Choosing Happy: 44 Proven Hacks to Defeat Sadness and Embrace a Joy-Filled Life

Finance writer Farrelly (Mortgage Free) turns her keen eye to happiness “hacks” for those who struggle with anxiety and depression in this cheery book of advice. Farrelly writes of the onset of bouts of depression and how her husband issued an ultimatum to “be happier or talk to someone,” which led her to dig into the science of mental health. Farrelly found ways to work through her depression by focusing on her responses and reactions to feeling negative emotions. In one pivotal moment, she lost 10 pages of a book she was writing and became upset—but then realized that focusing on the positive that could come of the missing pages (a second, clearer draft) transformed her anger into determination. Eventually, she developed “hacks” to help her during rough spots, among them setting goals, avoiding the morning news, and focusing on good posture and breathing. Farrelly’s tips are fairly practical, and she reminds readers she’s not a licensed mental health professional and repeatedly urges those with depression and other mood disorders to seek clinical help. Readers looking to bring a little more brightness into their days may well pick up a helpful tip or two here. (BookLife)