You’ve probably heard that smiling can positively affect your mood, right? Well there’s some new research to confirm that something as simple as a smile can impact how you feel:

A study published in the journal Psychological Science in November found that people who smiled after engaging in stress-inducing tasks showed a greater reduction in heart rate than people who maintained a neutral facial expression.

A reduced heart rate means lower stress and anxiety, both of which we would all like to feel less than more. It also turns out that even a fake smile can have significant benefits, although studies have shown that when you actually find something to smile about, they are greater.