Most of us have something we're looking forward to in our lives. Memorial Day in a few weeks, a new Mad Men episode Sunday, the U.S. Open in June—or even that steak you have marinating for tonight.

Sometimes, though, it feels like that's all that keeps us going, as though we're drifting from holiday to holiday, one cliffhanger episode to the next, one delicious (hopefully) lunch to another delicious (hopefully) dinner. What about the rest of our lives? Does our obsession with our next big vacation, pop culture fix, meal, or adventure of any other stripe signal a dreary deficit in our in-between hours—or is it merely part of our natural survival mechanism, the assorted carrots dangled enticingly ahead of us?

It's certainly a little bit of both. In a way, we're buoyed along as much by the anticipation as the final payoff. "Our brains are highly evolved to seek out reward and rewarding circumstances, so we are prone to anticipating highly pleasurable experiences," says Mike Robinson, Ph.D, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience & behavior at Wesleyan University.

On the other hand, we can burn out on that anticipation. "Over time, we learn to predict what we find rewarding, and our brain's response beings to diminish," Robinson explains. These neurons start to respond only when something unexpected happens, like not getting the reward or getting a double dose of it. This is in part why we love shows like Lost and Game of Thrones, with plot twists that keep us from developing a resistance to the excitement.

It's also why we find ourselves a bit bummed by the actual experience, or eager to skip on to the next thrill. "When the buildup is so big, you're enjoying the anticipation so much that it's almost a letdown when it gets here and the waiting is over," says Philip Gable, Ph.D, director of the Social Cognitive Emotive Neuroscience Lab at the University of Alabama. "In order to get the next high, you have to start looking toward the next thing." Hence the thrill of watching the previews for next week immediately following an episode.

There's more trouble in paradise: Not only is it a never-ending cycle, but our real lives start to diminish in comparison. If you're going to Maui next weekend, then your friend's birthday or your daughter's A+ report—things that would normally make you happy—are going to impact you less. Now, you could argue that even when we're stoked for Thursday primetime, we're not spending every second out of reality and in anticipation. But our culture has developed to make sure we don't have to go long without remembering our desires: Advertising in particular appeals to our wanting system, urging us to always seek out the next best thing, Robinson explains. You can try and focus on your work but the influx of beach and vacation ads in the subway, on websites, and on TV will pull your brain back to being excited about that weekend in Maui once every few hours.

"Wanting is—at its core—important for our survival, but in excess it distracts us from enjoying and appreciating what we have, and removes us from the moment," Robinson says.

But does that mean the anticipation isn't worth it? Not at all. Research shows that looking toward positive, highly rewarding events gives you a dopamine surge, which makes you happy and motivated. It can also help you recover from stress faster and increase your tolerance to pain. So dig into the following tips to make sure your excitement for the Fourth of July doesn't make the rest of your life fizzle out.

Temper your enthusiasm

To keep the benefits and hindrances of looking forward to the next exciting event in check, focus on balance: "Anticipation is healthy and necessary in moderation, but it becomes problematic if it surges too often and for too long," Robinson says. In fact, a 2012 Canadian study found that people with obsessive passion—where the activity takes disproportionate importance to your identity and well-being—were less accurate in predicting how much they would enjoy something than people with a healthier, more independent sense of desire. That means being obsessive is more likely to leave you disappointed. So don't read every single article you can find about the upcoming ballgame or spend your lunch hour devouring a half-dozen Mad Men recaps. Hit one or two, then move on to another element of your life.

Enjoy the short-term, too

Are you an excited viewer or crazed fan? If your happiness has become intertwined with what's ahead, especially if you're more energized by the time leading up to the event than the event itself, it might be a sign your emotions have abandoned all logic. While your Memorial Day plans might be epic, finding smaller events to take pleasure in—like movie night tomorrow or your great workout today—can keep your happiness levels balanced, assures Gable.

Focus on what's in front of you

The process should be part of what makes the end product so enjoyable, like the effort put into making that delicious burger, Gable adds. In fact, a 2013 University of Utah study found that naturally mindful people—who are more content in the present—have more stable emotional patterns, and a recent Swiss study found that even short bouts of mindfulness—focusing on the act of driving, or how each stride on a run energizes your legs—can help regulate and normalize your emotions. This way, when the big payoff comes, you can soak it in without crashing hard afterward.

Rachael Schultz Rachael Schultz is a freelance writer who focuses primarily on why our bodies and brains work the way they do, and how we can optimize both (without losing our sanity).

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