1. Replaying the bad parts of your day

Humans have an innate negativity bias, and as such, it’s not abnormal to find yourself focusing on the bad things that happen throughout the day. However, failing to tackle this impulse can have a detrimental impact on your mood.

“Without even thinking about it, we often begin our day by replaying all of the things that went wrong the previous day, and while it seems like an innocent enough thing to do, it can put you in a negative mood,” Conner explains.

To tackle this, Conner adds, don’t try to stop yourself from reflecting on things that have happened throughout your day; instead, try to do so from an informational lens, focusing on both the ‘good’ and ‘bad’.

“Make a decision that you won’t allow yesterday to spill over into today,” she says. “And with that intention, decide how you will improve or do things differently, without dwelling on it.”

2. Comparing yourself to others

We’ve all compared ourselves to others at one time or another – but when you’re doing it regularly, it can have a surprisingly big impact on how you’re feeling about yourself.

“We all do it – often subconsciously, but comparison is a sure way to ruin your mood if you don’t catch it,” Conner says. “Looking at what others have achieved and comparing it to your own perceived shortcomings will make you feel like you are falling behind or are somehow less than.”

3 things that could be influencing your mood without you even realising