1 Walk up to someone you love. Put your arms around their waist. Ask them to do the same to you. A hug is the warmest, most comforting feeling in the world.

2 Do good to feel good. If you are standing in a queue, let an older person go ahead of you. Leave an extra tip for the overworked waiter. Do you know, psychologists actually have a term for the feeling you get after doing a good deed? It's called 'Helper's High', and it gets your feel-good hormones flowing freely!

3 Connect with great writers and philosophers. Visit a bookstore, and leaf through books on topics you enjoy. No time to step out? Treat yourself to a variety of excerpts on www.bookbrowse.com. Even simpler - slip into your softest pyjamas and curl up with a good book.

4 Here's a fail-proof way to relax at the end of a tired day. Rub warm oil into your scalp. Then wrap a warm, damp towel around your head for 30 minutes. Take a shower afterwards. Or, soak a large, fluffy towel in warm water. Then wring it out well, and wipe your face and arms gently with it. For an even more exquisite sensation, infuse the towel with your favourite essential oil. Try lavender, rose, chamomile, bergamot, or peppermint.

5 Tired of all those inane remixes on the telly? Treat yourself to soothing instrumental music in the comfort of your car, or just before bedtime.

6 Spend time with children - they'll remind you to laugh. Did you know, on an average, a child laughs 146 times a day, while we adults laugh only four times! Here's how to get started: Create a comic-filled 'basket of laughter' for the family. On rainy evenings, cosy up in a rocking chair with tea and kids, and laugh to your heart's fill.

7 Do you often say, 'What if I don't get the job?' 'What if this plane crashes?' 'What if I miss the bus?' If yes, you're loading yourself with a lot of imaginary stress, in addition to the real problems of day-to-day living. Those feelings of dread and anxiety are not only toxic, they can become 'real'. British playwright George Bernard Shaw said, "In this world, danger is always present for those who are afraid of it." Try saying 'so what,' when you're tense.

8 Drink Water: The next time you feel tired, drink a tall glass of water. Water replenishes the body's moisture levels, flushes away accumulated debris and waste from the cells, assists the digestive process, rejuvenates the organs and helps them function better, puts the glow back on your skin, and helps you resist the urge to eat, we often mistake thirst for hunger.

9 Feeling stuck? Try Vitamin S! S is for Smile - a popular Canadian TV show for children defines a smile as 'just a frown upside down'. The simple act of relaxing your face into a smile is a message to yourself that says, 'It happens, and I'm ready to sail through it." Try it the next time you're in a traffic jam or a tough meeting. It takes seconds to practise, it's free, and it makes you feel instantly relaxed.

10 When you feel low and lonely, remind yourself that there is always someone who loves you more than you know.

11 Stop to listen to your body from time to time. If it's saying, "I wish I could get some rest," fulfill its wish. Stop typing on your computer and treat yourself to a handful of almonds, or take a leisurely stroll outside the four walls of the office. Even 10 minutes are enough to make you feel re-energised. If you are at home, stop chopping the vegetables or cleaning the kitchen and take a short nap.

12 For all its faults, money can buy you quite a lot of happiness. Respect it. A man in Britain kept throwing stray pennies in stray canisters, boxes and drawers for several years - he didn't even know it, but this simple habit made him a millionaire many times over!

13 Phone a friend and have a heart-to-heart. Between picking up the receiver and putting it down, your own problems will shrink many sizes!

14 Set your sights on something beautiful first thing in the morning - even if it is a simple bunch of fresh flowers in a vase.

15 Take a walk. Something magical happens when you take a walk. The brain starts to produce stress-reducing chemicals. Muscle tension eases. And watching the trees sway and the birds sing as you walk puts your problems in perspective. Plus, walking is free of cost and has no side effects! Smart move: Drink a glass of pure fruit juice just before you start your walk. The liquid keeps you hydrated, and the natural sugar in fruit gives you an instant energy boost.

16 Once in a while, take the time to leaf through an old family album to revisit the times when life was simpler. Or, switch on the tape recorder and create fresh memories - interview your parents, your kids, and enjoy their words and laughter.

17 Detoxify. And this doesn't simply mean flushing out the toxins from your body. Walk away from people who smother you with their expectations, possessiveness, or negativity.

18 Enjoy what you do. In a radio interview, Hollywood star John Travolta recalled how he got his first chance to act in a play. "The judge told me there were many others who did better than me," said Travolta, "But he saw that no one else seemed to be having so much fun doing the play as I was!"

19 Breathe deep: Put up a note on your desk, saying, 'Remember to breathe.' Whenever it catches your attention, stop whatever you are doing, and simply breathe - deep, slow and easy. With each deep breath, you'll take in more oxygen and release more carbon dioxide. Think of it as inhaling vitality and exhaling fatigue.

20 Cherish every Sunday.