Quick Tips to De-Stress

So, November at Cascade Chiropractic & Massage is Stress Less Month.  And, we have a few different ways to help you get rid of some of your Holiday stress that will be building up over the next few weeks.  We just opened a new Massage and Wellness Center right next door and you can get your introductory, 1-hour massage for just $25.  Also, Dr. Larry and I will be putting on a Stress Relief class on the 17th at 6pm.  OK, enough of the plugs.

My goal for this week's post to start off Stress Less Month will be to give just a few quick tips on things you can do throughout your day to help you calm down or avoid the impending stress.  So, here it goes:

#1 - Practice Belly Breathing.  When you are feeling stressed, there's no better way to get calmed down than to do some deep, relaxing breathing.  What you do is sit on a solid surface with your back straight up and down, shoulders pulled back, and head over your shoulders.  Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose making sure that you are not moving your rib cage as much as possible.  Focus on your belly going outward while you breathe in.  Then breathe out through your mouth focusing on your belly relaxing.  Do at least 10 deep, belly breaths and you should feel more relaxed.

#2 - Treat yourself to a massage.  An hour long massage is ideal so that you have enough time to let your whole body relax and let the masseuse do the work.

#3 - Focus on that for which you are thankful.  Before you go to bed each night, just mentally go through a list of all of the things in your life that you are thankful for.  You will be concentrating on that instead of all the holiday plans you need to get done.

#4 - Go for a walk outside (preferably when it's sunny).  By getting that fresh outdoor air and sunshine, you will be stimulating the parts of your brain to release feel good chemicals.

#5 - Go on a date.  Hire a babysitter, turn your phones off (or at least on silent), go to a new restaurant, and just have a nice, relaxing time with your significant other.

#6 - Delegate your tasks wisely.  You don't need to be the one who does all the planning and preparation each year.  Ask your friends and family to help you out (especially with the tasks you don't particularly like to do).

#7 - Laugh a little.  Studies have shown that just a little bit of laughing each day can raise your serotonin levels and make you feel happier.  By laughing, you can decrease your level of stress, even if it's for a short while.

Hopefully these quick tips will help you decrease the regular stress load that you experience throughout the holiday season.