Think yourself happy

To be honest, I'm not really one to get depressed easily. I know this is a bit of a taboo but I'm even — dare I say it — a bit of a “morning person'', which irritates everyone who has had the misfortune to witness my 7am chirpiness.

I have two distinct moods which are: upbeat and positive or off-the-chart insane.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground, so moping about isn't my style. Full-blown rampages are more my forte.

Whenever I've read articles on “beating the blues'', they would have you believe that exercise and healthy foods are a cure-all. I believe this to be a lie.

I know I feel far happier munching on pizza and sneaking a chocolate bar than I do pushing chickpeas around my plate or watching my thighs wobble and my face turn red and sweaty while running on the treadmill.

I can categorically state that these things do not work. It's all propaganda and we must not let it defeat our spirit.

In truth, I think it's misery, not chocolate cake, that breeds misery.

And while it's easy for somebody without too much stress in their lives to say that, it seems a fairly simple equation.

I defy anyone to stay miserable if they spend the day doing something utterly silly or that involves a lot of pampering.

It's easy to feel the world is having much more fun without you if you stay hauled up in your room, but by going out and meeting people and getting involved in life, you're basically too distracted to sulk.

That said, I firmly believe that real depression is an entirely different beast than being perpetually down in the dumps and will probably take more than a day out at Aquaventure or in a spa to cure it.

But as far as feeling a bit glum goes, I am a big believer that you have to think yourself happy.

A good friend of mine recently lost her house, best friend and job in the same month.

But rather than slip into a self-indulgent sulk, she pepped herself up by joking that it was great material for her future autobiography.

Of course, it helps if you have something to be happy about — lottery jackpot winners, heiresses and Angelina Jolie have more reason than most of us to wake up every morning with a big grin on their faces — but seeing the positive in everything and being able to laugh (even through gritted teeth) at your own misfortunes can help ease the situation.

And, if all else fails, Googling photos of Daniel Craig is almost certain to put those worries away for a moment or two.