Some days all you need is an hilarious Tetris video to cheer you up, and some days you need a lot more.

At these times my search moves to something that provides more long-term positivity and inspiration. I’m quite picky about the websites I like for this kind of thing; I’m not a fan of anything corny, bossy, or that requires superhuman amounts of effort.

This means that the sites I’ve selected are genuinely useful and interesting, and more importantly have ideas and articles that can be appreciated anywhere. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of good sources of eating plans, exercise routines and similar, but this list is designed for when you’re having a bad day and want to read something that’ll cheer you up and provide a hit of much-needed motivation instantly.

Here are my go-to websites for learning more, working on specific problems, forming better habits, and generally working towards a happier life. Feel free to recommend your own favourites in the comments!

Marc and Angel

Marc and Angel is a blog run by two life coaches, and it makes for some great reading if you’re feeling dissatisfied or bored with your life generally. One of the things I like most about it is that they aren’t afraid to ask awkward questions or really dig deep to resolve life problems.

Tiny Buddha

Tiny Buddha produces a ton of content, so if you’re the kind of person that likes to read something new very regularly, it’s a great consistent happiness-booster. Because they produce so many quality pieces, you can find advice on pretty much anything – and if you can’t, they have a forum where you can ask for help.

Zen Habits

I’ve mentioned Zen Habits before (see 10 ways to inject positivity into your day), but honestly I can’t get enough of this website.

If you haven’t come across it before, it consists of a series of plain, easy to read articles covering everything from reaching specific goals to communicating effectively with other people. I like to head straight to the archives and pick out a few articles that reflect how I’m feeling at that moment.

Hyperbole and a half

Hyperbole and a half hasn’t been updated for years, but it’s still a classic for me. Issues are explained through stories and cartoons, which makes it ideal for demonstrating to other people how you feel. And if nothing else, the colours are cheery.

Mark Manson

Sometimes all you need is for someone to tell you that you’re being ridiculous and explain why. I love Mark‘s posts because he’s really direct and just tells it like it is. He doesn’t write massively often, but when he does it’s like a punch to the face. In a good way.

Highbrow

This one is a little different from the rest in that it’s aimed at learning. Highbrow has a range of free mini-courses where you get an email a day with knowledge on your chosen category. It covers everything from business to science, and there’s a happiness one too. I started off with that but have since moved on to others; learning always makes me happy regardless of subject, and factual topics are great for switching your thinking to a more productive place.

And here’s a little bonus piece on habits (love the elephant analogy!)

What do you read to make your day better?