Brought to you by Vive Health
Looking for a healthier approach to your holiday stress relief?
When it comes to planning family trips, dashing from one kid’s holiday
performance to another, and scrambling to get a holiday treat together for the
class party, moms are often the ones with the littlest time leftover and the
biggest amounts of stress. Don’t miss these go-to healthy holiday stress relief
ideas:
When it comes to planning family trips, dashing from one kid’s holiday
performance to another, and scrambling to get a holiday treat together for the
class party, moms are often the ones with the littlest time leftover and the
biggest amounts of stress. Don’t miss these go-to healthy holiday stress relief
ideas:
Take a Walk Outside
It almost sounds too simple, but taking a walk outside
through nature has been shown to help boost attentiveness and reduce the inclination to brood on negative thoughts. With
all the hustle and bustle of shopping and events aside, holidays tend to bring
up feelings of anxiety, depression, and sometimes just sadness, especially when
you reflect on the year and remember people you have lost. Start a healthy
holiday habit of scheduling in a quick 15-minute nature walk during your day –
it could be just around your neighborhood, or in a nearby park.
through nature has been shown to help boost attentiveness and reduce the inclination to brood on negative thoughts. With
all the hustle and bustle of shopping and events aside, holidays tend to bring
up feelings of anxiety, depression, and sometimes just sadness, especially when
you reflect on the year and remember people you have lost. Start a healthy
holiday habit of scheduling in a quick 15-minute nature walk during your day –
it could be just around your neighborhood, or in a nearby park.
Try Yoga
Yoga is often touted for its benefits to help practitioners gain
flexibility and strength, however, it has also been shown to help relieve
stress and even lower high blood pressure levels. The core components of
meditation and deep breathing have powerful physiological and mental benefits
in helping the body relax tense muscles and the mind calm down and rid itself
of the common barrage of thoughts (i.e. “have to get groceries!”, “what are the
kids wearing to school tomorrow?”, have I made dinner?” etc). Join a class at a
local yoga studio or simply stream free online tutorials on Youtube.
flexibility and strength, however, it has also been shown to help relieve
stress and even lower high blood pressure levels. The core components of
meditation and deep breathing have powerful physiological and mental benefits
in helping the body relax tense muscles and the mind calm down and rid itself
of the common barrage of thoughts (i.e. “have to get groceries!”, “what are the
kids wearing to school tomorrow?”, have I made dinner?” etc). Join a class at a
local yoga studio or simply stream free online tutorials on Youtube.
Volunteer
It doesn’t hurt that National
Family Volunteer Day is Nov. 18th this year, or that the holidays are ripe with
service opportunities for you and your family. Volunteering not only teaches
your kids empathy, dedication, and the transformative power of helping others,
but it can be a source of stress relief for you too. Helping pack boxes at the
food bank, walking and grooming dogs at the animal shelter, making a meal for
an elderly neighbor, even registering to walk/run in a charity 5K . . . the
ideas are endless! Use services like VolunteerMatch.org and CreatetheGood.org
to find volunteer jobs near you.
Family Volunteer Day is Nov. 18th this year, or that the holidays are ripe with
service opportunities for you and your family. Volunteering not only teaches
your kids empathy, dedication, and the transformative power of helping others,
but it can be a source of stress relief for you too. Helping pack boxes at the
food bank, walking and grooming dogs at the animal shelter, making a meal for
an elderly neighbor, even registering to walk/run in a charity 5K . . . the
ideas are endless! Use services like VolunteerMatch.org and CreatetheGood.org
to find volunteer jobs near you.
Plan Online
Coordinating donations for a holiday gift for your child’s
teacher? Organizing volunteers for the class party? Planning a big holiday
potluck with friends and neighbors? The sheer amount of wrangling that happens
at the holidays could make any mom throw her hands up in frustration, and
that’s why taking advantage of digital solutions is a must. Free online signups
from services like SignUpGenius and SignUp.com are great for coordinating who
is bringing what to the class party or potluck. And free digital transaction
services like Venmo and Facebook Payments let you collect money without an additional
fee. Save time (and stress) by planning ahead and letting secure online
services handle the email communication and reminders.
teacher? Organizing volunteers for the class party? Planning a big holiday
potluck with friends and neighbors? The sheer amount of wrangling that happens
at the holidays could make any mom throw her hands up in frustration, and
that’s why taking advantage of digital solutions is a must. Free online signups
from services like SignUpGenius and SignUp.com are great for coordinating who
is bringing what to the class party or potluck. And free digital transaction
services like Venmo and Facebook Payments let you collect money without an additional
fee. Save time (and stress) by planning ahead and letting secure online
services handle the email communication and reminders.
Prevent Travel Pains
Hitting the roads with tens of millions of other Americans this
Thanksgiving? Planning to fly your entire family across the country in
December? Whether you’re sitting for a long time in a car or on a cramped plane
seat, chances are good that little aches and pains will follow. Prolonged
sitting places added pressure on the spine which stresses back muscles and
tendons. And falling asleep in an awkward position on a long trip can lead to
inflamed and stiff neck muscles. Be prepared by traveling smart with items like
lumbar spine pillows, travel seat cushions and neck pillows, disposable ice
packs, and topical aids. The best
pain relief cream for back pain should travel well, be easy to apply, and provide quick pain
relief of sore and stiff muscles.
Thanksgiving? Planning to fly your entire family across the country in
December? Whether you’re sitting for a long time in a car or on a cramped plane
seat, chances are good that little aches and pains will follow. Prolonged
sitting places added pressure on the spine which stresses back muscles and
tendons. And falling asleep in an awkward position on a long trip can lead to
inflamed and stiff neck muscles. Be prepared by traveling smart with items like
lumbar spine pillows, travel seat cushions and neck pillows, disposable ice
packs, and topical aids. The best
pain relief cream for back pain should travel well, be easy to apply, and provide quick pain
relief of sore and stiff muscles.
Use Aromatherapy
Sure the house smells amazing at Thanksgiving, but it’s a bit
ambitious to try and have an apple pie baking in the oven every day just for
the aroma. Instead, try aromatherapy with an essential oil aroma diffuser or
candles with scents that help relax and calm you. While food-based aromas often
nostalgically stir up fond memories, it’s actually scents like vanilla,
lavender, sandalwood, and rosemary which research has shown have the ability to
reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and boost happiness levels.
ambitious to try and have an apple pie baking in the oven every day just for
the aroma. Instead, try aromatherapy with an essential oil aroma diffuser or
candles with scents that help relax and calm you. While food-based aromas often
nostalgically stir up fond memories, it’s actually scents like vanilla,
lavender, sandalwood, and rosemary which research has shown have the ability to
reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and boost happiness levels.
Get Crafty
It’s easy to splurge on art supplies and fun crafts for the kids,
but what about you? Crafting is not just great exercise for your brain, but it
can help lower your stress levels too. A 2016
study found
that after just 45 minutes of art making, participants’ stress hormone
(cortisol) levels actually decreased. Everything from coloring, to knitting,
collaging, crocheting, making origami, scrapbooking and so forth workout your
fine motor skills while giving your mind something beautiful and fun to focus
on. Craft or art therapy essentially helps you push away negative thoughts and
replace them with creativity and confidence.
but what about you? Crafting is not just great exercise for your brain, but it
can help lower your stress levels too. A 2016
study found
that after just 45 minutes of art making, participants’ stress hormone
(cortisol) levels actually decreased. Everything from coloring, to knitting,
collaging, crocheting, making origami, scrapbooking and so forth workout your
fine motor skills while giving your mind something beautiful and fun to focus
on. Craft or art therapy essentially helps you push away negative thoughts and
replace them with creativity and confidence.
Author: Metro Detroit Mommy Author
