6 Quick Mood-Boosters to Brighten Your Day
1. Drink hot cocoa.
Hot chocolate contains cocoa flavonols that improve mood and alertness.
2. Clean.
Clutter can be a reminder of things that need to be done, spurring a feeling of failure, says Elaine Aron, Ph.D., author of The Highly Sensitive Person. Cheer yourself up quickly by straightening a few surfaces.
3. Try acupressure.
Grab the skin between your thumb and index finger with the thumb and index finger of your other hand. Gently massage in circles for a minute, and then repeat on the other hand.
4. Smell the roses.
This means figuratively (count your blessings) and literally (fresh flowers in your space).
5. Achieve a goal.
Even a small success like winning at solitaire or sinking a crumpled ball of paper in the wastebasket—two points!—can lift your spirits.
6. Review your photos.
At home, flip through a baby or vacation album. At work, upload favorite photos to your computer and set them as a rotating screensaver.
Related: 17 Quotes to Help You Find Your Happiness
This article appears in the May 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine.