Good-for-You Indulgences

1. Watch reality TV. Finally, a reason to embrace (rather than hide) your addiction to mind-candy shows like The Apprentice or Supernanny. Turns out, tuning in to reality TV can boost not only your mood, but your self-esteem, says a researcher at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The theory is that witnessing the outrageous antics of the "real" people on these shows makes you feel better about the relatively minor problems and challenges that occur, for real, in your life.

2. Spend more time in bed...with your partner. Just hugging your mate can raise levels of the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin, as well as lower blood pressure, according to a University of North Carolina study. So instead of bolting out of the sack in the morning, take a few extra moments to snuggle.

3. Wander home slowly. Researchers at Stockholm University found that working women's stress and blood-pressure levels stay elevated after quitting time. (Interestingly, a man's levels decrease as soon as he starts heading home from the office.) So once you leave your job behind, give yourself time to wind down before greeting your family at home. If you're driving, take a detour and pass a park, or stop at a bookstore; if you take the bus, get off a stop early and stroll home.