5. Stressed? Get walking—outside, if you can. “Exercise is the best mood stabilizer we have,” says Dr. Kryder. “Even if you can only do some stretches or a couple of yoga poses every day, you will notice a difference in your stress level.” Given that advice, Dr. Kryder says the best way to recover from a bad encounter at the office that’s leaving you feeling anxious or upset is to take a walk—outside! “Full-spectrum light such as sunlight has been shown to elevate mood,” she says.

6. Give yourself aromatherapy. As long as it’s not bothersome to your coworkers (or against your office’s fire safety codes), a scented candle or an aromatherapy diffuser could help you perk up. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that frankincense, a natural fragrance used for thousands of years in religious ceremonies, contains a compound that has antidepressive and antianxiety effects, notes Joseph Cilona, PhD, a psychologist in New York City. Try burning a frankincense candle or dabbing on some essential oil in your office, he recommends.

7. Find a sense of purpose in what you do (even if you hate your job). “Research shows that when people see their work as their calling—more than just something to do for a paycheck—their happiness level significantly increases,” says Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, MS, PT, a psychologist in Wexford, Pennsylvania, and the author of A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness. So how do you find purpose in a job you loathe? Here are some examples from Dr. Lombardo: “Ask yourself, what good do you promote because of what you do? For example, someone who works at a restaurant is bringing joy and nourishment to others. A pharmaceutical sales rep is helping save and improve lives. A teacher is developing the future of this country and world.”

8. Stretch your arms up, over your head. Who doesn’t feel a little happier, calmer and more balanced after a good stretch? Life coach and wellness expert Jonathan Troen, who’s also a certified yoga teacher in Santa Monica, California, says the best get-happy-at-work stretch is extending your arms over your head. “One of the places we hold depression and sadness is in our armpits,” he explains. “When our armpits are open, those emotions are released; it's very hard to frown and most people instantly smile.”

9. Keep things on your desk and around your computer that make you smile. Don’t underestimate the power of what’s right in front of you, says life coach Debbie Robins, an advice columnist for The Huffington Post. “Have something on your screen saver that opens your heart every time you see it,” she says. (For example: a photo of your kids, your dog, your parents, your last vacation or a meaningful scene from nature.) Images that connect you to the things and people you love will boost your happiness regardless of your professional circumstances, she says. And when all else fails, make yourself chuckle. “Have something on your desk that makes you laugh,” she says. Suggestions: a toy that makes a silly sound or a framed cartoon that always cracks you up. “Laughter instantly balances frustration, irritation and anger.”

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