Tips for Dealing with Holiday Stress Naturally         A Wholistic Natural Approach is Always Better!

So what to do? It turns out there are simple ways to have a low-, or at least lower-, stress holiday season, and do so naturally. To help you with your natural stress relief and prevention this season, here are a few ideas...

Get Stress Relief Naturally With (the Right) Foods

The evidence that healthy eating habits and good nutrition are important for more than just general physical health keeps growing, and, among other things, it turns out that they can play a big role in relieving stress. In Natural Stress Relief: Food and Supplements, health expert Michael Castleman provides three simple suggestions for using food - in a healthy way - to promote a less stressful life:

1. Focus on basic nutrition: Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and include a daily multivitamin and/or mineral supplement.

2. Eat (some) carbs, such as crackers or bread: Carbohydrates simulate the release of brain chemicals that promote relaxation.

3. Try decaf: Caffeine can make you feel high-strung and more likely to snap. Rather than cutting out regular coffee or black tea all at once, try gradually cutting back and switching to decaffeinated coffee or herbal teas.

Herbs can also help you keep an even keel. Try teas made from chamomile (brew 2 to 3 teaspoons per cup of boiling water), hops (half a teaspoon per cup), passionflower (1 teaspoon dried leaves per cup) or catnip (1 to 2 teaspoons per cup).

Create a Calming Environment

From sounds to scents, your environment is one of the easiest tools you can use to become more relaxed. Try listening to soothing music - and not just at home. Listen at work and on the bus or in the car. Play it in the kitchen or in the living room during the evening, rather than watching less-soothing television programming.

As for nosing your way to relaxation, aromatherapy is popular and effective for relieving anxiety and stress naturally. Add a few drops of an essential oil to a bath, or, for a more portable option, put some rock salt in a vial and then add a few drops of essential oil to the mix. Keep a cap on the vial, and when you're ready to decompress, remove the cap and breathe in the scent deeply. Oils of basil, lavender, anise, peppermint and thyme are all good choices. All About Health at 9 Mile and Gratiot has a large selection to choose from.

Work (or Breathe) It Out

In addition to nutritional, herbal and sensory stress relief techniques, another option is to physically release stress. According to The Secret to Stress Relief, people who regularly exercise are often happier and less stressed out than those who don't exercise, and you don't even have to commit a lot of time. Exercising for 30 minutes several times a week can naturally reduce stress, and can also help prevent stress to the immune system. Staying healthy is a great head start when it comes to feeling more relaxed and being able to handle all of the fun and bustle of the season.

Walking is one of the easiest ways to exercise. You can do it almost anywhere, it's free, and it requires minimal equipment. Especially in winter, be sure to use activity- and weather-appropriate footwear. If venturing out during the cold season isn't your style, schools with indoor tracks often open their facilities to the public outside of team practice hours, or you can stroll inside the local mall. As another alternative, yoga can be a great indoor exercise.

You don't have to work up a sweat to physically relieve stress. When you realize you're wound up too tight, stop and breathe. Roll your shoulders back and stand (or sit) up straight. Smile. Smiling sends a signal from your facial muscles to your brain that encourages calm. With a little more time, try meditation to relieve stress. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes. Select a word or phrase to focus on and silently repeat it. Try a minute or two to start, and work up to 20 minutes once or twice a day.

-J. Hofmann

All About Health
P: 586 350-0931

Return to Top

City of Roseville offers Gymnastics

In conjunction with Riley Gymnastics, Roseville Parks and Recreation is pleased to offer a comprehensive gymnastics program for youth ages 2 - 12 years of age.  Classes are offered on Thursdays and Saturdays at the Recreation Center; sessions run for eight weeks and cost $ 85.00 per session for Roseville residents or $ 90.00 for nonresidents.  Next session begins on Thursday, January 6^th.  For additional program information, please contact Roseville Parks and Recreation at (586) 445-5480.

For additional information please contact:

Roseville Parks and Recreation

Contact Name:  Bobbie Wilson

(586) 445-5480

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

18185 Sycamore Street

Roseville, MI  48066

Return to Top