School days mean homework, studying, exams, and social interactions — not to mention getting up early every morning. It’s understandable if you don’t always feel your happiest going to school during the week, but it’s also something you can totally improve! Follow the tips on this list to feel more happy on school days. And...who knows? Maybe you’ll even start looking forward to them!

2

Focus on the good things about school.

  1. A little positive thinking can go a long way towards improving your mood. Think about the bigger picture and how your education will have a positive impact on your life in the long run. If you’re having a bad day, tell yourself that you only have to be in school for a relatively short period of your life. After that, the sky is the limit![2]
    • If something in particular upsets you, like a bad grade, an argument with a friend, or not making a sports team, stop worrying and try to put it in a bigger context. Chances are this one bad grade, argument, or rejection will not have a major long-term impact on your life.
4

Get some exercise.

  1. Physical activities release endorphins, increasing feelings of happiness. Go for a walk or do some stretching during your lunch break to get moving during the school day. Take a physical education class if you can to spend a whole chunk of your day playing sports to get some physical activity in![4]
    • You can also improve your overall moods during the week by working out after school and on the weekends.
    • If you aren’t an athletic person, try lifting weights, doing yoga, or signing up for a martial arts class. You don’t have to be good at sports to exercise and feel good!
8

Talk to a friend if something’s bothering you.

  1. Getting things off your chest helps you feel better. If something is on your mind, don’t bottle it up. If you’re stressed about an upcoming assignment, upset with someone in your life, or disappointed about a bad grade you received, talk about what you’re feeling with a friend.[8]
    • If you’re stressing about how much work a big assignment is, talk with a friend in the same class about how to break the assignment down into parts over time.
    • If you’re upset with a friend, go to that person directly and talk to them about what happened to try and resolve the issue.
    • If you’re disappointed about a grade, focus on the next assignment. Talk to your friend about ideas for how to improve, such as by studying together or exchanging notes.
9

Journal your thoughts.

  1. One of the best ways to process thoughts and feelings is to keep a journal. It doesn’t matter what you write in your journal — just write down everything you’re thinking and feeling to get it all out. Then, review what you wrote down to help you process it and feel better.[9]
    • Find a cool notebook that you like and try to write in it once or twice during your school day.
    • Try to write down one thing you are grateful for each day in addition to any negative emotions you’re dealing with to help yourself feel more positive.
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10

Treat yourself once in awhile.

11

Try not to take negativity from others too hard.

  1. If someone isn’t nice to you at school, it’s probably not your fault. Try to remember that nobody is perfect and think about what might be going on in their lives that makes them act negatively towards you. Try your best to brush off a dirty look or a nasty comment and move on with your day instead of dwelling on it and getting angry and upset.[11]
    • If there’s someone at school that’s bullying you and/or making you feel bad and unhappy on a regular basis, this is a bigger issue than a one-off comment or action.
    • If you feel that you’re being bullied or have a major issue with another student, speak to a teacher or another adult you trust about what you can do to resolve the issue.
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12

Accept that there will be bad days.

13

Avoid procrastination.

  1. Schoolwork is less stressful when you complete it ahead of time. When you get a big assignment, break it up into small chunks and give yourself mini deadlines to get it all done on time and at a manageable pace. If you have a test coming up, don’t wait to study until the night before. Instead, study 20-30 minutes a night in the days leading up to it.[13]
    • Try to remove any distractions when you do schoolwork. Go to a quiet place where you can work, such as a library, a coffee shop, or even just a quiet room in your home.
    • Use a planner to help you stay on track with your workload. Find a design with enough space to schedule everything you need to stay on top of.[14]
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15

See a school counselor if you feel really unhappy.

  1. The job of your school counselor is to help make your experience better. Stop by their office and ask to talk if you can’t keep up with school work or if you feel like you’re being bullied by other students. Be honest about your feelings with the counselor and ask them to help you come up with solutions to make your time at school better.[16]
    • School counselors have access to all kinds of resources to help you out. For example, if you’re struggling in a particular subject, they can set you up with a tutor to help you improve.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How can I stop being lonely?
    Katie Styzek
    Katie Styzek
    Professional School Counselor
    Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
    Katie Styzek
    Professional School Counselor
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Make a list of positive qualities about yourself and recognize how these qualities contribute to you being a good friend. Consider writing in a journal or talking to someone you trust about how you are feeling. It's normal and natural to feel upset about this, but keep trying to make new friends both inside and outside of school.
  • Question
    How do you start hanging out with a new group of friends?
    Katie Styzek
    Katie Styzek
    Professional School Counselor
    Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
    Katie Styzek
    Professional School Counselor
    Expert Answer

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    Ask someone new to be a partner with you in class or ask someone to study with you after school. I do think it's important to continue to remain polite and kind to your old friends as well, because someday you may want to be friends with them again. The politics of friendships can change so much in middle school and high school as well.
  • Question
    How can I be happy in school alone?
    Katie Styzek
    Katie Styzek
    Professional School Counselor
    Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
    Katie Styzek
    Professional School Counselor
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    I would recommend you join an extracurricular activity outside of the school, such as a club or sports team, so that you can bond with students that share a common interest. My second suggestion would be to engage in volunteer work to meet other peers. You can try either volunteer work through a club at school, a religious organization, or a community organization.
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About This Article

Katie Styzek
Co-authored by:
Professional School Counselor
This article was co-authored by Katie Styzek. Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This article has been viewed 127,633 times.
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Co-authors: 26
Updated: March 17, 2023
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