It is safe to say that most people would rather stay positive and hopeful. No one in his or her right mind consciously expects things to go bad. In general, we all aspire to have a fruitful and happy life. To achieve this, staying positive is advice we constantly hear and consciously want to follow. The irony is that affirming that everything will be alright is not always easy. It becomes especially hard during tough times.  Yet choosing to let go of optimism is in a way accepting defeat without a fight. So even if you are feeling so low, it is a must to keep on looking for ways to keep your spirit up. It may not be so difficult by taking note of the following tips:

Lessen time on social media.

It may be a bit impossible to avoid social media nowadays because it has become a huge part of people’s daily lives. Yet too much time browsing your Facebook or Instagram feed can hurt your mental health, a study says. It is probably because seeing social media posts can heighten the need to keep up with your friends. So if you wish to keep the blues away, you can benefit by reducing the time you spend on social media. You can use the extra time to focus on your own progress instead.

Eat healthily.

Your mental health also depends on how healthy you are. To give the strength you need to stay positive, you have to aim and maintain good health. One research shows that vitamin deficiency can make you prone to stress and anxiety. So to maintain an optimistic attitude, you have to be mindful of the food and drinks you consume.  You may have to limit your intake of sweets and caffeine and eat more fruits and vegetables.

Smile and laugh.

It can seem like a huge task to put on a happy face when you are surrounded by negative people and circumstances. Yet have you ever heard the saying, “fake it till you make it”? This quote says that making the effort to still smile even if you are not in the mood for it has its advantages. One research says that doing so can trick your mind to happiness. So just smiling and laughing despite what you are going through can help you stay positive. You may just be surprised that you are not feeling gloomy anymore.

Listen to music.

Keeping depression at bay need not be complicated. It can be as easy as turning on your playlist to listen to the music you prefer. You may choose upbeat music to give the positive vibe you need. However, a study proves that even sad music can boost the mood of people with depression.  So if you do not want to drown in negative emotions that are bad for your overall well-being, you may want to start building a playlist.

To resolve to look at the bright side of things even in the face of misfortunes takes a lot of courage. You may even find it funny to look forward to blessings when you keep on losing or failing. Thus, just the effort to always choose hope instead of despair is already a victory worthy to celebrate. It is also a huge step that will get you closer to the success you are aiming for.