Improve your mood

(FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - It's that time of the year -- the excitement of the holidays is behind us and it's a long stretch until the dog days of summer, and the combination can leave people feeling a little down.

Well, our friends at Woman's Day have some tips to turn that frown upside down. Summer Sanders stopped by.

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We have eaten too much, spent too much and the weather has got us down, that’s right it's January. But don't worry Summer Sanders from Woman's day is going to get you smiling on these short winter days.

People with a positive outlook, live happier lives, but also live longer and are more healthy according to the Journal or American Geriatrics Society. I've got five great ways to put some pep in your step during the winter doldrums.

The folks at the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology have discovered that people who are grateful are happier. Write down three things you are grateful for everyday, it really will change your outlook, just try it! We have some great examples for keeping a gratitude list. You can write on a dry erase board everyday like this one we found at Target. Or we have this gratitude calendar from Cafe Press. Or just use a day planner, we got these customized gratitude diaries at tinyprints.com

Fill your life with music. Scientific fact - Ten minutes of your favorite music a day will make you happier and smarter according to a study by Goldsmith University, London. But most of us don't have 10 minutes, but every one takes a shower. Our top tip is get your music dose while showering. This bathroom mirror from Sharper Image is a radio and an MP3 player, from Bed Bath and Beyond $60 and so is this speaker from amazon.com $60. The MP3 attaches wirelessly outside the shower, so no chance of dropping it in the bath. Or you could get these cute little shower radios from amazon.com for under $15 each.

According to the American Journal of Psychiatry exercise will make you happier. Get your heart rate above 120 for 20 minuets twice a week. To get an idea how much you need to exert yourself we have these great little heart rate monitors from amazon.com $30 and $50. What is so great is you don't have to wear those uncomfortable body straps. Just press the button. Jumping rope is the time tested method for getting your heart rate up. Now can even link your Nike shoes with your smart phone or ipod. Inserts these into your Nike shoes and they wirelessly link with your ipod monitoring your time, distance, pace and even calories burned and you can download it all to your Nike ipod online account.

If you want to get happy stay in contact with friends and family. According to Harvard Medical School, happier people have more contact with friends and family. It's all to easy to become disconnected from those who are important because life takes over. Make appointments to see friends and family and schedule them so they really happen. Write it down in a scheduler. Or now you can use facebook and even plan an event to see a friend. Or use a PDA and try this new friend contact app to plan a meeting. And a Study by the Chartered Institute of IT shows staying connect through social networking will also help so if you cant meet in person use Facebook to book a Skype appointment.

Our last tip is probably the most important - remember those less fortunate then you. A study by Harvard Business School found people who give to charity are happy people, and giving can also mean your time. At he very least it will remind you of what you have and give you confidence the world is a loving and caring place. You can give your old food and cloths to charity, or go to our website for more suggestions.