I've heard people on both sides of the political spectrum say that life as they know it would be over if their candidate lost the election. But as a human behavior scientist and the author of The 2 AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure [1], I have spent close to a decade traveling the world and studying what causes people to lead fun, exciting, and fulfilling lives.

In that time I have almost frozen swimming in the waters of Antarctica, been crushed by a bull in Pamplona, Spain, and even battled Kiefer Sutherland [2] in drunken Jenga. I can say confidently, for the most part, politics seldom has a major influence on our happiness.

Nevertheless, if the election leaves you devastated and down in the dumps, restore your happiness with these five science-backed tips.

1. Rest

A study of Americans asked: what is the single most important factor for happiness? Is it friends, sex, food, money? It can be money if you don't have enough to eat or pay for shelter, but after a certain point, more money doesn't have a significant impact on happiness. What does?

The number one factor is sleep [3]. You cannot enjoy any of the gifts of life if your body is so exhausted that you can't function properly. I know that worrying about this political race has probably kept you up at night. But once the ballots have been cast, you have no more excuses. There is nothing that you can do that will alter the results, so get some rest. It will make you happier.

2. Surround yourself with the right people

Our networks — friends, co-workers, and family — have a profound impact on the quality of our lives. According to research from Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler, anything from voting habits to happiness is contagious [4] and spreads through our networks up to four degrees out. That means you have an impact on your friend's friend's friend's friends and vice versa. Your community influences your happiness and your unhappiness, so choose your friends wisely. Cut the drama queens and surround yourself with positive people who support you.

3. Get experienced advice

Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness [5], pokes fun at how we mistakenly believe that we can predict our own happiness. Have you ever bought a candy bar, thinking you'll be happier once you've eaten it? Then, five minutes after, when you consume the sugary treat, you hate yourself for eating junk food or breaking your diet?

If we can't predict our happiness five minutes from now, why do we think that we can predict our happiness in one, five, or even 10 years? According to Gilbert, a more effective predictor is speaking to people who have actually made the decision that you are considering.

4. Spend time in nature

If you want to restore your focus and maybe your sanity, connect with nature. In 2008, a group of University of Michigan researchers led by Marc G. Berman studied Attention Restoration Theory (ART) [6]. Two groups of students were asked to complete focus-driven exercises before and after taking a walk. One group was sent to Ann Arbor Arboretum, a secluded natural environment, while the other was sent to the crowded streets of downtown Ann Arbor. Upon return, the group sent to the arboretum scored significantly higher on focus-driven cognitive exercises than the group that went downtown.

Their findings show that when people spend time in nature, it increases their focus, so get out of town, shut off your phone, and walk away from your TV. Go somewhere where CNN can't find you. By visiting another country, you can also gain some perspective.

5. Use the winner effect

Still feeling bad? In his book, The Hour Between Dog and Wolf [7], John Coates discusses a theory called the winner effect. In nature, when an animal wins a fight, they get a boost of testosterone that makes them more confident and prepares them for the next battle. Once they have a few small successes under their belt, they build up a momentum.

The winner effect can be applied to humans too. The feeling is like a runner's high. Perhaps your presidential candidate didn't win and you feel depressed. You can regain that feeling of success by accruing wins. Set a personal weight-loss goal and take the steps to reach it. Conquer a fear like skydiving or bungee jumping. With each additional win, you'll feel more confident, and it will serve as a welcome distraction from the current political situation.

Regardless of what happens on Election Day, we all want to live happier, more exciting and fulfilling lives, and these tips will guide you to a better you.

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For more science-backed tips to live an exciting and fulfilling life and outrageous stories, pick up a copy of The 2 AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure [9], on sale now.