Give your mood an instant face-lift

Don't let the stress of everyday living drag you down. Active! On five ways to celebrate your life

Give your mood an instant face-lift

Don't let the stress of everyday living drag you down. Active! On five ways to celebrate your life

The Mumbai woman is a strong contender for the title of Most Hardworking Woman In The World. The distinction however, comes at a price: sleep-deprivation, commuter fatigue, a mind that doesn't shut down for hours post "office hours" and, of course, stress.

Who wouldn't be cranky as a consequence of all that! But your personal happiness need not be compromised for leading a hectic life. Here are five simple ways to boost your mood, so you can look forward to each day:

Laugh out loud
Research shows that something as simple as smiling at a receptive colleague or watching a hilarious clip on YouTube, can get people to think more clearly and be more creative. So don't think twice before passing on that humourous forward or sharing a joke with your cubicle partner, and then watch as the collective mood of the office lightens up! Alternatively, listen to some uplifting music, which could be anything from the latest Punjabi chartbuster to Beethoven.

Switch brain sides.
Finding a few minutes in the day to be creative can provide an instant mood lift. At home, you can tap into your creative side by cooking or painting. At work, you can try focused doodling, making a card for a friend's upcoming birthday or even knitting a pair of socks for yourself. It's okay, if your doodles are not 'perfect' or if you drop a few stitches. In fact, it's possibly the best part of the exercise: No expectations.

Give yourself a gold star.
Often, we're so focused on the finish line that we forget to enjoy the baby steps that get us there everyday. Break your week down into smaller achievable tasks and celebrate getting them done by treating yourself to a massage over the weekend or by inviting a few friends home for dinner, and order takeout. If nothing else, reward yourself with a gold star in your own personal handmade report card.

Become the nicest person you know.
Good manners matter and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Say 'please', 'thank you', 'you're welcome' as often as you can and really mean it. You'll be amazed how much warmer people feel towards you, because they feel their efforts are being acknowledged. Make it a point to pay genuine compliments and watch people light up.

Add some sparkle to your life. Literally.
Use a little silver or gold dust on your lids, paint your toenails in a bright colour, or just slip into your shiniest pair of shoes. You'll be amazed by how taking a little care over your appearance or spending some time on yourself can instantly make you feel like a diva. Besides, you deserve it!