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6 Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress

The holidays are known as the most wonderful time of the year for many, offering a chance to reconnect with friends and family, but they can also be stressful. Maybe you are worried about money because you feel pressure to buy and give gifts. Not to mention all the events, shopping, cooking and travel. There never seems to be enough time to get things done.

No matter how old or young you are, chances are you have experienced stress at one point in your life or another. In fact, according to statistics, 77% of Americans regularly experience stress-related symptoms. Furthermore, 1 in 5 Americans report suffering from “extreme stress” symptoms which include shaking, heart palpitations and depression.

Although stress can be caused by a variety of things, studies have found that it is often caused by work, money, health, relationships, media overload and fatigue. Fortunately, for every stressor, there is an equivalent reducer.

Don’t let those jingle bells get you down!  To help you find stress relief this holiday season, we have a list of six easy ways you can reduce stress in your life.

Just Breathe
Stress, especially extreme stress, can cause people to hyperventilate. Keeping control of your breathing and practicing exercises to slow it down and calm yourself can greatly help reduce stress. Experts suggest to breathe deeply by putting your hand on your stomach just below your navel. Then inhale slowly through your nose, hold it for a few seconds and then exhale slowly.

Meditate or Practice Yoga
Just like slowing down your breathing, meditation and yoga can help you calm and lower your stress and anxiety. Research shows that meditating just a few minutes each day can “alter the brain’s neural pathways and make you less susceptible to stress.” Meditating is easy, all you have to do is sit up straight with both feet on the floor, close your eyes and focus your attention on speaking positive thoughts.

Get a Massage or Take a Bath
This one is straight-forward, as stress can cause your body to tense up and create knots. A massage or bath is a good way to get some quiet, relaxing time while the stress melts away. Your body will thank you later.

Talk it Out
Having someone to talk through your day and vent to is extremely helpful. Whether it is a therapist or friend, you will find that voicing your stress and having someone give you some useful insight from a different perspective will help you manage your stress.

Watch What You Drink
Caffeine and alcohol can both negatively affect your stress levels. If you still need a boost in the morning, decaf coffee will help and won’t increase your heart rate as much as regular coffee.

Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress. The endorphins released as you work out will help increase your happiness and fight your stress. Many like to think of sweat as stress leaving the body.

SmartCells Cushioning will be there to help you feel good all season long. The family of SmartCells Performance Training products utilizes the same cushioning technology that has long been trusted by major companies as an anti-fatigue solution for their standing workers and, in senior living settings, as a solution to keep senior citizens safe from fall-related injuries.

Available in three different colors (Black, Light Brown, and Grey) as well as three different sizes (36”X60”, 52”X60”, 52”X88”), the remarkable SmartCells Performance Training mats are low profile (1/2”) and have molded-in beveled edges. For custom applications, SATECH, Inc. offers custom-sized mats and a wall-to-wall flooring option that is perfect for in-home gyms and aerobics flooring.

To unload impact stress on-the-go SATECH also has a line of SmartCells Performance Training Insoles. SmartCells Performance Training insoles easily slip into most shoes and come in several options. To learn more about our options, visit www.smartcellsinsoles.com.

SmartCells wishes you a stress-free holiday season with many festive days of feeling good.

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