How to improve your mood in just 2 minutes

Need a pick me up? There are times when we all need a mood lift.

Here are some quick tricks to improve your mood in just two minutes, from Prevention Magazine .

1. Flip through some old photos. Keep your kids baby pictures handy or your favorite vacation pictures close by. Whether digital or in a photo flip-book, look through some of those favorite moments for a smile.

2. Eat some nuts. Nuts are mood-lifting snack. They're packed with Omega-3 fats, which can ward off depression.

3. Inhale a calming scent. Orange or lavender should do the trick, with either a candle or a scent diffuser.

4. Open your shades. A study of more than 450 women showed those who were happiest got the most light. Take in that sunshine, particularly in the morning, and eating breakfast by a window will do wonders for your state of mind.

5. Walk around. If you work in a window-less office, make sure and get up and walk around a few times throughout the day. Exercise is a mood improver, but if you're battling the blues, something low key and mindless like taking a stroll around the block can fit instead of those heavy workouts that people in bad moods tend to skip.

6. Clear away clutter. Prevention Magazine says disorganized heaps of paper in your cube or in the kitchen can make you anxious. Take a minute to clean up and that mood will clear up.

7. Let your thoughts race. If someone is bothering you, think quickly of all the positive things they've done for you. Nothing come to mind? Then try thinking of everything bad quickly, even jotting them down, and it can relieve stress and improve that mood.

8. Get on YouTube. A good laugh from a mindless video can improve mood drastically.

9. Splurge for experiences, not items. Instead of dropping a credit card at the mall, plan to go out for a nice meal or a concert. Prevention Magazine says researchers have found "experience" shoppers are happier than "material" shoppers.

10. Smile. Prevention says there is evidence that muscular changes in your face can improve your mood, as can good posture.

11. Zone out. Just take a second to rest in the peace and quiet, which can create joy.

12. Chat up a friendly neighbor. Got someone nearby who you know has got positive energy? Seek them out. Prevention says socializing with a cheerful person can rub off.

13. Chop veggies. A simple method of cathartic release, except onions of course, chopping veggies is great stress relief after a long day.

14. Do a good deed. Prevention writes that research shows people who volunteer are happier than those that don't. Sign up for a charity walk, rake a neighbor's lawn or participate in a regular cause in your community.

Read more on Prevention Magazine's tips to a better mood in 2 minutes at http://origin-www.prevention.com/health/emotional-health/2-minutes-happier-you.