Boost your mood - 7

Get a move on

"Exercise sparks the release of feel-good endorphins, but it also satisfies something more profound: the human need to perform and excel. Exercise helps you feel like the captain of your own ship," explains Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, the author of The How of Happiness.

Although any fitness activity you enjoy is good, you'll enhance its benefits even more by taking it outdoors. A review of 11 studies published in Environmental Science & Technology found that people who exercised outside felt more energetic and were more inclined to keep at it. This is good news, because the rewards of physical activity are cumulative: The more you exercise, the clearer your mind. So as you're figuring out your holiday calendar, schedule an ice-skating outing or a cross-country ski day. You'll feel more energized and ready to tackle your errands.