Things can get pretty stressful around the holidays—and this should not be a surprise, but stress in no good for your bod. As if that wasn’t stressful enough, studies show that stress can increase your risk for breast cancer as well. You don’t need a zen retreat to escape the holiday crush—these simple strategies will help you relax, no matter how short on time you are.
10 Seconds: Laugh
Even just anticipating a chuckle is enough to relieve stress and elevate hormones that combat depression and boost immunity. Need some ideas on how to get happy? Check out 9 more tips on the B4BC blog on how to increase happiness!
5 Minutes: Chew Gum
Chewing two sticks a day for two weeks can fight off anxiety and fatigue and improve mood.
15 Minutes: Meditate
Research has shown that a quarter of an hour of guided meditation performed in the office can kick psychological and physiological markers of stress. You don’t need someone in the flesh to help lead your thoughts; you can download the newbie-friendly Headspace app to get started, or read up on B4BC’s 5 minute guide to meditation on the blog.
30 Minutes: Go for a Run
Five days a week at a moderate pace of around ten minutes per mile can boost your mood, concentration, and sleep quality—not to mention your cardiovascular health and muscle tone. Running not your thing? Get the scoop on the exercise benefits of skateboarding and snowboarding too!
45 Minutes: Take a Nap
A 45-to-60-minute daytime snooze boosts your cardiovascular system, bringing spiked blood pressure back down to normal.
90 Minutes: Stretch It Out
Studies have shown that yoga relieves tension in everyone from medical students to flood survivors. Ninety minutes twice a week erases anxiety and replaces it with calm, though sessions half that long can also work. Get started with B4BC’s tips on our Yoga 101 blog post.
1 Day: Walk in the Woods
Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese term meaning “walking or staying in forests to promote health.” Just a day in the wild, researchers have found, is enough to reduce stress, even in chronic sufferers. Check out our blog post about the shinrin-yoku science practice of forest bathing and the amazing therapeutic health benefits that it has on the body!
1 Year: Move to Switzerland
The country topped the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Better Life Index for life satisfaction. A strong sense of community, high life expectancy, and low unemployment make the Swiss life sweet. That and your in-laws probably don’t live there.
16 Years: Get a Dog
A pup will lower your blood pressure and generally improve your psychological well-being. And bringing it to the office can increase job satisfaction.
Article courtesy of OutsideOnline.com
