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.