9 Easy Ways to Be Happier

Get a Move On

“For some people, exercising at high intensity three times a week for just 30 minutes at a time can provide the same benefits as some of the most powerful psychiatric medications,” says psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar. Research suggests that during that half hour of exercise, the human body can increase the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which can have an antidepressant effect. Yoga, for its part, seems to have additional calming (and happy-making) effects on both the brain and the parasympathetic nervous system.