Photo by Chris Gramly/Getty Images Holidays got you stressed? Bury your inner Scrooge with these delightful to-dos of fun, food, friendship, and more. Trying even a few of them throughout the holiday season will ensure your December is filled with happiness, health, joy, and inspiration. Consider them a gift from us to you.

  1. Seek icy thrills Photo by Hero Images/Getty Images Winter activities such as skiing, ice-skating, sledding, and tubing aren’t just great calorie burners, they’re exhilarating. “The speed and fresh air give you a sense of elation that you just don’t get with many other workouts,” says Robyn McKay, PhD, a positive psychology researcher at Arizona State University. (Check out which winter sports burn the most calories.)
  2. Belt out “Santa Baby"Singing is linked to stress reduction. Even better, join a choir. One study revealed that on average, choral singers rate their satisfaction with life higher than the general public does—even when the actual problems the singers face are more substantial than those of the rest of us.
  3. Enjoy a candy cane Photo by kelly ishmael/Getty Images Studies show that just the menthol smell alone will pep you up to enjoy the holiday festivities. It’s also yummy for your tummy, helping to calm an upset stomach. (These 10 seasonal smoothies will also put you in a festive mood!)
  4. Munch meringues Photo by ehaurylik/Getty Images These holiday cookies have fewer than 20 calories a pop—and zero fat—so you can eat a handful without breaking the calorie bank. (Check out 20+ guilt-free holiday cookies.)
  5. Add National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation to your Netflix queueEven the expectation of watching a favorite comedy ups mood-boosting endorphins by 27%, shows research.
  6. Skip the baublesInstead of requesting jewelry, ask your husband to take you dancing. People are happier when they have life experiences instead of receiving material items, experts say.
  7. Tap into the power of flowersPeople feel better and perkier when they see a bouquet first thing in the morning, and the energy boost lasts throughout the day, reports Harvard researcher Nancy Etcoff, PhD.
  8. Get a helper’s highA recent study shows that people who were asked to perform a different kind act every day—small courtesies such as helping a neighbor shovel her walk—reported a marked increase in happiness after 10 days. Whether you do it with money or time, giving is good for you. “Helping others increases your own level of gratefulness and positive emotions,” says Sheela Raja, PhD, a psychologist and stress researcher at the University of Illinois. MORE: Volunteering That Matches Your Personality
  9. Send your old pillow packingTo wake up feeling your best, you need a comfy headrest. If your pillow doesn’t quickly spring back after you fold it in half, it’s time for a new one. (Get your best rest ever with these 20 ways to sleep better every night.)
  10. Hold hands with your sweetieWhen couples were more affectionate for a month, researchers saw a dip in their stress hormones and blood pressure and an increase in a hormone thought to calm and counter stress.
  11. Cut down your own tree Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images Being in the great outdoors reduces stress, improves mood, and boosts happiness, reports Eeva Karjalainen, PhD, of the Finnish Forest Research Institute. It may also strengthen your immune system by increasing the number and activity of cancer-destroying cells. For a feel-good feeling to the season, be sure to “treecycle.”
  12. Stargaze"Concentrating is very meditative,” says Boston-based psychologist Alice Domar, PhD. “And you really have to focus to see things in the sky—the Milky Way doesn’t have a sign on it!”
  13. Become a softieDry, flaky skin is a downer. Keep your skin baby soft by switching to a superhydrating body cleanser. Two that leave you silky smooth: Dove Winter Care Beauty Bar ($7 for six bars, dove.us) and Melvita Extra-Rich Shower Cream ($17, melvita.com). (Protect your skin with our ultimate cold weather skin guide.)
  14. Window-shopThe same brain chemicals that make sex so pleasurable rise sharply when you’re window-shopping. (No wonder Sex and the City had such a winning formula!) To avoid overspending, peek through the glass when stores are closed or you’ve left your wallet at home.
  15. Bask in a Nutcracker ballet performanceHaven’t seen Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy twirl and leap since you were a little girl? Get tickets to a local community performance. New research shows that people who regularly attend cultural events feel healthier and more vital than those who don’t participate.
  16. Smile while you shopHaving a cheery attitude during the holiday season increases the chances that those around you will feel warm and fuzzy too, according to one study.
  17. Treat yourself to a salon facial"I love facials for a relaxing experience and a temporary glow," says New Orleans dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD. Schedule it a day away from any big event, so the pinkness has time to fade.
  18. Make holiday cards gratitude cardsInstead of signing your cards with a generic “Hope all is well,” take time to express to friends and family what they really mean to you. Studies find that showing gratitude increases your own happiness by as much as 25%.
  19. Savor your SundayPick any Sunday this month and make it an errand-free day. Better yet, fill it with as many pleasurable activities as possible. Research shows that people have better attitudes, more energy, and fewer aches and pains on the weekends—a benefit that comes from having more control over your schedule and being able to spend time with loved ones.
  20. Dive into a good book Photo by Oliver Rossi/Getty Images “Reading can have a tranquilizing effect,” says Timothy Shanahan, PhD, a professor of urban education and reading at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “I usually read before going to bed—it stops my mind from racing and allows me to get away from myself for a few moments, which helps me relax and sleep well.” (Shake your reading time up with these 8 Books To Boost Your Libido.)
  21. Get on a rollA foam roller, that is. This hot fitness tool also has a more pleasurable use: use foam roller exercises to massage tight glutes, deltoids, triceps, and hamstrings. “It’s the next-best thing to a professional massage,” says fitness expert Michele Stanten. MORE: Try This Foam Roller Workout For Pain Relief
  22. Hit the snooze buttonSleeping 7½ hours a night for 3 straight nights guarantees you’ll get through at least five full sleep cycles a night, garnering the full benefits of stage-4 sleep (the most nourishing and restful)—and bolstering your immunity.
  23. Pamper your pawsGive shopped-out feet a well-deserved time-out with a 10-minute soak in the spearmint-, rosemary-, and eucalyptus-infused Aromafloria For Feet’s Sake Perfectly Soft Spa Foot Soak ($12, aromafloria.com). Or give yourself a natural pedicure with these DIY tips.
  24. Make friends with hot cocoaJust holding a warm beverage makes us more generous and friendly, find Yale University researchers. Turns out warm hands are linked to warm hearts by way of a part of the brain called the insula, which helps process both physical temperature and emotions.
  25. Sit by a crackling fireTuning in to the sounds of nature—listening to tweeting birds or rain on the roof also qualifies—quickly reduced stress in one recent study.
  26. Buy a new lipstickThe daily pick-me-up you’ll get from it will be more satisfying than clothes or accessories, which you’ll only wear every once in a while, finds new research. 
  27. Plan your next vacationLooking forward to a trip can boost your mood for as long as 16 weeks prior to the departure date, finds Dutch research.
  28. Mellow out to MozartYes, even if you’re usually a Lady Gaga fan. After three 28-minute sessions of listening to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, people felt more peaceful, more relaxed, and less stressed than those who tuned in to other music; they also felt higher levels of awe, wonder, and mystery.
  29. Make a date with your college roommateSimply spending time with a favorite friend increases levels of the hormone progesterone, which can lower feelings of anxiety and stress, finds a University of Michigan study.
  30. Peel yourself a clementineWhen researchers mapped the moods created by certain fragrances, they found the scent of this sweet, juicy fruit more likely to boost joy. Not only will a whiff of one help keep you happy, the vitamin C, calcium, and potassium in it will help keep you healthy too. (Also load up on these 10 other eats proven to boost happiness.) 
  31. Go for a moonlight walkTwo-thirds of British women recently confessed to being bored by their daily routine. You too? Then shake things up: Eat breakfast for dinner, reroute your commute, or take a new exercise class. MORE: 101 Perfect Holiday Gifts For Everyone On Your List