If you do have a partner, then having regular sex, at least a few times a week, has proven to help people stay in a good mood, too! You may think that, just because your worries are work or school related, that your loved one won’t be able to make you feel better about it. That’s where you’re wrong!

Of course, if you’re not feeling it, you don’t have to hang out with your friends. But if you make spending time with friends a bigger priority, then this habit will lead to a better mood, long term. And hey, if you spend time with friends who tend to be happy and love laughter, then they’ll make you feel happier, too. If you’re hanging out with a bunch of Debbie Downers, then you won’t be on your way to a better mood.

When you get up, read a good book or the sports section of the paper. Also, give yourself a few minutes of peace before you turn on your phone or computer; this will help you feel like you’re present in the moment before you really start your day. Try decreasing the amount of negative news you consume overall. Don’t tune out major events, but don’t constantly consume negative news, either. Negative information tends to be more memorable, and it can impact how you feel throughout your day. [1] X Research source Try decreasing the amount of social media you use, too. Too much time on social media can make you compare your life to others. Since social media often shows the best parts of other people’s lives, consuming too much can make you feel unnecessarily bad about your own life. [2] X Research source

If you think there are major reasons you struggle to stay happy, such as a dead-end job or a difficult relationship, try setting a goal to make a major change. Then, break your larger goal into smaller actions and focus on one action at a time. Every time you complete one, you will feel a little better and be a little closer to your goal.

It takes practice to be all zen and not let the outside world get to you. If you need time, take time to understand what happened, see how you can learn from it, and then move right on.

One of the reasons you may not be staying in a good mood is just because you’ve been cooped up working all day. Physical activity has been shown to directly impact your mood, so get up and get moving. [8] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source