Comforting cures for cabin fever

As much as it’s lovely to cozy up when the wind is blowing outside, surveys show that 75% of us are feeling drained and down. “We’re spending more time indoors due to cold weather and COVID-19 concerns, and that’s making us sleepy and blue,” says Norman Rosenthal, M.D., author of To restore smile…

Super Mind.

Take in morning sun

You don’t need to go outside to get the mood-boosting benefits of the great outdoors. Canadian scientists say spending 40 minutes each morning within 6 feet of a bright window—whether you’re eating breakfast, catching up on emails or scrolling through funny Facebook posts—helps you feel 65% happier, calmer and more alert all day. Turns out an early-day blast of light switches on the brain genes that make energizing, mood-boosting serotonin.

Pull out Grandma’s china There’s a reason why admiring sentimental mementos makes you feel joyful and reinvigorated. Treasures that remind you of happy memories, like the china teacups or casserole dishes passed down through generations, kick-start the production of oxytocin. This focus-boosting brain chemical makes you 33% more clearheaded and cheery in just 60 seconds, say British scientists. your

Reach for the stars

Gently stretching your spine and back muscles for 1 minute ups your mood by 65% for an hour, say University of Bridgeport scientists. Explains Mo Lee, M.D., loosening up the muscles that support the spine releases feel-good endorphins. To do: Interlace your fingers, turn your palms toward the ceiling and stretch upwards for 15 seconds. Next, stretch your arms to your right for 15 seconds, then repeat to your left. Finish by reaching toward the floor for 15 seconds.

Enjoy a chocolate treat

If you find yourself craving a fudgy brownie or chocolate bar when you’re feeling irritable, give in to that temptation. University of Arizona scientists say a sweet treat really can make you feel better, lifting your mood and energy by up to 50% for 2 hours. Credit goes to a compound found in cocoa called phenylethylamine, which prods happiness hormones. — Brenda Kearns

can relax a bit when it comes to handling packages and mail, now that the CDC has determined that COVID-19 spreads more commonly through the air than it does through contact with contaminated surfaces. What a relief! More good news: Guarding against airborne invaders is easier than you might expect. Just…

Rinse with saline

Flushing the sinuses with salt water may oust inhaled viruses, say experts at Oregon Health and Sciences University. That’s because saline solutions enhance a natural cleansing process in nasal tissues. How-to: Mix 3 tsp. of kosher salt with 1 tsp. of baking soda. Add 1 tsp. of the mixture to a cup of warm, distilled water. Pour the solution into your cupped palm, then inhale it through one nostril while holding the other closed. Switch nostrils. Repeat 1 to 2 times daily.

That apple you crunched boosts resistance to pneumonia, bronchitis and chronic coughs by 32%, Finnish scientists say. Apple skins’ flavonoid compounds ease airway inflammation and strengthen lung tissues, says immunologist Joanna Makowska, M.D.

Simmer water

Keeping humidity levels at 40% to 60% prevents COVID from hanging in the air longer than it does in dry conditions, notes Stephanie Taylor, M.D., an infection control specialist for Harvard Medical School. Plus, moist air helps lungs clear out viruses more efficiently. No humidifier? Simmer an uncovered slow cooker full of water.

Buzz while breathing

Nose breathing sends nitric oxide, an antiviral gas made in the sinuses, into the lungs. For a boost, internal medicine specialist Ron Sinha, M.D., advises 5 minutes of “bee breathing” daily: Inhale through the nose, then exhale through the nose while humming. “Vibrations activate its production,” he says. Research reveals humming ups nitric oxide levels by 1,500%.

Sit

On public transport or in a doctor’s office? British scientists say sitting in the same row as someone curbs COVID risk by 57% compared to sitting across from them. That’s because you’re less likely to inhale their respiratory droplets. — Melissa Gotthardt

Breathe deep for sweet relief

The familiar aroma of lavender essential oil quickly soothes your central nervous system, relaxing tight muscles and calming overactive pain nerves. No wonder research in Neurology found that breathing in this wonderful scent relieved headache pain for 71% of folks in 15 minutes. Simply keep a vial of the oil in your handbag and take a whiff whenever head pain strikes.