The surprising power of a quick stroll
On days when you can’t seem to shake a blue mood, the solution might be as simple as taking a brief walk around the block, say scientists in the journal PLOS ONE. They analyzed 18 months’ worth of data from an activity- and mood-tracking smartphone app and discovered that people’s happiness spiked in as little as 15 minutes following even light exercise like a leisurely walk. And the more they moved throughout the day, the more positive they felt about life. Simple movement is all it takes to trigger the release of endorphins that tamp down stress and restore vitality.