"Green Exercise"

Need a lift? A five-minute jaunt in the great outdoors can help boost mood and self-esteem.

Working out can help beat back a bad mood. Take your sweat session outdoors to a pastoral setting and you may be able to cheer yourself up in as few as five minutes, according to a study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

According to the multi-study analysis of so-called “green exercise,” gardening, walking and cycling in the woods or even in a public park can boost mood and self-esteem in a matter of minutes. If you don’t have access to a garden or yard, don’t fret; past research has shown that 10 minutes of vigorous exercise anywhere can also elevate the spirits.