12 Things That Will Make You Happy Right Now

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We all have those days where you wake up and you're just in a bad mood. Here are some quick fixes for when you just feel like you need a small pick-me-up! It's science. Some of these things you can do at once (like sip some coffee and do some meditative walking) and others will take only a few seconds.

1. Smell your boyfriend's shirt. Crazy, right? But according to an article written in a Cosmopolitan magazine by Anna Davies, studies have shown that any random dude's sweat can reduce tension in women. And if it's your boyfriend's shirt? It results in a phenomenon called comfort smelling that makes you feel happier. Don't have your guy's shirt laying around? Smell some sunblock. Your brain will associate the smell with lazy days by the pool, vacations and summer fun. 
2. Look at pictures of cute animals. I know this one sounds cheesy, but there has been significant research that points to it being very effective in making you happy and lifting your spirits. Here are some adorable ones to look at: 20 Pictures That Will Make You Feel Happy.
3. Munch on some chocolate or sip on coffee. According to an article Marshall Brian, caffeine can raise dopamine levels in your brain, and there is caffeine in both chocolate and coffee. Just don't drink or eat too much of it, as it can have the opposite effect when you crash. Just a square of chocolate or a small cup of coffee will do. In fact...
4. Eat foods rich in Vitamin B. Vitamin B is a vitamin that is linked to energy, happiness, and your metabolism. The list of foods is long, but the foods with the most significant source of Vitamin B are fish (salmon), spinach, chicken, and blueberries. Also, funny enough, avocados have serotonin in them. Maybe a spinach salad with chicken and avocado?
5. Take a 10 minute power nap. Power naps are your biggest tool in fighting off sleepiness and low energy levels. According to a recent article, "The 10-minute nap produced immediate improvements in all outcome measures (including sleep latency, subjective sleepiness, fatigue, vigor, and cognitive performance), with some of these benefits maintained for as long as 155 minutes." I know it might be tempting to keep sleeping after only 10 minutes, but don't! Naps lasting longer than 20 minutes have shown to have the opposite effect; they make you feel less energized and more groggy. 
6. Have a chat with your happiest friend. Surrounding yourself with happy people might be the last thing you want to do when you're having an off day, but studies have shown that happiness is infectious! You don't even necessarily have to talk to them, just be around them. 
7. Listen to music. Listening to happy music can actually make you happier! My personal favorite is Sea Wolf. It instantly makes me feel happy. 
8. Stop and smell the roses. Specifically, I mean when you are walking to work, class, or when you have time, just try to be really aware of all the colors, smells and sounds around you. I generally do this on my way to class. I look at all the flowers, maybe stop and pick one, and smell the crisp morning air. This is also very similar to meditative walking. 
9. Get some sunlight. Sunlight, when it hits your skin for 10-20 minutes (depending on the pigments in your skin) gives you lots of Vitamin D, which can lift your spirits. Lack of exposure to sunlight has actually been linked with varying degrees of depression. Maybe eat lunch outside, or go for a small walk. 
10. Do a good deed. We all know that feeling we get after we help someone with the door, tell someone they dropped something, or given good news. It makes us happy! Find a good deed to do.
11. Fake it 'til you make it. Pretending to be happy (like smiling, even if you feel like you have nothing to smile about) can actually send happy messages to your brain. 
12. If nothing else works, watch this gif while listening to this song (don't worry, it's work appropriate).