5 ways to be happy in the face of looming global disaster, according to a Harvard psychologist
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So, Business Insider spoke to Tal Ben-Shahar - author of "Happier: Can you Learn to be Happy?", teacher of the most popular course in the history of Harvard University on positive psychology, and co-founder of the development program Potentialife - about how to stay cheerful, in spite of such impending global crises.
Reassuringly, Ben-Shahar explained that, except in extreme examples of war or poverty, happiness depends a lot more on our internal state of mind than the external events around us.
1. It's OK to mourn Brexit.
According to Ben-Shahar, political events like Brexit can bring about similar feelings to more personal losses - though you would expect these feelings to be less extreme.
"I think that what is happening right now [as a result of the EU referendum] is actually healthy," Ben-Shahar told Business Insider. "It is for many people a real loss - it's part of their identity."
He added: "We are almost going through a period of mourning."
Party of a healthy mourning process involves releasing anger and frustration, Ben-Shahar pointed out. By getting this over with, we can start to move on.
2. Hang out with friends, but avoid those who disagree with you.
Don't let your anger isolate you.
"People who are more open to other people, as opposed to getting more tribal and enclosed, are happier," Ben-Shahar said.
When Ben-Shahar is sad about something, the first thing he does is to speak to friends and family about it.
However, it is important not to look for comfort from people who disagree with you.
"If I was against Brexit, I wouldn't now go and cry on the shoulders of a friend who was pro-Brexit,"Ben-Shahar said. "You need people who can empathize."
3. Go for a run.
One of the easiest ways to boost your mood - though admittedly it never seems like it at the time - is to exercise.
After being on the wrong side of a momentous political event like Brexit, Ben-Shahar said, "all you want to do is watch more TV and hope for another referendum. No, you should get outside and exercise: be active."
"It could be swimming, jogging, football, or whatever," Ben-Shahar said. Just "30 mins of aerobic exercise" could give you enough endorphins to block out any lingering images of Nigel Farage celebrating.
4. Fake it until you make it.
If you can't shake the lingering feelings of anxiety every time you switch on BBC News, Ben-Shahar says one of the best tactics is to "fake it until you make it."
Act in the way that you would if you were happy. Make jokes, go out, do something fun. Eventually, joy should follow you.
"That's another lesson that I learned over the years: there are no quick fixes," he said. "Gradually, not in a day or a week, but gradually, things do get better."
5. Do something good for someone else.
A 2010 study on happiness found that donating to charity has a similar positive effect on well-being to being given double the amount of household income, according to the charity Giving What We Can.
However, doing a "concrete" kind or charitable act is much more effective than simply giving away cash, Ben-Shahar explained.
"Do something good for someone," Ben-Shahar said. "Open a door for someone, or help a friend. The little things actually make a huge difference to our happiness."