If you have ever struggled with being unhappy in your life and thought there must be ways to be happier then this is for you.

I went through a period in my life where I was unhappy. The relationship I was in, the friends that I surrounded myself with and the job I had to get up everyday and go to all made me incredibly unhappy. I knew that I was in control of my own feelings and in order to be happier in my own life there were steps that I needed to take.

So here are 7 ways to be happier in your life if you struggled like me.

Flush the negativity out of your life

Negativity can really drag you down, not only your own negative thoughts but other people that you surround yourself with. I used to be the most negative person, always down on myself and would become upset about the littlest things. These thoughts were partially due to the negativity that was expressed in my previous relationship through my ex-husband who wasn’t shy about letting his (unkind) feelings known towards me as well as others.

Once that relationship ended I felt 1000 times better not only about myself but about the world around me and that was partially due to kicking that negativity out of my life. Cut out the negative people and you will see how much happier your life can be. Check out this article on how to deal with the negative people in your life.

Minimize debt and be more mindful of spending habits

I love to spend money. I have never been good with my spending habits and that is one goal that I made for myself this year that I would try to budget more and spend less in order to pay down the debt that I owe. Student loans, credit cards and mortgage bills add up and when you spend money frivolously like I do at times it can be hard to maintain a budget. When I am in over my head on credit card bills, my happiness levels drop. Creating a budget and sticking to it is one important way to stop feeling so overwhelmed with money and become happier.

Stop comparing yourself to others

This is something I find myself doing constantly. It’s easy to compare your life to others through the lens of Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. People generally only portray what they want others to see on social media and leave the bad stuff out. I know I certainly was a culprit of doing this during my last relationship. It was easier to make others believe what I wanted them to believe instead of own up to the fact that my relationship was an absolute disaster.

That’s why it is so important to stop comparing ourselves to others, especially based off what we see on social media. Sure, there are plenty people out there that are better looking, have more money, better style and lead exciting fun-filled lives while traveling the world but this does not in any way mean that your life is boring or mundane.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

I know that when I feel good in my own skin, I am happier overall. Whether that means working out more, eating better or not drinking so much wine with dinner. I am not saying that you need to be skinny in order to be happy but I am saying that being healthier can lead to more positive feelings in your life.

Connect with friends more

The older you get the harder it is to retain connections with friends sometimes especially when you have children. I met some amazing people while in college but it has been difficult to keep those friendships alive when you add children, living distance, and work schedules. Working as nurse can be even more difficult because of having to work weekends and strange hours that normal jobs don’t require. More times then not I have to skip plans that happen on the weekends I work which happens a lot. Reconnecting with friends is an easy way towards a happier life.

Take time to relax and do the things you enjoy

I love to sew, read and write. I also love to take time to myself and go lay on the beach for a few hours with a good book, go to an hour long yoga class, or go hiking and exploring with the boyfriend. These are things that I rarely get to do between working, child activities and feeling absolutely exhausted all the time. Self care is so important in order to feel better mentally and physically. So taking the time, in between the kids activities, to really focus on something you enjoy can have a huge impact on your overall happiness.

Become more Organized

My life tends to exist in constant chaos. In order for me to feel better about what is going on around me, I need organization and planning. Without it my life continues to unravel until I basically throw my hands up and give up. Organization is one way to be happier in your life when your life is hectic and constantly changing. Grab a new planner or scheduler and get yourself organized.

Finally, taking action is one of the best ways to be happier in your life. If your unhappy, change it. These 7 ways to be happier may just help you out but unless you plan on implementing them fully into your life you may just continue on the way you are going. Try some out and I bet you’ll find that you too can be happier in your life.