Preloading

5 Things You Shouldn't Do After a Lousy Day

Cranky? Grumpy? You can start to turn it around by avoiding these surprising mistakes.
Turning on the light switch
Photo: Thinkstock
2 of 5
Mistake #2: You Turn on the Lights
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.
Previous 2 of 5 Next
Published 03/26/2014
You May Also Like
Depressed or Not? The Surprising News About Your Moods
Women, Food, and God Conversation Starters
Men, Women and Depression
Martha Beck on Why It's Really Okay to Mess Up

View All Newsletters

Related Articles
How to Manage Anxiety
Active Recovery Stress Relief
How to Decide if You Really Need Antidepressants
Biggest Innovators in History - Julia Child
Feelings for Which There Are No Names
How to Find Clarity - Alice Walker - The Cushion in the Road