Tips For Relieving Stress This Holiday!

Can you believe that it’s already December?!!! I know this year has FLOWN by for me! As we head into the holidays this year, many of us are experiencing more than normal amounts of stress. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, or experienced one of the fires or hurricanes, your stress might be even higher. You may even feel like you don’t want to celebrate this year. In difficult times like these, try to remember to celebrate the little things. Breathe! And let me share with you these tried-and-true tactics to staying CALM and comfortable during this time.

1. Drink Chrysanthemum Tea– This mellow tea has been used for centuries to relieve stress. Add some honey and enjoy a warm cup of this sweet, calming tea. Chrysanthemum tea is good for the liver – so it helps take the edge off of stress without making you sleep. It helps skin, boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure and improves vision!

2. Spend Time In Community –Research shows that spending time in community helps relieve stress. Share stories of your experiences, and help each other by listening. During the fires, many people had the chance to experience the feeling of community by comforting each other, and doing things to help others. 

3. Acupuncture- Of course, I had to put it on the list! Acupuncture is AMAZING at reducing the aches and pains caused by tense muscles associated with stress. It is also a good treatment option for depression and anxiety.

4. Go barefoot- Take off your shoes (and socks) and open up those meridian points! One study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that walking barefoot actually regulates the endocrine and nervous system!

5. Help Someone In Need – If you’re struggling to get along, it may seem crazy to do something for another person in need, but studies show that when we reach out to others by serving them, we feel better. Time magazine published an article just this August 2017 saying that scientific research provides compelling data to support the anecdotal evidence that giving is a powerful pathway to personal growth and lasting happiness. Through fMRI technology, we now know that giving activates the same parts of the brain that are stimulated by food and sex. Experiments show evidence that altruism is hardwired in the brain—and it’s pleasurable. Helping others may just be the secret to living a life that is not only happier but also healthier, wealthier, more productive, and meaningful.