It's a time of celebrationand cheer, but it's not unusual to feel a little blue inthe middle of all the festiveseason madness.It can be a stressful time- not only emotionally butfinancially too.If you've woken up todayfeeling a bit glum, don'tjust write it off as a badday and stay down inthe dumps. Try one ofthese 12 interestingways to boost yourmood and turnthat frown upside down.
Sit up straight
It's so simple butincredibly effective becausegood posturereally doesaffect yourmood. Research hasfoundthe better your posture, the easier it is to thinkof something that makes you happy.When you're slumped forward it takestwice as much brainpower to access happy memories, says Professor Erik Peperof San Francisco State University.
Look up
The connection between body and mindis strong. "When you're feeling powerlessyou look down and shrink, but whenyou're feeling empowered and positiveyour posture expands and you look up," Peper says. "Creating that stance has the sameeffect, so arrange your world so you regularly look up.
Put joyful images high ona wall, and when you're sitting put a pillow behind your lower back as it naturally helps you tilt your pelvis and lift yourchest upwards."
Put a spring in your step
The bouncier your walk, the more positively you think. "People who walk in a happy way recallfewer negative words than those movingin a more depressed style," says researcher Johannes Michalak of the University ofWitten/Herdecke in Germany.Try swinging your arms and lookingaround you as you stride.
Use a diary
Scheduling activities in a diary createssuch a positive mood boost that UKdoctors have been testing it as a treatment for mild depression. They'vefound it works just as well as somemore expensive forms of therapy.The theory is when we're feelingdown we tend to put off doingactivities that might make usfeel better, such as exercise, orwe might even avoid thingswe'd usually enjoy, which then creates more sad feelings.
"Experiencing more, or more varied,activities can lift the mood," says studyauthor Professor David Richards of theUniversity of Exeter.It also gives your day structure.
Say thanks to your pillow
It's well known that being grateful forwhat you have creates a more positivemindset, but sometimes, especially ifyou're feeling particularly down, it canbe hard to find that feeling."I suggest people start by expressinggratitude for inanimate objects," Australian life coach Irena Bee says.
"You might say, 'I'm grateful for thepillow that stopped my neck aching inbed last night' or 'I'm grateful for theceiling that means I have shelter'.Start with simple things. Then, as youtrain your gratitude muscles, you canstart looking for positives deeper inyour life."
Eat a chili
Several foods are known to lift moodnaturally, and chilli is in the top five onthat list. "It's something I do when I need aquick mood fix," says Sydney-basedmotivational speaker Nicole Harcourt. "I actually keep a few little red-hot chillies in my handbag. They release thesame endorphins as exercise but it'seasier than trying to run somewhere inheels, which I often wear." No need to get quite so gangsterthough - adding chilli to your next mealwill work too!
Find someone in a good mood
Happiness is catching. Believe or not,researchers are actually studying thisphenomenon on a biological level.It's thought the sweat produced byhappy people contains chemicals thatinfuse those around them with a similarfeeling. But of course we've all experienced it on an emotional level.
"Happy people see possibilities in liferather than focusing on problems," saysAmerican motivational speaker Dain Heer.
Jump in the air
This is a little trick American business mentor Renee Mayne suggests to clients whocan't quite shake themselves out of a funk. "Sit and think about what's causing yourmood," she says. "Once you've come up withthe answer, jump up into the air as if you'vejust won the lottery. Repeat three times."
"Doing this shiftsyour energy so whatever is causing yourmood won't have the same impact on you- either it will disappear, or you'll come upwith a way to solve the problem. If you hang out with them, thismentality transfers to you."
Stand on one leg for a minute
"When you do this you have to focusand be calm and this brings yourattention to the present moment,which is well known to reducestress and boost mood," Australian life coach AlexKingsmill says.She suggests you usethis mental reset aswhat she calls a "choicepoint" - a moment when youdecide to stop being grumpy andthinking in a negative way and insteadfocus on thinking positively.
"A lot of mental attitude comes froma conscious choice about how we seethings," she explains.It really is as easy as choosing to think happy thoughts," she says.
Get your eyes tested
When our vision is compromised -even moderately - we're likely to sufferfrom a low mood and depression.It's not known exactly why this is, butresearcher Professor Jugnoo Rahi fromLondon's University College Hospitalsays it's possible that even slightly poorvision might make doing things we enjoy, or that keep us independent, harder- and this impacts our happiness.
"If you think your eyesight is changing, seek medical attention," she advises. "There might be something you cando to stop it getting worse and havingfurther effects on your health."
Treat yourself to a vanilla yoghurt
Women who eat fullfat yoghurt regularlyare less prone to badmoods as it's believedthe healthy bacteriaand fats it containshelp modulate emotions.For a bigger boost, however, choosevanilla yoghurt. Dutch researchersfound this is the flavour most likely toboost mood, possibly because we associate the taste and scent of vanilla withhappy memories such as eating ice cream on the beach.
Change your password
Using a life-affirmingpassword, known as "positive passwording", is sucha trend in the USA thatthere are books and websiteswith advice on how to choosethe right phrase for you.The theory is that typing apassword that makes you feelhappy each day can boost yourmood.
"It's got to feel believable toyou though, or it will be met withresistance by your mind and itwon't work," Kingsmill says.She suggests using wordssuch as "choose" - for example, 'Ichoosehappy' rather than 'Iamhappy' - so it feels more doable.
