• Shopping Cart
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Body
Energy
Exercise
Finding Happiness
Healthy Lifestyle
Nutrition
Reiki
Uncategorized
De-Stress During National Stress Awareness Month!

Apr 5th, 2014

Category: Body

De-Stress During National Stress Awareness Month!

A little bit of stress is good for us, in that it provides energy and keeps us aware of everything going on in our lives. But even though stress is a daily occurrence for all of us, it’s important to keep it in check. When left to its own devices, it can lead to or exacerbate a number of health problems, from heart disease, to acne, to obesity, to depression and anxiety. Here are 7 ways to help take a little stress out of your life and live with ease.

1. Bring Your Dog To Work.
A recent study in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management showed that bringing your dog to work could help to lower office stress and boost employee satisfaction. The study, which looked at the pet-friendly company Replacements, Ltd., showed that employees who brought their dogs in to work experienced decreases in stress throughout the work day. Meanwhile, self-reported stress increased for people who didn’t bring their dogs, and for those who don’t have dogs.

2. Laugh It Up.
Laughter promotes endorphin release in the brain and relaxes the muscle, which are all keys to stress relief. So go ahead take a break and upload some youtube videos or chat it up with an employee or friend.

3. Grab a Shovel and Some Seeds.
Health.com reported on a Netherlands study, suggesting that gardening can help to lower cortisol levels and boost mood among people who had just finished a stressful task. That’s because doing something that requires “involuntary attention” — like sitting back and enjoying nature — helps to replenish ourselves, 60 percent of caregivers feel relaxed when they garden.

4. Crack Open a Book.
6 minutes of reading is enough to help you de-stress, open up a book and get lost in the characters lives for a change.

5. Call Mom.
The girls who talked to their mothers on the phone had decreased cortisol and increased oxytocin levels compared with young girls who weren’t allowed to contact their mothers at all,Scientific American reported — girls who hugged their moms in person had a similar reaction to the phone group.

6. Eat Some Chocolate.
Not just any chocolate though, recommended 2 oz of dark chocolate not only help the heart but helps lower stress.

7. Gossip.
Believe it or not, gossip may not be viewed as socially “good,” but it might have benefits in relieving stress. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that gossiping can actually lower stress, stop exploitation of others and police others’ bad behavior.

So next time you’re feeling stressed, make some tea and have a couple laughs while gossiping or find some quiet time to yourself to read or garden. Your body mentally and physically will thank you in the long run.

Stay Rested.