Tip of the week: Stay happy during tough times

Eat a peanut. When feeling blue, “mind your carbs.” Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and legumes keep serotonin levels high—and you chipper. Refined carbohydrates like white bread and pasta can cause a dive in serotonin levels. “When those levels crash, so does your mood.”

Sleep it off. According to a Stanford University study, “night owls tend to be more depressed than early birds.” If you can’t get eight hours, get “at least six hours of uninterrupted sleep” regularly.

Say ‘om.’ People who meditate do so for a reason. They “exhibit more electrical activity in the left frontal cortex,” an area associated with happiness. Let your mind control your mood by sitting down, closing your eyes, and meditating for 10 minutes a day.

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Lighten up. Staying positive can be “as easy as flipping a switch.” According to a University of British Columbia study, spending 30 minutes a day “in front of a 10,000-lux light box” (which mimics sunlight) can spur serotonin production and cheer you up “faster than popping Prozac.” Find one at Day-lights.com.

Source: Best Life