5 Things You Shouldn't Do After a Lousy Day

You know better than to go home and crawl under the covers, but flipping on every lamp in your house may not be a great choice, either. New research published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology revealed what happens to peoples' emotions when they're put under bright light and then exposed to stimuli like sad or happy words, aggression and spicy-hot foods. The academics found the lights intensified both positive and negative emotions. Why? Light is naturally associated with warmth, and this perception of heat triggers your emotional system. In a good mood? You feel better. Feeling blue? You'll feel worse. That doesn't mean you have to live in darkness. After a frustrating day, dimming the lights in your home can help.