TO BOOST HAPPINESS: Hug more

Surveys suggest 66% of us wish we felt happier, yet we’re so focused on to-do’s that we often overlook little daily pleasures. A surprising study at Penn State University revealed that getting at least five hugs every day (cuddling loved ones, friends and even pets counts) made people twice as likely to feel genuinely happy— and that mood shift kicked in within 72 hours of the first squeeze. Hugging, even briefly, revs your brain’s production of oxytocin—a neurotransmitter that triggers contentment and true happiness.