Reducing Stress
Posted on August 23, 2018 at 4:11 PM by Blog Committee
Take a Moment for YOU!
Do you ever feel there's not enough time in the day? Or just wish you could hit the “pause button” to take a moment for yourself? If so, you're not alone. According to the American Institute of Stress, over 44% of Americans feel more stressed today than they did five years ago. They also point out the longer stress lasts, the worse it is for your body. Not only does it affect your physical health, but also your mental health. Stress can increase the risk of heart disease by 40%, the risk of heart attack by 25%, and the risk stroke by 50%. Stress can also be related to 60% of all human illness and disease. All of this makes taking a break SO much more important.
Here are a few ideas of things that you can do to help you unwind and relax.
- Garden
- Read a book
- Eat lunch in a park
- Watch your favorite sporting event
- Color or draw
- Take a nap
- Turn off your phone
- Go for a walk
- Do some deep breathing
- Get a massage (And if you’re on the road, put a tennis ball in a sock and use it to roll out and massage your back)
Relaxation can benefit your health by reducing stress on your heart, boosting your memory, helping you to think more clearly and make better decisions, improve sleep quality, and decrease your risk of depression. With all these benefits, why wouldn’t you take some time out of the day for you?
Written by Kailey Kaestner