Mental & Emotional Health

Earlier we talked about holiday eating, now I’ll address something else holiday related … stress. I’ve written a very long series on stress and what it does to your body, and if you didn’t read it, I recommend you check it out – stress is evil. Rather than concentrating on stress itself, let’s read about ways to make stress go away.

~ While you’re cleaning your house, driving your car, or just sitting around, turn on an episode of Keith and the Girl. This comedy podcast never fails to make me laugh. If you’ve known me for any period of time, you will have heard me say “Keet� or “ting� or “send� and then giggle to myself. Listen to some of the episodes and you might understand why those things are hilarious.

~ Take four really long, really slow and really deep breaths. While you’re breathing in, imagine inhaling light, peace, love, and holiday cookies. While you’re breathing out, imagine exhaling the dark stress clouds of holiday shoppers grouchiness. Then laugh because you were breathing in calorie-free holiday cookies. (They taste the best!)

~ Massage your own feet. Take your shoes off and just rub your feet. I would not recommend doing this if you’re in public, unless you’re into that sort of thing, and I’m not one to judge, but you would help ME relax and laugh if I saw you in the Portland Park Blocks with no shoes on rubbing your own feet.

~ Smell something pretty. Smell your husband, smell your wife, smell your best friend’s knees (I hear hers smell pretty good). Put your own perfume on and enjoy the familiar scent. The smell of oranges, blackberries, coffee, freshly ripened tomatoes and cigar smoke always makes me happy.

… to be continued

mental & emotional health, holiday stress, stress relievers, Keith & the Girl, deep breathing, soothing scents