Tips for a stress-free holiday season.
1-Minute Tip: Chew a piece of sugarless bubblegum and blow a few mindless bubbles. It sounds silly, but doing so lets your mind wander and can help avert your attention from stress to something else.
5-Minute Tip: Try the 4-7-8 breathing exercise. Find a comfortable spot to sit and inhale through your nose to the count of four. Hold your breath to the count of seven, then exhale through your mouth to the count of eight. Repeat as many times as necessary to relax.
15-Minute Tip: Do a quick yoga sequence. One of the best ways to relieve stress is movement. Yoga relieves tension in the mind and body and routines can vary to meet your time constraints.
30-Minute Tip: Drop off clothing and items to a local donation center. Do you have a bag full of things you've been meaning to give away? Take 30 minutes to give back this holiday season, which can also ease worry and sadness.
This article first appeared in the December 2021 edition of the HealthPerks newsletter and was updated in December 2024.
