The growing focus on mental health has led many individuals to share their personal journeys in the quest for happiness. However, this emphasis can create pressure on people to conform to certain expectations, potentially leading to unhappiness in the long run. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with content that explores mental health, ranging from personal struggles with depression and anxiety to advice on how to feel better and achieve a sense of well-being. These platforms often promote routines and practices designed to improve mental and physical health, but they also critique the very methods they advocate. Fitness influencer Sissy Mua has spoken about the challenges of keeping up with the many wellness routines that are popular on social media. She admitted that maintaining habits like walking 10,000 steps a day is difficult, and many content creators continue to share advice on how to feel better, even if it's not always sustainable. The pressure to follow these routines can turn daily life into a list of tasks rather than a genuine response to personal needs and desires. For instance, some people are advised to get up early, meditate, exercise, and maintain balanced relationships, all in the name of better health. Influencers are starting to question these practices. Alaïa Hennequin, a content creator, shared on YouTube that she no longer gets up at 5 am, as it turned out to be more tiring than helpful in the long run. This reflects a growing awareness that not all routines are beneficial for everyone. Sissy Mua emphasized that people shouldn't feel they have to control every aspect of their lives to be healthy. While social media and other parts of society often suggest that more control leads to better outcomes, this logic has its limits. Research supports the idea that mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can make it harder to adopt and maintain new habits. A 2013 study published in the Psychological Bulletin found that depression is linked to difficulties with cognitive control and mental flexibility. Similarly, a study in the Clinical Psychology Review noted that depression can reduce the motivation to make efforts that lead to rewards. This means that while happiness routines can be beneficial, they may not be enough to motivate individuals who are already struggling with mental health issues. Even for those without such challenges, the pursuit of happiness can be misleading. Research published in Emotion suggests that focusing too much on being happy can lead to emotional exhaustion, which can actually lower well-being. While certain behaviors, like walking 10,000 steps a day, can have benefits, they do not guarantee happiness. If someone doesn't feel better despite following a routine, it's important to accept that it's okay and that well-being is not solely determined by these efforts.