"Psychological Fake-Outs" for Real Happiness
A bad mood is the brain's reaction to external stimuli. Sometimes, changing the source of the stimulus can help improve your mood. A recent article in the American magazine "Men's Health" suggests that when you're feeling down, you might try these 7 "psychological fake-outs" to let your bad mood slip away不知不觉间悄悄溜走.—lansin.com
1. Force a smile. When you're feeling depressed, under great psychological stress, or angry, forcing a smile can help release negative emotions and be good for your body and mind.
2. Tidy up your room. A messy room or office can make you feel unsettled. Therefore, tidying up your room
3. Wear a blue shirt. Blue is a natural "mood relaxant," which is the real reason why "gazing at the blue sky makes you feel much more relaxed." In contrast, orange is the most stimulating, black can easily provoke anger, and while red can boost a person's energy levels, it can also make people feel uneasy.
4. Hum a tune. Clinical specialists at the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Center in London say that singing is the simplest way to improve your mood. Because singing regulates your breathing and makes your whole body move with the rhythm. Whether you're humming to yourself, singing with friends, or just quietly listening, it all helps to relax your body and mind.
5. To be in a good mood, the key is to eat smart. For example, combining bitter and sweet flavors (adding orange juice to coffee), or combining soft and hard textures (eating popcorn and nuts together), can give your taste buds a fresh experience, which in turn improves your mood. Similar foods also include sweet and sour spare ribs and sweet and sour chicken chunks in Chinese cuisine.
6. Smell some lemon scent. A new study from Ohio State University has confirmed that the scent of lemon has anxiety-relieving, calming, and pain-relieving effects. The study found that the lemon scent can indeed boost a good mood; smelling it can increase the concentration of the "energy hormone" noradrenaline in the blood.
7. Get close to your pet. Numerous studies have shown that petting animals like cats and dogs helps lower blood pressure and steady the heart rate, which in turn reduces the risk of illnesses like heart disease. Deborah Wells, a psychology professor and an expert in human-animal relationships at Queen's University Belfast, points out that close contact with animals has a surprisingly calming effect and helps the human body relieve its own stress.