identify when you are in flow, ask yourself: What am I doing when I…

• am at my most creative?
• lose all sense of time?
• feel most alive?
• am so caught up in the moment that I cease to exist?

By using your flow states, you can expect to more effectively renew and recharge, positioning yourself for greater happiness, life satisfaction and optimal performance.

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