Got joy'Sometimes it can feel hard to keep up a happy state of mind. The emotion, like all the others, isnt always permanent. But there are ways to keep it up or boost it when you need it ' and luckily, theyre simpler than you think.In honor of the International Day of Happiness, weve culled expert tips, research and just a few feel-good suggestions of ways to boost your mood.Take a look below:1. Log some time with your furry friends. Play fetch with Fido or sneak in a few cuddles with your kitten. Interacting with your pets can release oxytocin in the brain' you know, the warm and fuzzy hormone ' resulting in that joyous feeling.2. Count your blessings. Theres nothing like a little thankfulness to boost your mood. Research shows expressing gratitudecan make you happier. Try writing down three things youre thankful for at the end of each night.3. Remind yourself how great you are.PSA: You are awesomeyou just gotta believe it for yourself. Studies show self-acceptance is crucial to a happier life, but its a habit we barely practice.4. Call your mom.Pick up that phone. Research suggests hearing your moms voice can help reduce stress. And less stress means a happier you.5. Meditate, meditate, meditate.The list of meditation benefits seems endless, but perhaps one of the more positive perks is what the practice can do for your mood. Research shows that allowing yourself a few moments of zen-like escape each day may make you happier.6. Listen to music.Admit it: Theres nothing quite like a solo jam session, and apparently science agrees. Research shows that trying to boost your mood while listening to music actually can help lift you to a more positive state. Press play ASAP.7. While youre at it, listen tosadmusic.No, really. Studies also suggest listening to sad music can help boost positive feelings. (We just see this as another excuse to listen to Adele on repeat.)8. Give back.We didnt get to where we are without a little help, so why not extend that same generosity to someone else' Not only will your kindness influence others, studies show itll alsomake you happier, too.9. Hang out with someone who is happy.Joy really is contagious. Research shows the more you surround yourself with positive people,the happier youll feel. Time to go catch up with your BFF'10.Watch a funny video.function onPlayerReadyVidible(e){'undefined'!=typeof HPTrack&&HPTrack.Vid.Vidible_track(e)}!function(e,i){if(e.vdb_Player){if('object'==typeof commercial_video){var a='',o='m.fwsitesection='+commercial_video.site_and_category;if(a+=o,commercial_video['package']){var c='&m.fwkeyvalues=sponsorship%3D'+commercial_video['package'];a+=c}e.setAttribute('vdb_params',a)}i(e.vdb_Player)}else{var t=arguments.callee;setTimeout(function(){t(e,i)},0)}}(document.getElementById('vidible_1'),onPlayerReadyVidible); Find something that tickles you, watch and let the giggles ensue. Laughter can reduce stress, after all.11. Plan a vacation.The anticipation for a trip is almost as good as the trip itself. Prepping for a vacation has been shown to increase our happiness levels, the New York Times reported. The warm sun or exciting slopes are just an added bonus.12. Whip up a good meal.Feeling blue' Tap into your inner chef and hit the kitchen. Researchers say people who employcreative process in small ways' like coming up with a new pasta recipe for dinner 'feel happier overall.13. Get in a good workout.Consider this our love letter to exercise. Not only is it good for your body, but its equally as beneficial to your brain. When you work up a sweat, you release endorphins, immediately upping your happiness levels. Go ahead, get moving.14. Spend money on experiences.A fulfilling life doesnt lie in our possessions,its found in the experiences we have and the people we share them with. If youre going to spend a little moolah, spend it on a trip, a concert or any other experience that will bring you joy. Science saysyoull be happier in the long run.15. Challenge yourself.Work for that promotion or take on that marathon. Its a lovely treat for your mind, according to Gretchen Rubin, author ofThe Happiness Project.Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness, Rubin wrote in Real Simple. The brain is stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction.16. Fake a smile.We get itsmiling may be the last thing you want to do when youre in a sour mood, but it could help to turn that frown upside-down. Research shows faking a smilecan help elevate our mood, even if were not genuinely into it right away. Talk about the power of suggestion.17. Go outside.Take advantage of your backyard or stroll a park youve never been to before and thank yourself later. One study found that going for a brief walk in nature can help improve your mood and alleviate stress.18. Make some new friends.Research shows making friends increasesour happiness and well-being. Join a club, talk to your coworker or strike up a conversation in the grocery lineyou never know what kinds of new connections you can make.19. Drink a glass of milk.Dairy contains tryptophan,an essential amino acid that helps create serotonin,the happy chemical in the brain. Milk: It not only does the body good, it does the brain good too.20. Take a cozy bath (like Barry the dog). If that isnt the look of happiness, we dont know what is. Plus, research suggests that warm baths make us feel warm on the inside, too.21. Get enough sleep.More sleep = A happier you. Too little shuteye slows down our cognitive processesand increases the risk of depression. Try hitting the pillow 30 minutes earlier each night or taking a nap in the middle of the day.22. Embrace the aging process.Most people wish they could avoid aging, but studies show that were happier as we get older. Experts theorize this could be because the older we get, the more we reflect on positive experiences. Sounds like a great reason to love those birthdays.23. Have a good cry.It sounds counterintuitive, but it may actually work. Research has found that crying can lead to positive increase in mood following the flow of tears. Those in the study reported feeling better than they did before they had a reason to cry.24. Follow the golden ratio.This theory, developed by positive psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, holds that for every one negative experience you have, you should havethree positive ones in order to achieve happiness. Makes sense to us!25. Show your appreciation for someone else over email.Technology isnt all bad. Take a break from your overflowing inbox and switch gears to a different kind of email. We fight so hard against the negative and we forget to tell people how powerful a two-minute positive e-mail could be, Harvard-trained researcher and Before Happiness author Shawn Achor told Oprah in 2014.26. Give someone else a compliment.Your generosity will make your day and theirs. Looking for a way to give praise that isnt superficial' Here are some ideas.27. Find the perfect temperature.The weather outside has a direct influence on how we feel on the inside. One study found that happiness is maximized at an approximate 57 degrees Fahrenheit.28. Keep a one-sentence journal.Sometimes the most mundane moments turn out to be the loveliest source of happiness. Research shows recording these everyday events may make us happier later on because we appreciate thema lot more when theyre revisited. In other words, if you ate a scrumptious chocolate brownie on Wednesday, write it down.30. Stop to smell the flowers, literally. Eau de Happiness' One study on how scent affects joy found that participants who were in a floral-scented room selected three times as many happiness-related terms than negative terms.31. Have sex.Heres a good excuse (not that you need one) to hit the sheets: Research suggests having sex can reduce stress. Of course,how much is up to you. But worth a try, eh'32. Just TRY being happy.Can you think yourself to joy' Some researchers believe so. According to two experimental studies, taking happiness into your own hands can boost your well-being.33.Try to cut back on work.Residents of Denmark, one of the happiest countries in the world, spend less time than most Americans in the office. Only 2 percent of Danes work long hours, which is categorized as 50 hours per week. And full-time workers still devote 66 percent of their day to self-care, like eating and sleeping.Maybe do as the Danes do'34. Get spiritual.Spirituality and religion have been linked to higher happiness and well-being, according to a review of studies on spirituality and health. Sometimes it helps to know youre connected to something greater than yourself.35. Celebrate little victories.Theres power in small moments. Whether its getting an answer correct at trivia or catching your favorite song on the radio, indulge in the little wins of your day. I think when we take time to notice the things that go rightit means were getting a lot of little rewards throughout the day, Susan Weinschenk, author of How to Get People to Do Stuff, previously told HuffPost. That can help with our moods.36. Think of happy memories.Research shows nostalgia makes us happier and more optimistic. Time to dig out those old yearbooks'37. Skip the small talk and go deep.Anyone can talk about the weather. Let yourself get a little more connected and have a substantial conversation with someoneresearch shows it will boost happiness and well-being.38. Recite a positive mantra. You can either create your own or find one online (personally, we like these encouraging words). Search for a phrase thats going to bring meaning to you. Research shows having a mantra can help with bad feelings. Find yours!39. Spend money on someone else.Investing in other people really does pay offfor them and for you. According to one 2008 study, spending money on others promotes your own happiness.40. Become a better listener.How much do your really pay attention to your conversations' Researchers theorize the more we listen, the happier and more meaningful our lives areparticularly within our relationships. As Epictetus once said, We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak.41. Take a selfie.The next time someone judges you for taking one of those infamous front-facing photos, show them this: A 2016 study found that selfies actually increaseconfidence and make you happier. Boom.42. Talk to someone IRL.Put down that phone and log some real FaceTime. Human beings aresocial creatures (and not just on the internet), so its time we tap into those resources. Research shows we simply feel better when were around other people.43. Lower your expectations.Raise your hand if youve ever had a lackluster New Years Eve or Valentines Day. Its no secret that expectation can lead to disappointment if the bar is set too high (in fact, research backs this up). Were not implying that you should set the bar low, but sometimes realistic ideas make you happier in the long run.44. Look on the bright side.There are perks to seeing life through a glass half full. Try looking for a silver lining in any situation. Optimists are not only more joyful, they also may live longer. Thats a lot of extra time to be happy.45.Finally, just look at this smiling face. Give one (or several) of these a try the next time youre feeling low. Happiness looks good on you.A previous version of this article appeared in March 2015. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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