We all have weeks when our confidence and self-esteem plummet, and everyday irritants that we’d normally blow off (cat hair on your best black pants, dead batteries in the remote) get to us more than they should. Use these tactics the next time you feel one of these moods coming on:

Take a step back. Sometimes, problems swell into things that get out of control or look worse than they really are. And sometimes you just don’t give yourself enough credit: You may actually be dealing with your daily stresses just fine — but in your head, things feel frantic. Take a step back. Try to see yourself through someone else’s eyes (anyone’s eyes — your lover’s, your gardener’s, Big Bird’s). You might see that you’re actually doing better than you think.

Schedule a worry period. Okay, do you relish worrying? Fine, worry away. But there’s a catch: Devote two periods a day to it. Give your worries your full attention for 15 to 20 minutes. Wallow in all their soul-sucking glory. Then stop. When they rise up again, tell yourself that you’ll address them during your next worry period. Now you’re in control over when worries can worry you.

Laugh it off. No joke, there’s something magical about laughter, even if it’s forced. Laugh off some of the day’s tensest moments. This is called self-generated laughter (versus cracking up at a comedian), and doing it regularly can make you more positive and optimistic. The reason’s pretty basic: The more you laugh, the better you feel.

Let go of the past. Happy memories can be blissful, but obsessing over bad ones doesn’t do any good. Learn from past mistakes and move on — don’t keep reliving them. Focusing on the present is the best thing you can do for yourself when you’re down.