I've succumbed to full-blown depression just once, and the only good that came of it was learning that I never wanted to experience anything like it again. So I started collecting little mood-boosting tricks—small, helpful ways to pull myself back from the edge. Science is beginning to explain why they actually work, which means that these days I don't feel ridiculous when I'm in my car and someone catches me belting out a Beatles song.

Find out the science behind these mood-boosting tricks!

You rent a bunch of stand-up comedy DVDs.
A smile can improve your mood. In one study, participants view a cartoon while simulating a smile or between puckered lips. The first group found the cartoons funnier.

You go for a run.
Research shows that exercise can significantly improve mood. Scientists aren't exactly sure why it works so well: because it relieves stress, acts as a distraction, stimulates production of neurotransmitters, or all of the above.

You try to commit acts of kindness.
Volunteering can facilitate a "helper's high." The benefits of altruism are most apparent when there's person-to-person contact.

You listen to Madonna, sing loudly, and dance around the living room.
A number of studies suggest that listening to music stimulates the brain. Recent research showed that listening to loud music activates the inner ear, which is connected to an area of the brain responsible for drives like hunger, sex, and pleasure seeking.

Making sense? Here are five more everyday activities that can make your mood go from bad to good!