There is absolutely nothing wrong with being kind to ourselves, slowing things down, taking time out, being gentle. The rest and the care, or even the exercise we allow ourselves, can boost our mood greatly.

But there is a surprisingly quicker, and more sustained way, to boost our mood: treat someone else.

Professor Abigail Marsh, psychologist, has explored the phenomenon of altruism and happiness. In one study two groups of strangers were given $20. One group was told to spend it on themselves. The other group was told to allow someone else to benefit.

The reported shift in mood was then measured. It seems that heading out for a manicure or lunch didn't lead to the improved mood that giving to someone else did.

We know that people who give to charity are happier, and that the act of altruism is like a muscle that grows with use.

Professor Marsh studied super altruists, such as people who would donate a kidney to a stranger, and found that their amygdala, the part of the brain that processes emotions, was larger. These people experienced the mood lift that comes from an altruistic act, and it drove more of their behaviour.

We definitely need to take care of ourselves, and in a way that is consistent with our long-term values around health. But perhaps another opportunity to feel good is to give to someone else, which sounds like a win-win to me.