A study recently published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that being in a happy, positive mood may be the best defense against catching a cold.

In this experiment, healthy volunteers were exposed to a cold or flu virus, and the people with a “positive emotional style” were better able to ward off colds and illness compared to their counterparts.

Researchers believe this is due to both objective and subjective experiences. Objectively, happiness or a positivity may boost the immune response (similar to the effects of laughing at a good joke.) 

Subjectively, happy people are less likely to complain about the symptoms of their cold, so the cold bothers them less.

The research shows that people who tend to be happy are less likely to come down with colds.

Another good reason to be happy, right!?

If you’re looking for some tips on boosting your happiness, let me suggest one of my very favorite books on creating a meaningful and happy life: