Seven Ways to Relieve Emotions - Common Sense Edition

Everyone has times of emotional turmoil; bad moods are the brain's reaction to external stimuli. Changing the source of stimulation can help improve one’s mood. So, how do we relieve our bad moods? It's actually quite simple. Below, I will introduce seven methods for alleviating emotions.

1. **Force a smile**. When feeling depressed, under great psychological pressure, or angry, forcing a smile can help release negative emotions and is beneficial for both body and mind.

2. **Tidy up your room**. A messy room or office can make people feel restless. Therefore, organizing your room can improve bad moods. For example, putting scattered items on the floor back in their proper places, cleaning up things on the desk, and neatly folding the quilt.

3. **Wear a blue shirt**. Blue is a natural "relaxant" for the mood, which is precisely why "looking at the blue sky makes you feel especially relaxed." In contrast, orange is the most stimulating, black tends to provoke anger, and while red can boost energy levels within the body, it can also make people feel uneasy.

4. **Hum a song**. Music therapists say that singing is the simplest way to improve one's mood because singing adjusts breathing and causes the entire body to move rhythmically. Whether humming alone, singing with friends, or even just quietly listening, it helps relax the mind and body.

5. **Dietary pairing**. For instance, combining bitter and sweet flavors (adding a bit of orange juice to coffee) or soft and hard textures (eating popcorn with nuts) can give the taste buds a fresh sensation, thereby improving one's mood. Similar foods include Chinese dishes like sweet and sour spareribs and sweet and sour chicken chunks.

6. **Smell lemon fragrance**. The latest research from Ohio State University in the United States confirms that the scent of lemons has the effect of relieving worries, calming the mind, and relieving pain. Studies have found that the smell of lemons truly enhances a good mood and increases the concentration of adrenaline, an energy hormone in the blood, when smelled.

7. **Intimate contact with pets**. Multiple studies have proven that stroking animals such as cats and dogs helps lower blood pressure and stabilize heart rate, thereby reducing the likelihood of diseases like heart disease. Close contact between humans and animals has an astonishing soothing effect, helping the body relieve its own stress.

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