How to Get Happy, Fast

Try A High-Octane WorkoutFifty minutes of moderately intense running or cycling crank up production of body chemicals called endocannabinoids (yep, like the cannabinoids in marijuana), research shows. Add in the resulting endorphin rush and your spirits should surge, to ways to get happy fast.VentYou dont even need a human handy: A report in Psychological Science found that when people scribbled down negative thoughts on a piece of paper and threw it away, they were much less affected by them later; evidently, chucking bad vibes tells your brain they are gone for good. So go ahead and ll the garbage with Boss says the proposal I worked on for three weeks is a great start/ Neighbor says I look like my Corgi in a good way/Friend just said, I love how youre not obsessed with your clothes.Change Your WalkTime to master the Beyonc strut. In a study in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, people were shown positive and negative words. Then they were made to walk in a happy, condent style (arms swinging, head thrown back) or a grumpy, get-away-from-me way (shoulders rolled forward). Afterward, the hunched-over group remembered many more negative words than positive onessuggesting that their stroll style doomed them to a gloomy mind-set.Rethink Your CommuteOf all commuters, people who ride bikes to work have the sunniest moods, according to a study from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. Thank the combination of exercise, mood-lifting nature and not having to deal with a stalled car. Bus riders are far crankier. (Also, they dont get to wear cool bike-riding gear.)Ask Two QuestionsWhen the day threatens to go south, psychologist Guy Winch, PhD, asks himself, Is this worth being in a bad mood for? And then he considers, Is this something Im going to remember in a months time?Instant perspective.There Are Good-Mood Foods SWEET POTATOES: Research shows that the folate and other B vitamins pump up serotonin anddopamine, neurotransmitters that improve mood to get happy fast.BANANAS: They're full of tyrosine, a building block for neurotransmitters.EGGS: Their balance of fat and protein stabilizes blood sugar levels. QUINOA: This seed is lled with protein, B vitamins, magnesium and iron, all of which can help regulate serotonin levels (evening out your mood) and prevent fatigue and depression.TOMATOES: Cooked ones, in particular, can aid in mood control because theyre rich in lycopene, which ghts inammation that can stress your body out.AVOCADOS: They are packed with healthy fats, including omega-3s, which have been shown to boost disposition.COCONUT OIL: The medium-chain triglycerides it contains can improve the brains production of serotonin. (Plus, as hip-hop artist Big Sean tweeted recently, U can damn near use/put coconut oil on everything).