16 Listen to Happy Music
If you’ve long-suspected that pump up music makes you feel good, there’s science to back you up. Research conducted at the University of Missouri found that cheery music—in this case, peppy tunes by composer Aaron Copeland, as opposed to more dour-sounding songs by Stravinsky—improves mood both right away and in the long-term. If you can dance along without publicly embarrassing yourself, that’s a feel-good double whammy.
17 Get Outside
Going out for a walk can increase creativity, and being creative can improve your mood. Sunlight also provides exposure to Vitamin D, which can alleviate seasonal depression. In addition, a walk can lower stress. All told, getting outside is a great way to cheer yourself up if you’re feeling down.
18 Exercise
By this point, pretty much everyone has heard of a runner’s high. The rush of endorphins you get from exercise isn’t a myth. More vigorous exercise guarantees a bigger rush, though, so you might consider sprinting in spurts. Fortunately, even milder forms of exercise like walking around the block can improve your mood, according to the Mayo Clinic, so you don’t have to gear up and make a whole production of it, if your schedule doesn’t comply.
19 Call a Friend
Experiencing a positive event in your day is a great way to cheer yourself up, and having a conversation with a friend is a great way to do that. Just make sure the friend you reach out to is somebody who’s generally positive; happiness is contagious, but so are negative feelings, according to research published in Edge. When it’s your turn to be the positive friend, share these 40 Random Facts So Funny You’ll Be Dying to Tell Your Friends About Them.
20 Consider Carbs
Carbohydrates make it possible for more tryptophan to enter your brain. Once it’s there, your brain starts producing more of the feel-good hormone serotonin. Just make sure you’re choosing healthy carbs like whole grains. You don’t want a blood sugar spike to set you up for misery when you come crashing down later. And if you want to learn which carbs are decidedly not the devil, start eating any of The 10 Healthiest Carbs That Won’t Derail Your Six-Pack.
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