Do This, Feel Happy for 12 Hours

Spend 20 easy minutes doing this and you could help guarantee a good mood for 12 hours: walk.

That's what a recent study revealed. A short, moderately paced workout produced feel-good brain chemicals that lasted up to 12 hours afterward.

Step Up to Happy
In the study, college students either rested quietly for 20 minutes or cycled on a stationary bike for the same amount of time. And the cyclers weren't even really pushing it. They merely exercised at a mild to moderate pace (60 percent of maximum heart rate). Both groups reported lower levels of negative emotions -- like anger, depression, fatigue, and tension -- immediately after the experiment as well as 2 hours later. But only the cyclers continued to enjoy their happier mindset a full 12 hours after the workout session. (Here's another easy way to brighten your mood.)

Attitude Adjustment
Yep, it all boils down to those mood-enhancing brain chemicals that exercise is so good at producing. Here's the catch, though: For an ongoing effect on your temperament, you need to exercise all or most days of the week -- not just once in a while. So lace up those walking shoes. It's only 20 minutes out of your day, right? And here are some ways to help those 20 minutes fly by:

• Use the buddy system. Find out how an exercise friend boosts endorphin production even more.
• Picture yourself breezing through it. Here's how a mental-image pep talk helps.
• Wind down first. Discover how a well-rested mind helps your workout.

Eat your way to a happy heart. These nontraditional but oh-so-healthy comfort foods can get you there.

RealAge Benefit

Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger. Take the RealAge Test!

References

Actively patrolling your health can make your RealAge as much as 12 years younger. Take the RealAge Test  Copyright 2010 RealAge