Get plenty of sleep

National surveys find that when someone claims to have 5 or more friends with whom they can discuss important problems, they are 60 percent more likely to say that they are ‘very happy’.
Excerpt from the book Finding Flow.

True friends really are worth their weight in gold. Check in regularly with close friends (around every two weeks).

Self-esteem is good for confidence, but self-esteem that is bound to external success can be quite fickle. 

Think of yourself less and avoid the trap of tying your self-worth to external signals.

Blaming the world for your problems is the easy way out. 

It gives you short-term relief, you lie in your imagined victimhood, but ultimately it implies that you are incapable of controlling your own fate. 

"You can only fix your own imperfections and not the imperfections of others. So you may as well get to work on them."

Understand the common triggers. Once you understand which one is behind your depression, you can better learn how to cope with depression.

Feelings of loss, “less than” and “never going to happen” are the major reasons that most people dip into depression. Loss can result from a loved one dying or losing a job; feelings of “less than” can be triggered by comparing yourself to others you view as having more than you and “never” occurs when you start believing that your goals and dreams are completely out of reach. 

Many of those trying to find ways to deal with depression have formed limiting beliefs that negatively affect how they think.

If you come from a family who has never had a member attend college, you might believe that you are not smart enough to achieve your goals. Another common limiting belief is that they are supposed to be sad because depression or anxiety runs in their family. 

• They spend money on others. One reason is that it creates social connections.
• They celebrate other people's success through "active and constructive" responding.
• They treat everyone with respect and kindness. Kindness, like happiness, is contagious.
• They're proactive about relationships. They work on maintaining their relationships.
• They express gratitude. It improves mood and energy and decreases anxiety.
• They engage in deep, meaningful conversations.

• They're optimistic. Bad things happen to all of us. Happy people don't complain, whine or let pessimism become a self-fulling prophecy.
• They view problems as challenges. They focus on solutions to the problem and reflect on what they're grateful for.

Research shows that feeling “rushed” is a one-way street to stress and unhappiness. Too much boredom can be burdensome. 

To find a balance, learn to say "no" to opportunities that do not excite you.

Do:

• Check-in regularly with good friends (around 2 weeks for very close friends).
• Celebrate the good things in their life; let them know through active and constructive listening. 
• Studies show people love hearing themselves talk and talking about themselves, so let them.

Remote working is not without its challenges, with many feeling isolated and unmotivated, being left on their own.

Communication is trickier with colleagues and bosses, and there is a general lack of transparency and chances of overworking.

• Being Tech Savvy: A Good PC/Laptop, the latest tools and software for the job, and a reliable internet connection are a must for most remote working profiles.
• Good Communication Skills: Most of the communication will be written, and one should be able to articulate complex concepts and subtleties while being concise. This link provides a handy guide.

"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give."

• Reflect on what you appreciate and love about your partner, friends, or family members.
• Express your appreciation to them.
• Take the time to see how you can help someone out.
• Slow down for 3 minutes. Let your thoughts and body also slow down while you pay attention to life around you.
• Smile towards the people you meet.
• Make someone else happy. Give him or her a gift of some kind.
• Take fewer things for granted, like your food, the weather, or small gestures. It will inspire and motivate you.
• Take action and create the day you wish to have.
• Say yes to something new.
• Say no to a should that isn't that important.
• Take a 2-minute laugh-break.
• Do what you deep down think is the right thing.
• Stand still for a minute, close your eyes and simply enjoy the sun.

Skipping meals actually makes your body less able to assimilate food, and you are more liable to overeat at the next meal. 

If you keep yourself from getting too hungry, you may be able to avoid a bad mood.

The biggest bad mood culprits are refined carbohydrates and refined white starches that cause your blood sugar to go up and down like a rollercoaster.

Blood sugar spikes and drops can leave you with a short-lived burst of energy followed by a tired, cranky feeling.

Choosing one path means missing another.

When you feel FOMO coming on, ask yourself if the trigger is really something you wish you were doing yourself, or if the sudden recollection of the great number of choices in life has simply brought on a moment of insecurity about your own. 

If it’s the latter, taking a moment to reaffirm your decision is all it takes to chase the FOMO away.

Keep in mind that your FOMO trigger may not relate directly to something you wish you were doing yourself, but can instead point more broadly to something you want to change about your life.

Examine the source of your FOMO before dismissing it; there may be a good reason you feel insecure about your decisions.