Okay, so the first Monday after Paddy's Weekend may not seem like the ideal time to bring this up, but today, March 20th, is in fact International Day of Happiness.

Bear with us... you'll be glad you did, particularly if you're feeling a bit blue. This is the fifth year the World Health Organisation has celebrated International Day of Happiness, which recognises happiness as a fundamental human goal. It's something worth thinking about; what is happiness anyway? Are you happy? If not, can you learn it or buy it? While advertisers want us to believe that happiness can be found in the latest beauty product or diet drink, the truth is that lasting happiness is a habit. Like any habit, there are ways you can control it. And really, why wouldn't you? Who wouldn't choose to face the day with a smile on their face instead of schlepping through the week, praying for it to be over? Not to be confused with depression (a serious mental health condition that should always be taken seriously and managed with help from professionals) being temporarily down in the dumps is something we're all familiar with; and keen to change. We asked Mark Rowe, author of A Prescription For Happiness, for his tips to build into our daily lives in an effort to feel more positive. 1. Express gratitude regularly: It's dynamite for your wellbeing 2. Be kinder: Live to give 3. Cultivate great relationships: A recipe for real contentment 4. Set and work towards goals: Setting goals allows you to grow 5. Make time for what matters 6. Exercise regularly: Exercise is the greatest pill of all 7. Cultivate realistic optimism: Optimism is the oxygen  for opportunity