Next time you’re in a slump, skip the expensive shopping spree or spa treatment and try one of these affordable tips.

1.READ INSTEAD OF WATCHING TV. In a 34-year-long survey of more than 25,000 people, those who describe themselves as very happy where 21% 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, PhD, 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 2008 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 contributed to relaxation, rose by as much as 33%. EVEN HAPPIER: Wear ear plugs and an eye mask. To achieve full relaxation, eliminate external stimuli by blocking out all distractions.

Yours In Health,

