Being happy comes down to two things: endorphins, your body’s own natural happy-makers, and your state of mind. It would be presumptuous to prescribe a one-stop solution to fix your state of mind, but endorphin fluxes can be easily fixed. And by the way, regarding your state of mind? Think positive, you misanthrope.

Walking on sunshine
It’s been proven that sunshine has a positive effect on your mood by triggering the release of endorphins, so while you may not be a morning person, a little window of sunshine on your skin can have an unexpectedly large effect on your outlook. You can’t stay in the office all day – lunch breaks are there for you to go out and get some sun. And if you’re staying/working from home, you don’t really need the curtains drawn all the time, do you? Slap on some sunblock and sit in the sun, your synapses will thank you.

Choc-a-block
So many people play the endorphin card as a glib excuse for eating more chocolate, but ‘tis true that the good bean does make you happy. Even better than a quick Kit Kat on the sly is proper, good quality chocolate with at least 50 per cent cocoa solids. The better the chocolate, the more packed it is with the nutrition and (good) chemicals that will make you happy. We like Green & Black’s Organic dark chocolate (RM16.99 for 100g) that weighs in at 70 per cent cocoa solids.

Work it out
If you have time to sit around and feel sorry for yourself, you at least have time to jog around and feel sorry for yourself, and along the way maybe do a push-up or two. Exercise is one of the cheapest ways to cheer yourself up, because it prompts those helpful endorphins to come out of hiding, and it doesn’t cost a thing if you’re savvy. If you don’t like traditional workouts, put in a CD and dance in your bedroom to Britney (we won’t tell). Better yet, exercise in the sun for free at a public park like Taman Lembah Kiara (Jalan Haji Openg, Taman Tun) which has an extensive workout area open to the public. And then you can have some chocolate afterwards, to recover.

Laugh it up
One of the best ways to feel better is a night out on the town with comedians. Jenhan Kuah, stand-up comedian, says, ‘What makes me happy is making other people laugh. People only laugh when they’re comfortable, so it makes me happy when I can help other people reach that’. So you see, two birds with one stone – you’ll make yourself happy, and the comedian. The best comedy makes you laugh both at yourself as well as at other people, and a good dose of self-awareness is a prerequisite for healthy happiness. (Shameless plug: if you want somewhere to really let it all go with a laugh, TOKL Comedy Thursday is on Jan 7, see listings for more details.)

Take a break
As clichéd as it sounds, sometimes you really need to take a step back, a deep breath, and just recharge. This can be as simple as booking into a KL hotel for a couple of nights (nothing like room service and fresh sheets to make you feel on top of the world). We recommend The Club at The Saujana (03 7843 1234/www.ghmhotels.com) for a chic hideaway or tuck yourself into the Heavenly Bed at The Westin KL (03 2731 8333/www.westin.com). Otherwise, go to the extreme of finally booking that one-way ticket to Paris. And do it while you can, because flight prices are at an all-time record low. The next Matta Fair is in March. In the mean time, keep checking www.airasia.com and www.malaysiaairlines.com for updates on their latest promotions (Hint: if you sign up for MAS’s Get-the-Deal, you get travel promotions and special fares all year round.)