Not feeling great? Then it's time for the happiness checklist

One day you're on top of the world, a few days later you're in a downer. What is that? The ebb and flow of life, babe. Instead of completely giving in to that negative mood or that listless feeling, you can also ask yourself why you're not happy right now.

Jelle Hermus (founder of SoChicken, check that site especially if you need positivity) describes it in his happiness checklist, a simple checklist that might help you too when life isn't going well. Because usually there are only a few reasons why you're not feeling great. Just ask yourself.

Am I tired?
Sometimes you have those days when irritations are flying at you. Is it really going badly for you? Meh. Maybe you just had a rough night and can handle less. Fatigue is incredibly harmful to your mood. Check with yourself if this is the case for you and if so: it's not as intense as it seems. Just go to bed early, tomorrow is another day.

Have you drunk and eaten enough? 
You're not yourself when you're hungry (I immediately think of that Snickers commercial), but it’s true. Not even when you're dehydrated, by the way, but strangely enough your body often only signals this at the end of the day when you are actually dehydrated. If you're having a complete downer, take a look at what you've eaten/drunk in the past few days. Maybe you're not tired at all, but your body just craves something healthy.

Have you been sitting still and indoors too much? 
How tempting is it to stay cooped up in your crib like a caveman on a dark rainy day? Very tempting. But fresh air and daylight are incredibly important for a good mood. And movement is a great way to boost your mood. So definitely don't skip that walk if you're feeling mweh! Oh and: social contact can also make you happy if you've been alone for a while. So call that friend during your walk.

Have you lost track? 
The days when you feel so overwhelmed by ‘everything’ you still ‘have to do’ that it feels like one big chaos in your head. You quickly lose focus and calm when you're juggling too many projects. Write down what’s fluttering through your mind, and select the 1-3 things that are most important. Then take small steps to get the chaos under control. You'll see: ticking off your to-do list with baby steps brings peace.

P.S..: And hey, no matter how bad your day may seem, remember this: somewhere in the world, someone is stepping on a Lego block with their bare foot.

That's what I mean.