FEELING a bit down in the dumps? It might be time to turn off the telly.
Slobbing in front of the box for hours on end can make you depressed, says a study from Fudan University in Shanghai.
Listening to sad songs, such as those sung by Adele, might actually make you feel happierGetty
Every extra hour in front of the TV increases sadness by an extra five per cent, thanks to sedentary behaviour and a lack of exercise.
But the good news is you can turn it around with some very easy lifestyle changes.
From upping your sex quota to listening to sad songs, get away from the screen and read our simple guide on how to be a happier person.
INCREASE SEX
GettyQuadrupling the amount of sex you have in a month can make you happier[/caption]
QUADRUPLING the amount of sex you have in a month can make you happier.
While it might sound obvious, it is scientifically backed too.
A study from Coventry University found people who made love four times a month instead of just once were given the same happiness boost as winning more than £40,000.
SMILES BETTER
GettyEven putting on a fake smile can help a person feel more content, a study found[/caption]
FACIAL expressions can influence your feelings, say researchers.
Even posed or fake smiles can help the person feel more content, an Israeli study found.
Moving your face provides feedback to the brain, which in turn causes an emotional response.
So instead of walking around with a face like thunder, crack a smile.
GET DIRTY
GettyGoing for a muddy walk or getting your hands dirty in the garden will give you a rush of joy[/caption]
GOING for a muddy walk or getting your hands dirty in the garden will give you a rush of joy.
The University of Bristol found that a harmless bacteria found in soil, called mycobacterium vaccae, can activate neurons in the brain that produce serotonin.
A lack of serotonin can cause depression.
So get outside and ditch those gloves.
DRINK COFFEE
GettyA Harvard study in the US found a link between moderate coffee drinking and a reduced risk of depression in women[/caption]
A CUP or two of coffee is widely thought to increase anxiety – but is seems the opposite is true.
A Harvard study in the US found a link between moderate coffee drinking and a reduced risk of depression in women.
Other studies have found the caffeine boost you can get from a cup of tea also works.
GO FOR A WALK
GettyBeing outside among the greenery is more beneficial than going for a walk in a busy urban location[/caption]
BEING outside among the greenery is more beneficial than going for a walk in a busy urban location.
During a study by the Chiba University in Japan, volunteers who walked through woodland decreased the amount of stress hormone cortisol and lowered their heart rate.
If you don’t live in the country, head to your nearby park.
BALLAD BOOSTER
GettyResearchers in Berlin found that listening to tearjerker music can actually boost your mood[/caption]
WHO doesn’t love a bit of Adele when you are feeling down and in need of a cry?
Researchers in Berlin found that listening to tearjerker music can actually boost your mood.
It is believed sad music can be cathartic, acting as a mood stabiliser and emotional support.
Don’t be apologetic next time you’re wailing along to that ballad.
GIVE TO OTHERS
GettyGiving to those people less fortunate makes you feel like a better person[/caption]
GIVING to those people less fortunate makes you feel like a better person.
Researchers in a 2008 study handed an envelope of cash to students.
The participants could spend the money on themselves or give the dosh to charity or someone they knew.
By the end of the day, those who donated the money were happier.
TURN AIR BLUE
GettyResearchers from New Jersey found we are more likely to push through difficult situations if we can curse while doing them[/caption]
SWEARING can make us more resilient . . . and live longer lives.
Researchers from New Jersey found we are more likely to push through difficult situations if we can curse while doing them.
They tested this by asking those taking part to hold their hand in ice water.
Those who shouted obscenities lasted longer at the task.
BEACH PICNIC
GettyThe University of Sussex found people are happiest when they eat their lunch by the shore[/caption]
IF you do like to be beside the seaside, here is another reason you should visit the beach more often.
The University of Sussex found people are happiest when they eat their lunch by the shore, followed next on the list by a park bench.
Unsurprisingly, the location with the lowest contentment was in the office.
Even public transport ranked higher.
GAME PLAYING
GettyVideo games are associated with a lower level of depression – but only in senior citizens[/caption]
UNLIKE TV, video games are associated with a lower level of depression – but only in senior citizens.
A 2013 experiment found volunteers with an average age of 77 showed both mental and physical benefits after playing the Nintendo Wii.
The majority said they felt less depressed, more sociable and happier.