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8 Simple But Effective Mood Boosters
Science-backed ways to feel better right now (and don’t worry, “exercise” is not on the list)
Overwhelmed? Aren’t we all. Sure, sure, we’re supposed to exercise more, eat better and get more sleep. Yada yada yada. Rather than harp on those challenges — they work but can ring hollow when we’re in a lousy mood — here are my favorite “I need help right now” mood boosters, drawn from my previous writings and personal testing and all backed by solid science. Pick one or try them all, and I promise your day will be a little bit brighter, an improvement that can serve as a springboard to improved mental well-being and greater happiness.
Take three deep breaths
Cliché, I know. But controlled, deep breathing is amazingly powerful, and super easy to do, and until I studied up on it, I was doing it all wrong. The great thing is you can do this wherever you are, in the moment, right when you need it most. So, before you take any of the other suggestions below, let’s calm your nerves and prepare you for a better day. If you do only one thing on this list, let it be this, and do it right now, in this manner:
- Breathe in through your nose, as deeply as you can.
- Fill your belly first — feel it expand — then your chest.
