Maybe you’re feeling down because of the financial crisis. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by holiday tasks. Maybe you’re rushing around to try to get things done before you leave for vacation. Or maybe you’re just having a lousy day.

If so, you can make yourself happier – right now. In the next thirty minutes, check off as many of the following items as possible. Each one will lift your mood, as will the mere fact that you’ve tackled and achieved some concrete goals; by doing so, you boost your feelings of self-efficacy, which can boost happiness.

1. Boost your energy.Stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, even better, take a brisk ten-minute walk outside. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up, and the activity and sunlight are good for your focus, your mood, and the retention of information. Plus, because of “emotional contagion,” if you act energetic, you’ll help the people around you feel energetic, too.

2. Count your blessings. Taketen minutes to think about all the things in your life that are going right, about all the things that other people do to help you, about all the things that you’re thankful for. In the tumult of everyday life, it’s very easy to focus on the negative and to lose sight of what really matters.

3. Reach out to friends.Make a lunch date or send an email to a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Having warm, close bonds with other people is the KEY to happiness, so take the time to stay in touch. Somewhat surprisingly, socializing boosts the moods not only of extroverts, but also of introverts.

4. Perform an action that reflects your values.Do you think organ donation is a good idea? Sign up online to be one yourself; it takes less than a minute. Worried about climate change? Refill your water bottle from the tap instead of buying a couple of bottles throughout the day. The First Splendid Truth holds that to work on happiness, we should think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth. Living up to your values will help you “feel right.”

5. Rid yourself of a nagging task.Answer a difficult email, do an errand you’ve been putting off, or call to make that dentist’s appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and relief.

6. Create a calmer environment.Clear some physical and mental space around yourself by sorting papers, pitching junk, cleaning a closet, answering a few emails, filing, or even just making your piles neater. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizeable dent. Try to get in the habit of using the “one minute rule” — i.e., never postpone any task that can be completed in less than one minute. And always make your bed in the morning!

7. Lay the groundwork for some future fun.Order a book you’ve been wanting to read (not something you think you should read) or plan an excursion to a museum, hiking trail, sporting event, gardening store, movie theater—whatever sounds like fun. Studies show that having fun on a regular basis is a pillar of happiness, and anticipation is an important part of that pleasure. Try to involve friends or family, as well; people enjoy almost all activities more when they’re with other people than when they’re alone.

8. Do a good deed.Make an email introduction of two people who could help each other, or set up a blind date, or shoot someone a piece of useful information or gratifying praise. Do good, feel good—this really works. Also, although we often believe that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act. When you act in a friendly way, you’ll strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

9. Act happy.Put a smile on your face right now. Research shows that even a fake smile has a positive influence on your emotions—turns out that just going through the motion of happiness brightens your mood. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal. To the contrary. Studies show that happier people are more sociable, likeable, healthy, and productive—and they’re more inclined to help other people. So in working to boost your own happiness, you’re benefiting others as well.

What other strategies have you tried to give yourself a happiness boost?

你也许正因为金融危机而感到沮丧，也许正被假期任务压得喘不过气来，也许正忙前忙后，想把该做的做完好去度假，又或者，正经历着对你来说诸事不顺的一天。

果真如此的话，你可以让自己快乐起来——马上。在接下来的三十分钟时间里，尽可能多地清点下列几项。每一项会让你的心情好一点，就象真的解决了具体问题、完成了具体目标一样。这种做法可以提升你的自我效能感，而自我效能感可以给人带来快乐。

1. 打起精神。打电话时站起来走动走动，能到户外轻快地散十分钟步则更好。研究证明，当人快速活动时，新陈代谢会加快。而且，户外活动和阳光有助于你精力集中，心情变好，记忆力增强。还有，由于有“情绪感染”，如果你表现得精力充沛，那么你周围的人也会感到精力充沛。

2. 数数你摊上的好事。花十分钟想想生活中所有顺当的事，想想别人对你的所有帮助，想想所有让你心怀感恩的事情。在日常生活的纷扰中，人很容易想到消极的事情，却忽略掉真正重要的东西。

3. 联络朋友。如果有段日子没见某个朋友，不妨约个饭局或发封电子邮件。与他人保持温馨、亲密的联络是幸福的关键，所以，要花时间跟人联系。奇怪的是，社交不仅能让外向型人心情愉快，也能让内向型人快乐起来。

4. 实施一件能体现自己价值观的事。你支持器官捐献吗？那就在网上报名成为一名捐献者吧，要不了一分钟。 担心气候改变吗？那就用直接喝自来水来代替一天买好几瓶瓶装水吧。人生第一真理是：为了幸福，我们应该把感觉良好、感觉不好、感觉舒服都当成是成长过程中必不可少的组成部份。 按自己的价值观生活会让你“感觉舒服”。

5. 解决一件烦心事。回一封棘手的电子邮件；处理一件你一直在拖延的事情；打电话给牙医进行预约。解决掉很多烦心事中的一件会让你突然浑身是劲，心情轻松。

6. 创造更平静的环境。把文件分分类，倒倒垃圾，清理一下壁橱，回几封电邮，整理整理档案，甚至只是让文件堆放得更整洁一些。做这些事情可以给自己的身心更多的空间。很多繁琐的事情加在一起会让人没了头绪，喘不过气。但是，常常只需几分钟，就可能解决掉很大一部分。要努力养成利用“一分钟规则”的习惯——即绝不把任何不到一分钟就可以解决的事情押后。还有，每天早上要整理床铺！

7. 为未来的快乐做铺垫。订购一本自己想看的书（不是那种你认为自己该看的书）或者制定去博物馆、去远足、去看体育比赛、去园艺店、去电影院的计划——只要听着有意思，去哪儿都行。研究显示：定期娱乐一下是快乐的基础，而期待是那种快乐感中很重要的一部分。还有，要尽量邀上朋友或家人一起去。任何的活动，只要跟其他人在一起，感觉都会比自己单独一人时更好。

8. 做好事。用电邮介绍俩个互相能帮上忙的人认识；安排不相识男女首次约会；告诉某人一项有用的信息或夸夸他。做好事会让人心情好——确实如此。而且，尽管我们常常以为行为是随着感觉走的，但事实上，我们的感觉常常是受行为影响的。当你表现出友好时，你对别人的友善感就会增强。

9. 表现出快乐。现在就换上笑脸。研究显示，即使是强装出来的笑容也会对人的情感有正面影响。事实证明，经历快乐可以让人心情变靓。微笑的你会让别人觉得你更友好，更具亲和力。

有人担心，追求快乐会很自私，其实恰恰相反。研究显示，快乐的人更随和，人缘更好，更健康，更富有成就——而且更容易帮助别人。所以，你在使自己快乐的同时，也使别人收益。

你还做过其它让自己快乐的尝试吗？