Originally by Esther Crain for Cosmopolitan.

1. Take an iPod time-out. Put in your ear buds, and lose yourself in your favorite tunes. A slower tempo will relax you, but music that’s heavy and throbbing will let you work through anger or annoyance so you can get those negative emotions out of your system quickly, explains Los Angeles psychologist Yvonne Thomas, PhD.

*Dr. Thomas obviously prescribes to the method of catharsis, which I don’t personally believe in. Stick to the soothing songs.

2. Slick on red lip gloss. Red lips exude confidence and sex appeal. The reaction you get from others will help replace your bad mood with sexy self-assuredness.

*This reminds me of Beyonce. She’s always seen wearing red lipstick, and well, she’s pretty sexy!

3. Crack up in front of your computer. It’s impossible to feel bad when you’re laughing, so download a video from funnyordie.com or collegehumor.com.

*What? You haven’t seen The Landlord yet? GO TO FUNNY OR DIE NOW!!!

4. Switch on your desk lamp. Harsh overhead lighting can amplify stress and irritation, while a softer glow can help soothe you.

*Well, I prefer the lights out altogether. But that’s just me.

5. Surround yourself with yellow and orange. Studies show that people become more joyful in these warm, bright colors, explains Leatrice Eiseman, author of More Alive With Color, possibly because they remind us of the sun. If you don’t have a yellow or orange garment to wear, pick up flowers in these hues.

*Or you could, you know, go outside and be in the real sun.

6. Visualize your happy place. Maybe it’s a tropical beach or your childhood bedroom. Whatever the location, close your eyes and conjure up the image. Changing your mind’s wallpaper to a place you adore will make you happy, says Thomas.

*This works when I think about my old purple bedroom or the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando. Actors use this to get themselves in certain mindsets as well!

7. Have a quickie. If sex isn’t possible, reveling in the memory of a sack session also will flood your system with blissful sensations, says life coach Martha Beck, PhD, author of Finding Your Own North Star.

*Oh, this definitely works too. Reveling usually leads to me needing to be alone for a while, though.

8. Put on clothes you look hot in. Every chick has something in her closet that nets her positive feedback from friends, co-workers, and random strangers. Change into it–even if it’s just a pair of sex-kittenish heels–and enjoy the ego boost.

*Every chick? Well then where the hell is this magical garment in my closet?

9. Snack on citrus fruits. They can improve your mood, says psychologist Dale Atkins, PhD, author of Sanity Savers. And because they take time to peel, you’ll likely eat slowly and not end up pigging out.

*Too bad I don’t enjoy eating oranges or lemons plain.

10. Breathe away bad vibes. Inhale slowly and deeply for five seconds, then exhale for five. You’ll breathe yourself into a more affirmative mind-set, says Atkins.

*I learned this when I was in kindergarten. Thanks for the recap.

11. Be a nature girl. Eat lunch in a park. Lie on the grass in your backyard, and watch birds fly overhead. Exposure to the outdoors will lower your heart rate and defuse a pessimistic outlook, says Atkins.

*And if it’s wintertime, it’ll lower your heart rate until it stops beating completely! Yay!

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