Ready, Set, Recharge!

24 Ways to boost your energy and your mood!

1. Hang with happy people.

Just being near a positive person is enough to make you smile: Having a friend with a sunny disposition living within a mile of you increases the chances of your being happy by 25 percent, according to a study from the University of California, San Diego. Researchers suspect that happiness is contagious; glass-half-full types tend to be nicer to everyone around them, which makes those people pleasant, and so on. Catch the smiley vibe by regularly joining your most cheerful friends for a run.

2. Burst into action!
Don't just stand there waiting for the microwave to beep: Launch into a turbocharged set of jumping jacks. Or put the phone on speaker when you're holding for customer service and de-agitate with a few sun salutations. "These little exercise bursts improve blood flow to the body and the brain," says Geralyn Coopersmith, an exercise physiologist and author of Fit + Female. "Doing them throughout the day can really perk you up."

3. Stop stress
Savor the zesty scent of an orange and you could feel instantly relaxed. According to a Japanese study, the citrus fruit contains linalool, a compound whose odor has been shown to lower stress levels in animals.

4. Unplug
If you're on your third straight Law & Order episode, turn it off already! After analyzing data that spanned 34 years, University of Maryland researchers reported that people who described themselves as "somewhat happy" watched 10 percent more hours of TV than those who rated themselves "very happy." The theory: Being glued to your flat screen may temporarily entertain you, but it isn't particularly satisfying in the long run. Worse, the tube time takes away from more fulfilling activities, such as a yoga class and a picnic with friends.

5. Get firm and feel fab
Muscles move more efficiently when they're toned, giving you a spring in your step. No time for the gym? Do a speedy routine that quickly targets the most and the biggest muscles, says Michael R. Bracko, an exercise physiologist and director of Dr. Bracko's Fitness, a consulting service in Canada. Try a dynamic combo of squats (do them pressing your back into a stability ball against the wall) and dips (sit on a chair, slide your butt off it, and move your body up and down). Do three sets of 10 to 15 reps three days a week and you'll see and feel a difference.

See all 24 energy & mood boosters on fitnessmagazine.com!
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/stress-relief/get-happy/ready-set-recharge/?page=1