There's no denying that things are a bit more complicated these days as we work and learn from home. As we all try to gauge our happiness and do our best work, one thing is true – happiness really matters, especially when we're trying to be productive.

There are many ways to make this happen. Creating to-do lists, having a defined at-home work space, and prioritizing time for yourself are just a few examples. No matter how you approach happiness, the positive results are real. A joint study conducted earlier this year by MIT, the University of Oxford, and Erasmus University Rotterdam found that workers are 13 percent more productive when happy.

My approach to happiness has certainly evolved this year, but the goal of being satisfied with life and work remains constant. Here are some of the tips I have used to help me along the way, both personally and professionally.