Calm Your Holiday Worries With Simple Stress-Relieving Techniques

The holiday season is a time of joy we look forward to, but it also represents a time of heightened stress. Stress can have a negative effect on us, both physically and mentally, so it’s important to find ways to cope with it. It’s easy to turn to unhealthy behaviors such as over-eating or smoking, but this will only worsen the problem. This year, commit to make a change in your life that will benefit you positively.

There are several stress-relieving techniques that will help trigger the body to relax. Practiced regularly (daily is best), these techniques will help reduce stress and boost feelings of happiness and calm. Choose the one that best suites you.

Deep breathing

• Sit in a comfortable position, with your back straight. Place one hand over your chest, the other over your abdomen.

• Breathe in through your nose, and notice as your hand on your stomach moves. The hand on your chest should move very little. This means you are breathing in from your stomach and filling your lungs with air.

• Exhale through your mouth to let out all the air (you might count to get a good rhythm). Notice how your stomach goes back in.

• Concentrate on peaceful, deep breathing one to two times a day for stress relief.

Guided imagery

• Close your eyes and use your senses to imagine a serene and tranquil place. This could be a tropical island, a quiet cabin in the woods, a favorite childhood spot; any place that makes you feel calm and at ease.

• See the details around you (the sun rising, the palm trees waving). Hear the wind blow or the waves reaching the shore. Feel the cool air on your skin, or the water at your feet. Smell the flowers or trees beside you. Taste the clean, fresh air.

• Whenever you feel stressed, take a few minutes to close your eyes and think of this peaceful place. Your mind will travel there with you for a moment, and your body will begin to relax.

Massage therapy for stress relief

• Soothing your scalp: place your fingers on the back of your head, with your thumbs resting behind your ears. Make circles on your scalp with your fingertips for 15-20 seconds. This is a simple, quick exercise to massage your scalp and relax your body tension.

• Eye Relaxation: Close your eyes. Place your ring fingers under your eyebrows at the bridge of your nose. Press down slowly for 5-10 seconds, and then gently release. Repeat two to three times.

• Relieving sinus pressure: Place the tips of your fingers at the bridge of your nose. Slowly move your fingers down your nose and across your upper cheekbones, to the outside of your eyes.

• Tension relief for your shoulders: With one arm, reach over the front of your body to your opposite shoulder. Press firmly, using a circular motion, on the muscle above your shoulder blade. This should release bottled-up tension. When stress builds up (especially during the holidays), our health can wear down. It’s important to take the time to relax in this and every season.

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