Feeling stressed? Try humming. Do it for a minute or two, longer if you wish. The vibrations soothe your brain, prevent overthinking and relax your face, head and shoulders. You may even find that humming a little tune brings a smile to your face. Bonus: Humming reduces the risk for sinus infections. It increases airflow between the sinus and nasal cavities, keeping the sinuses healthy and reducing the likelihood of infection. Good vibrations indeed!

More tricks to soothe body and soul:

• Stress Relief Is Just a Chew or a Spray Away
• Tap Away Fears and Phobias
• Your Personal Stress Relief Go-To Kit

Sit on the floor—and then get up without help from anyone. Can you do it just by lowering yourself and rising with your legs—or did you need a hand, knee, elbow or any other kind of support (like a chair or someone else’s hand)? Brazilian researchers have found that the more support you need in sitting down and/or getting up, the greater the risk for death. The most agile participants needed no support at all. Each one-point increase in support needed (a hand, knee, etc.) was related to a 21% decrease in survival odds. How did you do? If you needed more than one or two forms of support, consider improving your muscle strength and flexibility.

Ever notice that you get less fresh air during the cold, winter months? If you are like lots of people, you tend to stay indoors during February, waiting for the weather to warm up. Don’t wait. Even in winter, the outdoor air can feel good, even invigorating. Great idea: Take a few minutes to gaze at the night sky and the stars, which always appear clearer and more in focus during the winter months. You’ll feel better for it.

It’s not easy to give up smoking, regardless of how good quitting is for your health. But now there is new help from the www.MondayCampaigns.org, the nonprofit health initiative created around the idea that Mondays are the day of the week that people are most likely to start new healthy behaviors. The Quit and Stay Quit Monday campaign is designed to have people “recommit to their quit every Monday.” Among the tools and materials available are “52 Monday Tips to Stay Quit.” Pass the information along to a relative or friend who is trying to quit smoking. www.MondayCampaigns.org/stay-quit