21 People Share Their Secret To Staying Positive During Hard Times

OK, the problematic nature of telling women to smile aside, this is a research-based piece of advice, not a performative one. Smiling can make you feel better instantly — even science says so. It can improve your mood, relieve stress, boost your immune system, and help lower your blood pressure.

Perspective is key: if you're in a bad situation, odds are it's not permanent. Reminding yourself that you just need to hang in there a little longer can help get you through.

Practice gratitude. Science has found that gratitude is good for your health, helping to release positive chemicals in your brain, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve sleep.

Practice makes perfect. Being positive doesn't come naturally to some of us, if not most of us. Practicing being thankful is no different than practicing anything else: the more you do it, the more manageable it becomes and the better you get at it.

Don't underestimate the power of going for a walk. Walking can boost your vitamin D levels, make you happier, and give you energy.

There's nothing wrong with needing help to stay positive. I like to watch clips from Ellen DeGeneres because she makes me giggle.

This is one more thing science agrees on: journaling is good for your health. It can help get you out of depression and works wonders on your mood. If there are any doubts about the concrete effects of journaling, know this: it can even help relieve asthma and rheumatoid arthritis!

Talking with a friend might be all you need. Some of us tend to keep feelings, especially negative ones, bottled up. Find someone who's a good listener — getting things off your chest might be the first step to greater positivity.

Cracking open a good book can make everything so much better. Reading is a therapeutic activity that can lower your stress level, help you process reality, and improve sleep. Spending time buried in a good book will certainly help you find the silver lining in any situation.

No matter how bad things are, there's always a bright side to life. Actively look for the good.

Finding a reason to laugh — even if you have to force it a little — could make all the difference in the world. Laughter is another stress-reliever that improves mood and promotes healing.

We don't always get things right, but that's OK. Life isn't meant to be perfect.

This is so important, especially when it comes to negative people, because this can get a little tricky. We're tempted to listen to their problems and try to help them, and we're convinced that their negativity doesn't affect us; but there's serious weight behind the saying, "You are the company you keep." Their negativity will affect you.

Focus on the solution, not the problem. Stressing yourself out and feeling upset will only makes things worse.

Here's another interesting approach: don't view your problems as problems at all. Look at them as obstacles to tackle.

You know the one thing you can control? Your attitude. Nobody can take that away from you.

It might sound morbid, but remembering life is short — and thus, you should enjoy as much of it as you can — could help you keep a positive attitude.

Get out of your own head and do something for others. Volunteering has recorded psychological benefits, and giving back has been found to be related to good mental health.

While living a generally positive life is the goal here, it's important to note that you don't have to be positive all the time. Trying to be happy 24/7 puts an insane amount of pressure on yourself. Sometimes, it's OK to be sad or angry.

Don't wait on other people to make you happy — you need to be able to handle this on your own, because there's no guarantee that certain people will always be around to put a smile on your face. Sad? Yes, but true.

Maybe don't take this perspective too far, because you're not meaningless. But it's an interesting viewpoint: in the grand scheme of things, many of our problems are probably pretty small. Why not be happier?

While some people argue that hitting rock bottom isn't a necessary prerequisite to feeling better, it still implies one important thing: you can only move on up from here.