50 Reasons Why You May Be Unhappy Right Now

Telling someone to “be happy” is easier said than done.

We’re all going through something and you may be unhappy for many various reasons.

They key is to know WHY you’re feeling that way so you can do something about it.

Don’t know why you’re feeling miserable?

1. Hunger

Who doesn’t get cranky or angry when they’re hungry?

Enough said.

2. You lack sleep.

We’re all aware of the 8-10 hours of sleep requirement to function “normally,” but we choose to disregard it anyway.

We then end up regretting the previous night’s decision when we drag ourselves across our bedroom floor in the morning.

Repeat cycle.

3. Indecisiveness

You make thousands of decisions in a day.

Tiny ones such as whether or not to get out of bed, choosing what to wear, deciding where to park, and selecting what to eat, are just a few.

Sure, bigger decisions may take more time, but don’t let it rule – or ruin – your life.

The more confident you are about what you chose, the greater the chances of it being a good one.

You can also consult those you trust.

4. Holding grudges.

Exert your energy somewhere else instead.

You deserve peace of mind; whoever you’re holding grudges against can probably care less.

You only harm yourself in the process and you may be unhappy in the long run.

5. Expectations

Whether they’re self-expectations or expectations from others, they will either be too high or too low.

Instead of being discouraged, set them slightly lower – make them challenging, but still attainable.

When you accomplish them, you’ll have more reasons to celebrate.

Stop setting yourself up for disappointment by constantly comparing your expectations with reality.

6. Less time for yourself.

Some days you just need to be by yourself.

Life needs a pause button, too.

Take time to reflect and refuel.

There’s a difference between wanting to be alone and being left alone.

“You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person.” – Olivia Wilde

7. Untidy surroundings.

Whether it is your room or any part of the house, you may be unhappy with things that are disheveled or broken.

The more cluttered your surroundings, the unhappier you are.

Maybe it’s time you revamped your living room or finally get that garage door fixed.

8. You are afraid of making mistakes.

Failure is the only thing that’s keeping you from trying.

Imagine all the things you’re missing out on just because you don’t want to fall short.

Don’t let it keep you from living large.

9. You’re jealous.

Stop comparing yourself to somebody else’s life, be it virtually through social media (especially Instagram) or in the flesh.

Remember: what they choose to reveal only covers a fraction of their life.

It’s amazing what a few filters and edits can do.

Don’t be deceived; you are perfect just the way you are.

10. Stress levels are high.

No one asked you to get worked up over that one driver who cut you off on your way home.

Move on.

Learn how to determine when something is irrelevant and NOT worth stressing over.

You will feel so much better.

On top of that, meditation should help.

11. You’re with the wrong person.

Don’t let the thought of being alone for the rest of your life make you settle for less than what you deserve.

You’re unhappy in your relationship because of your own doing, and you can either do something to improve it or leave.

12. You don’t have a pet.

Your best friend is probably waiting for you in the form of a dog or a cat.

Sometimes, they’re all the company you need.

Pet therapy releases oxytocin, a feel good hormone, for both you and your pet.

13. Impatience gets the best of you.

Our generation has become too comfortable with instant everything.

What happened to the thrill brought about by anticipation?

Everything requires time; some just take place faster than others.

Flowers do not bloom overnight.

14. You hate your job.

You may be unhappy with your never-ending repetitive routine at work; hence, your yearning for a new environment.

Maybe it’s about time you change jobs or advance in your career.

Sometimes, the pastures don’t exactly need to be greener, just newer.

15. You’re out of shape.

Exercise.

Not only will it boost your confidence, you’ll feel youthful and more energized.

Working out also reduces stress levels and releases dopamine (happy chemicals) into your brain.

16. You’re watching the wrong movies/shows…

You don’t have to watch what everyone else is watching.

If movie remakes make you unhappy, stick to the original versions.

Not a fan of Supernatural? There’s nothing unnatural about that.

17. …and listening to the wrong songs/artists…

Who cares about the top 50 hits? Whatever song makes you chirpy, choose that one.

It depends on your mood, too.

One tune has the power to turn a whole day around.

18. …Or reading the wrong books

Don’t read it just because it makes you look smarter or it’s what everyone else is reading.

Those words are better off read by someone who actually understands and enjoys them.

19. “Livin’ la vida broka”

You may be unhappy with debts, which causes stress and even results in relationship problems.

While you’re counting down to your next payday, plan out and allocate where your money will go – and pay all your dues before they accumulate.

20. ProcrastiNATION

You constantly feel like you have too little time to get everything done, when in fact, you had had 30 chances since you were assigned the task a month and a half ago.

On the bright side, you have two more weeks!

21. Dissatisfaction

You focus on what you don’t have instead of what you DO have.

Or maybe you’re making time for the wrong things.

Reflect on them by making a list and ranking them according to significance.

Is your #1 entry really more important than what’s listed as number #4?

22. You feel like you’re not learning.

Stop acting like you’re too good for everything and everyone.

You are NOT all-knowing.

There’s nothing wrong with asking questions.

Even mistakes are opportunities for learning.

23. Lack of spirituality.

Prayer and meditation are both calming and beneficial to the body and emotions.

One study shows that religion and beliefs aside, spirituality links to better mental health.

24. Lack of motivation.

We all experience it occasionally, but it’s not an excuse to remain idle.

Set up a reward system for yourself.

Don’t wait for motivation to come to you, find it yourself.

Sometimes all you need is an extra push.

Or a shove.

25. You’re too dependent…

…financially, physically or emotionally, on someone.

How are you supposed to make it on your own?

Accomplishment is best experienced when you can proudly say you did it on your own.

26. You’re bored.

Don’t mistake laziness for boredom.

There are literally a thousand ways to keep yourself busy with things that interest you.

You can always go back to the hobby you’ve long forgotten, or plow through that piano piece you gave up on last year.

27. Materialism

You’re constantly on the hunt for whatever’s new and hip, disregarding the fact that your belongings and gadgets still work perfectly fine and are in no way damaged.

You do it for the gloating rights and popularity, while stretching your paycheck just to make ends meet.

28. You’re a perfectionist.

You may be unhappy because things didn’t go “your way’.

Not everything you do has to be an item on a to-do list.

As said by Katharine Hepburn:

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.”

Learn how to live spontaneously every once in awhile.

29. You can’t say NO

Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

Saying “no” does not make you selfish or mean.

You weren’t born to be a people pleaser.

Prioritize your responsibilities first before offering your services to others.

30. You’re too busy.

You no longer have time for your partner, child, parents, or siblings.

You barely know what’s going on in their lives anymore.

This results in loneliness and exclusion.

Your presence and time matters more than you think.

31. Weather

We can’t really do much about the weather, so it’s us that have to adjust.

Gloomy day?

Wear something bright.

Rainy?

Time to take out those technicolor boots.

Scorching?

Treat yourself to something cold.

32. You’re too judgmental.

Criticism is only desirable when it’s constructive.

What kind of satisfaction does condemning others bring?

You’re only making yourself unhappy, trying to come up with motives to detest and judge them.

Focus on their good sides instead.

33. Trust issues.

You believe everyone is out to get you, will betray you, or simply cannot be trusted.

This makes it harder to make friends or any connections outside your comfort zone.

Why not start by tearing down your walls, brick by brick?

34. You have no set goals.

You feel lost and rely too much on where the “flow” takes you.

Making and keeping a (check)list will be a good technique to give your life some sort of direction.

Not being sure about where a road may take you is better than not following one at all.

35. You worry too much.

Wipe off those unhappy wrinkles on your face.

Once you have your whys settled, work on what you can, with what you have, for however long you are able to.

Tomorrow will take care of itself.

36. Need a change of scenery.

Even the most beautiful view gets old and loses its luster.

Hop on that plane.

Take the bus to the other side of the city.

You don’t have to go far to gain new insights and inspiration.

37. Money

You either have too much or too little.

So you’re not constantly coveting what you cannot have, learn how to live within your means first.

You’ll feel much more content this way.

38. You’re cynical.

Don’t be the person who only sees gray and puddles on a rainy day.

Look for the rainbow.

Thank Mother Nature for watering your plants for you.

Appreciate the weather.

Consider dancing in the rain.

It’s easier to be content when you focus on the positive.

39. Think you can solve everything.

You have to accept that sometimes there will be no solutions.

Or if you can’t solve it, find somebody else who can; that’s what associates are for.

Even the most successful people sleep on their decisions.

40. You hang out with wrong people.

“Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are”.

People’s perception of you affects the way you feel about yourself externally and internally.

Choose your friends wisely.

41. You’re unrealistic.

Know when to draw the line between imagination and reality.

Dreams will remain dreams until you do something to achieve and make it come true.

42. Too comfortable in your comfort zone.

Of course you’ll feel safe, but you’re also limiting yourself.

You may be unhappy now – so why not take the plunge into somewhere new and exciting?

“Comfort controls us.

Fear scares us. To grow you have to overcome fear and go out of your comfort zone to be what you always wanted to be.” – Debasish Mridha

43. People who borrow and don’t return.

So you never got your book or pen back? They never repaid you?

Just think of it as giving without counting the cost.

Someday, it’ll come back to you, in another form, two-fold.

44. You have been rejected.

It’s not the end of the road.

Detours can be meaningful, too.

“Rejection doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough; it means the other person failed to notice what you have to offer.” – Mark Amend

45. No one likes your social media posts.

It may sound shallow, but hey, we are the digital generation.

Post to express, not impress.

Not everyone will have the same sentiments as you.

Nor will they bother sometimes.

You do not need seek their validation to be happy.

46. Your blanket is too short.

At least you grew taller?

47. Your coffee has gone cold.

It has either gone cold, doesn’t taste the way you want it to, or you haven’t had your daily consumption yet.

Don’t be “depresso”, go get that espresso.

Don’t wait until your OCD (Obsessive Coffee Disorder) kicks in.

48. You don’t laugh enough.

Experts don’t lie when they say laughter is the best medicine.

Laughter eliminates stress, boosts energy, and strengthens the immune system.

It also eases anxiety and improves your mood.

Surround yourself with happy people.

49. Slow internet.

Well, first of all, this depends on where you are or what network you’re registered to.

Unless you’re pressed for time and your work greatly relies on the Internet, you’re better off doing more productive things.

That post/update can wait.

50. Traffic.

Always leave home with extra time to spare.

Your 45-minute commute yesterday may take an hour today.

Better to be early than tardy.

You may be unhappy right now, but know that feelings come and go.

Feel it, understand it, then move on.

Whatever it is that you may feel upset with at this moment, it will surely pass along with time.

So hold on!