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A lot of people pride themselves on being optimists, and TBH, if you canstay positivewith everything that’s going on in the world today, major props to you. For most people who consider themselves the glass-half-full type, it’s a lifestyle. They try to look at everything that comes their way, from relationship troubles to work mistakes, with a positive spin. But a recent study investigated whether optimists still stay more positive than pessimists when things get really tough, and what they found was pretty surprising.

Scientists analyzed nine previous studies to see how both optimists and pessimists brace themselves for receiving important and potentially negative news, like medical test results. They found that even though people who identify as optimists tend to be more positive in general, they too start assuming the worst as the moment of truth about something important nears. It’s easy to understand this instinct, since some people tend to believe that preparing yourself for the worst will ultimately make it less shocking if it happens. On the other hand, some people would rather stay positive whenever possible, since it’s easier to fight off stress and anxiety when you have a sunny outlook. Here, we’ve gathered some of our favorite expert tips for staying optimistic when you’re dealing with some super hard stuff.

How To Stay Positive

1.Learn to reframe negativity. “The trick to positivity is not avoiding pessimism,” says Elaine Taylor-Klaus, a certified professional coach. “It’s really about how quickly you can redirect your focus from negative to positive. Critical thinkers are going to see problems to be solved, but the ability to ‘reframe’ the conversation is the really important skill for people to practice.” She recommends getting into the habit of acknowledging negative thoughts and then asking, “What else is possible here?” This can guide you back into a positive mindset more quickly.

“Bottom line: Negativity happens,” she says. “Positivity is a choice, and the quicker you learn to reframe, the more time you’ll spend in a positive space. Then, over time, the more likely you are to turn directly to a positive interpretation of events.”

2. Ask yourself if this will matter a month or year from now. Sometimes things seem crucial AF in the moment, but might be inconsequential even just a few days after that. Just think about high school drama. “When we can leave the past behind and even know in the present moment that this feeling won’t last, it can help to remind us that time heals and life goes on,” explainsSharon Stokes, life-fulfillment coach.

3.Give back. Volunteering is an amazing way to change your entire perspective, saysLyssa Menard, a clinical health psychologist, founder of Strategies for Changeand assistant professor at Northwestern University’s medical school. “There are many organizations that don’t require an ongoing commitment, so sign up for an event that’s meaningful. Research shows that giving to others is one of the quickest routes toward happiness. While happiness and positivity are different, they’re correlated,” Lyssa says.

4. Role play to be more objective. Playing a little mind trick on yourself can work wonders, says Lori Scherwin of Strategize That, a career coaching service. “We’re often better at helping others than ourselves,” she notes. “Make the situation more objective and less personal to you. For example, consider if it were anyone else in the situation (like your best friend, partner or colleague). How would you see the same ‘problem?’ What advice might you give them to get out of it?” she asks. This will help you shift from being super hard on yourself to more objective, and most likely, more positive.

5. Make changes to things that are within your control. Spending time worrying about something that you can’t change isn’t really worth the effort. Instead, “Focus on areas where you have agency,” suggests Holly Burton, a career coach for women in male-dominated industries. “You may be stuck in a role you don’t love at work, but you could probably work a few extra hours a week and take on a project that interests you. You could also schedule some proactive meetings with your boss to make an action plan to develop the skills you need to make a lateral move,” she says. In most situations, whether they’re career-related or not, it’s possible to take actions to make things better for yourself.

6. Practice radical acceptance. Some professional coaches suggest trying out the idea of radical acceptance, which is basically accepting the things you cannot change, even if they’re not right or you don’t agree with them.

7.Try this gratitude challenge. First, journal about one event each day for seven days that made you feel happy and/or thankful and include the specifics of why it made you feel that way, going deep into the details. Second, send one random thank you email or text to someone each day, either personally or professionally. This message should include what they did and why it’s worthy of the shout out. Detailed gratitude journals are proven to improve your life satisfaction, so try to stick to a gratitude practice, even in the good times!

What do you do when you’re trying to stay optimistic? Have you tried any of these techniques? Tell us about it @BritandCo!

This article has been updated.

It's fun to learn more about ourselves and to feel understood — that's why we take personality tests so incessantly. And since we live in an age of increased self-awareness, we can apply those tests to so many things, like our Hogwarts house and makeup preferences. Clearly, knowing thyself has taken on a whole new meaning lately, and we love the things that these tests can tell us — but did you ever wonder how your personality might affect your dreams? In a new study, Best Mattress Brand set out to discover whether specific types of people had particular types of dreams. Read on for their fascinating results.

The test explored each component of the Myers-Briggs types, which can be broken down into eight characteristics:

Extraversion or Introversion: This is the way you focus your energy. Extroverts focus on the outside world, and Introverts focus on their inner world.

Sensing or Intuition: This is the way you process information. Sensing individuals focus on the facts, and Intuitive individuals interpret the facts.

Thinking or Feeling: This is the way you make decisions. Thinkers process decisions logically, and Feelers make decisions with context and emotion in mind.

Judging or Perceiving: This is the lens through which you interpret the world. Judgers prefer decisive action, while Perceivers like to keep their options open.

Together, your individual combination of these eight traits creates your personality type. Given these traits as variables, the study surveyed 1,000 people on their Myers Briggs traits and their sleep habits.

As you'd imagine, there were a lot of discrepancies between Introverts and Extroverts. Interestingly enough, Extroverts are 17.7 percent more satisfied with their levels of energy during waking hours than their introverted counterparts. Perhaps it's because of their dream habits: Extroverts also have 8.3 percent fewer nightmares than Introverts. Extroverts also dream about traveling 13.9 percent more often than Introverts do.

What about the content of these dreams? If you're Intuitive, you're 16.8 percent more likely to dream about being killed than Sensers are. ­Apparently, Intuitive individuals' dreams are more violent across the board: They also dream about getting attacked and “punching something with no effect" more often.

There's also a substantial difference between Thinkers and Feelers when it comes to dreams. The more emotional Feelers dream about getting pregnant more often than Thinkers do, and they dream about their friends more often too. Perhaps Thinkers are just thinking too hard; they talk in their sleep almost 10 percent more than Feelers do.

The Judgers and Perceivers have their differences as well; in fact, Perceivers have night terrors 10.2 percent more often than Judgers, probably due to the fact that they experience reality so deeply.

Does your personality type match up with these findings? Let us know @BritandCo.

(Photo via Brit + Co)

This post has been updated.

There was a 99 percent chance that anyone who watched TV in the 1990s watched a rotation of sitcoms. I, for one, lived and breathed sitcoms; that is, before streaming came along (I’m only human). Now, instead of waiting until 9pm on a Thursday, you can watch your favorite ’90s shows whenever and wherever you want.

Here are 17 hilarious ’90s TV shows that are da bomb (I’m so sorry) you can stream in 2025!

1. ​Freaks and Geeks

NBC

Freaks and Geeks is the pinnacle definition of ‘cult classic,’ if there ever was one. Cancelled after only one season, the show regained popularity through the years, due in large part to streaming. And it’s no wonder why, as it shows the first-hand awkwardness that is navigating high school. Freaks and Geeks offers other things as well… such as a very young Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segal, Busy Phillips, and Samm Levine. If any filmmakers are reading this — how about a modern day Freaks and Geeks reboot?? Freaks and Geeks is streaming on Hulu.

2. ​Will & Grace

NBC/IMDb

The ’90s weren’t all bad. Sure, there were some pretty heinous outfit choices made, and all of society collectively decided they needed a grunge phase (at the same time), but it did give us Will & Grace. Will & Grace gave us one of the first mainstream sitcoms to feature openly gay main characters. Its witty humor along with relatable characters, and all around great dialogue, makes it stand the test of time. Will & Grace is streaming on Hulu.

3. Friends

NBC

Friends may be the most unrealistic show, in terms of a bunch of 20-somethings living in grand, spacious apartments in one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it’s realistic in how it portrays friendships and the rollercoaster of dealing with jobs, love, and life in New York City. After all, it is a classic, and if you haven’t seen this show, you haven’t experienced the peak of ’90s sitcoms. Friends is streaming on Hulu, Max, and Prime Video.

4. That ’70s Show

Fox

That ’70s Show may or may not have been the first ’90s show I was exposed to, but that’s beside the point, and might I add, ironic. The show’s nostalgic 70s setting is a character in and of itself and shows that teenagers will be teenagers, no matter the decade. That ’70s Show is streaming on Peacock.

5. ​Family Matters

ABC

Family Matters blessed us with the iconic character of Steve Urkel, and decades of a go-to Halloween costume for many. While the show may have started in 1989, it’s an essential and memorable sitcom that had its main run in the ’90s. Family Matters is truly all that and a bag of chips – that was my sad attempt at trying this decade’s lingo. Family Matters is streaming on Disney+, Hulu, and Max.

6. Seinfeld

NBC/IMDb

Most know it as the show about nothing, but Seinfeld gave us everything. It took trivial events and churned them into a decade of iconic and famous lines, hysterical characters and arguably the best guest appearances on a sitcom, from Jennifer Coolidge as Jerry's masseuse girlfriend to Bryan Cranston as Jerry’s less-than-ethical dentist. Seinfeld is streaming on Netflix.

7. ​The Simpsons

Fox

Though The Simpsons is still running today, the ’90s were the decade that it truly shined, so much so that the particular decade is considered The Simpsons’ “golden age” with Bart Simpson becoming a quintessential ’90s character. As funny and entertaining as the comedy series is, it’s also become quite the pop culture predictor, making it all the more amusing to watch it back now. The Simpsons is streaming on Disney+.

8. ​The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

NBC

Will Smith was one of the decade's charming and notable heartthrobs, and what better way to see him in all his glory than by watching The Fresh Prince of Bel Air? It was the sitcom that catapulted Smith into superstardom and was a decade hit due to its exploration of real-world topics. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air is streaming on Hulu and Max.

9. ​The Nanny

CBS

Fran Drescher is that girl. She made us “over-the-top personality” girls feel seen. Not only that, but comedy itself is timeless and should be enjoyed for generations to come. Incidentally, Drescher’s character has an amazing fashion sense, so this show is a 2-for-1 viewing experience – you get a fashion show within a sitcom, and what’s better than that? The Nanny is streaming on Peacock.

10. ​Boy Meets World

ABC

Before the modern day coming-of-age genre (think Sex Education) came Boy Meets World – a sitcom that follows a boy and his friend and love interest through middle school into college. Better yet, this series was so good that it aired on Friday nights. The beloved characters alone makes the show worth the watch. Boy Meets World is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

11. ​Ally McBeal

Fox

If you likeLegally Blonde, you’ll love Ally McBeal. Ally is a young, blonde, hot mess lawyer working at a Boston law firm called Cage & Fish – ring any bells? Ally McBeal is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

12. Sabrina the Teenage Witch

ABC/The WB

Imagine dealing with your teenage struggles but on top of that, you have to control magical powers – yeah, you might not live that IRL, but Sabrina the Teenage Witch shows you what it's like! In all honesty, Sabrina the Teenage Witch is as iconic as they come. Its legacy has been felt in every generation that’s followed – who doesn’t know Salem, the talking, black cat? Sabrina the Teenage Witch is streaming on Hulu, Disney+, and Paramount+.

13. Full House

ABC

If I had a dollar for every series that technically started in the late ’80s, but didn’t gain their popularity until the ’90s, I’d have, like, $10. Full House first premiered in 1987, but by the time the ’90s rolled around it had become an American household staple. Most of the show’s run was in the ’90s, and it later gave us movies such as Passport to Paris simply due to casting the Olsen twins. Thank you, Full House. Full House is streaming on Disney+, Prime Video, and Max.

14. ​Sister, Sister

ABC/The WB

I’m going to throw it back real quick – this show was originally part of the TGIF programming on ABC – that’s right, I’m talking about Sister, Sister. This show is a nostalgic favorite with Tia and Tamera Mowry, who, in my mind, are the sisters of the late ’90s and early 2000s. Sister, Sister is streaming onDisney+, Hulu, and Paramount+.

15. ​The King of Queens

CBS

Who doesn’t love Kevin James? On second thought, don’t answer that. The King of Queens is certainly an acquired taste, bordering on the line of “I don’t want to admit this is funny, but it is.” But it has our girl Leah Remini and that’s reason enough to give it a watch. The King of Queens is streaming on Paramount+ and Peacock.

16. Wings

NBC

Wings flew under the radar in the ’90s, no pun intended, as it didn’t amass the same following as other shows like Friends, but it had a loyal following due to its sharp dialogue and loveable characters. The backdrop alone is all the more reason to watch this ’90s series today – Wings follows two brothers, Joe and Brian Hackett, who run a small airline in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Need I say more? Wings is streaming on Paramount+ and Prime Video.

17. ​Sex and The City

HBO

Yes, I’m labeling Sex and The City as a comedy, and deservedly so. I love this show, call me basic! It blends romance, drama, and comedy beautifully together, all with the glitz and glam of New York City essentially as its own character. Sex and The City transports you to a different environment and, dare I say, is an elevated version of Friends.Sex and The City is streaming on Hulu, Max, Netflix, and Prime Video.

Which 90s TV show is your go-to right now? Let us know on Facebook!