beat the blues and boost your mood with these simple tipsa brisk 10minute walk can boost your mood and selfesteem while reducing anxiety and stress according to a new report by the mental health foundation but there are some other much overlooked ways that can get you the same results1 buy theatre tickets not shoes psychologists at san francisco state university us discovered that experiences make us happier than objects because the excitement of buying something new fades faster than great memories so use your savings to snap up a holiday or theatre tickets not a designer handbag or fancy shoes2 a regular night out with friends the happiest 10 per cent of people prioritise relationships with friends and family researchers at the university of illinois us say instead of going out for drinks or a meal try something different such as mastering the art of bridge or poker3 end your walk with a sprint finishing your walk or your bicycle ride with a 30second sprint doubles your endorphins and increases levels of noradrenaline boosting your mood for up to 90 minutes afterwards4 drink a cup of banana tea simply boil the banana skin in water for 15 minutes let it cool and then sip the water after a twoyear study taiwanese researchers found banana peel contains several ingredients that increase levels of serotonin the happy hormone5 turn off the box unhappy people watch 20 per cent more television than selfdescribed happy people according to scientists from the university of maryland us but reading was an activity linked to happier folk in the study6 check your bank statement money cant buy you happiness but a survey says that being in control of your finances most certainly makes you feel better a london university study revealed that happiness wellbeing and selfesteem are influenced by our sense of financial control and not by how much we deposit in the bank every month7 buy flowers a study at rutgers university in new jersey us showed people became less depressed agitated and anxious after receiving flowers and also had a higher sense of enjoyment and satisfaction in their lives8 do a good deed lending a hand volunteering or doing something nice for free can increase your selfesteem and wellbeing studies have proven9 sing a song listening to a choir lifts the spirits but youll be happier still if youre doing the singing according to research from the university of frankfurt in germany also making time to listen to your favourite tunes enhances your mood10 savour some dark chocolate the feelgood sensations that pure chocolate gives you are created by a natural chemical in cocoa called phenylethylamine which researchers believe can cause a feeling of mild euphoria similar to the experience of being in love