We Made It Our Mission To Be Happier In 30 Days -- And It Worked

Resolutions are so often a bust. But this January 1, we set out to make lasting changes in our lives. We launched the HuffPost #30Up Happiness Challenge at the start of the year with one goal in mind: To become more joyful in 30 days .

And, as it turns out, it totally paid off.

Research suggests that happiness is a choice , but one we don't often make due to our brain's negativity bias . In other words, we're constantly reflecting on the worst possible outcome and view happiness as a concept that we need to capture. The truth is, we have the power to manifest it right here and now.

For the past month, we've given our readers simple, daily challenges -- and taken them ourselves -- in hopes that these tiny changes will create a more joyful disposition. Each tip was backed by research that shows the specific actions boost happiness levels. The tasks ranged from trying adult coloring and practicing gratitude  to telling a joke  and participating in laughter yoga . 

As we discovered, science is no joke. We felt lighter by the end of the month and are storming into February equipped with the right mindset to take on the rest of the year in a more joyful manner. 

Did we mess up? Of course. Everyone has days where they're irritated and the last thing they want to do is practice positivity or have a dance party (both were real challenges , by the way). The key is powering through despite your bad mood, because there's joy on the other side.

It's not too late to start your own jubilant journey. You can find each day's challenge on our calendar. Feel free to start whenever you'd like.

If you enjoyed following our progress, we encourage you to sign up for next month's challenge. In our quest to become healthier people, in February we're launching the Look Good, Feel Good Challenge. Every day, HuffPost Lifestyle editors will send you fun and inspiring goals to help you look and feel your best.

You can opt into next month's daily challenge by signing up for our daily newsletter .

Here's to becoming happier and better individuals -- not just for one month, but for life!

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