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Step back in time

Did you love punk rock music in college? Load some Sex Pistols tracks on your iPod. You might think that being so nostalgic would make you feel ancient, but research shows it can have the opposite effect.

In one study at Harvard University, people who were placed in an environment that resembled their youth—with movies, music, and memorabilia from the past—experienced marked improvements in their memory, vision, happiness level, and overall health.

“It shows that our mind-set is what limits us,” says lead researcher Ellen Langer, PhD, author of Counterclockwise. So do something that really takes you back (like re-reading your Anne Rice paperbacks!).

Next: Play up the positive