3 Ways to Cheer Up

1 READ INSTEAD OF WATCHING TV. In a 34-year-long survey of more than 25,000 people, those who described themselves as very happy were 21 percent more likely to read a newspaper, and they watched about three hours less television than those who were unhappy. “Happier people are more active and engage their minds and bodies,” says coauthor John P. Robinson, Ph.D., a professor of sociology at the University of Maryland.
EVEN HAPPIER: Join a book club. The survey also reports that the happiest people socialize with friends, neighbors, and family.

2 DRINK A WARM BEVERAGE. You’re significantly nicer to strangers after just holding a hot drink for ten seconds, according to a study in the journal Science. Researchers believe that physical warmth triggers psychological warmth.
EVEN HAPPIER: Sprinkle on spices. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves to that warm drink—they have all been studied as natural antidepressants.

3 FLOAT IN THE TUB. After resting in a salted bath, patients’ anxiety and depression were lessened by about one fourth, according to a Swedish study published in the International Journal of Stress Management. Their levels of prolactin, a hormone that contributes to relaxation, rose by as much as 33 percent.
EVEN HAPPIER: Wear ear plugs and an eye mask. To achieve full relaxation, eliminate external stimuli by blocking out all distractions.