It's already that time of year again! The holiday season has officially crept up on us and with it, the stress of shopping and planning will have many in a month long tizzy.
But fear not! You don't have to break the bank and splurge on spas to feel well-rested and relaxed. We have some inexpensive stress relievers right here.
If you missed Part One, click here. Now read on to learn a few more ways you can release that holiday stress this season:
Turn up the tunes. Listening to music can be an incredibly healing practice, especially when we're stressed. According to PsychCentral, music can help slow down our pulse and heart rate, lower our blood pressure and reduce the level of stress hormones in our bodies.
This is especially true of slow, classical music, but listening (and singing along) to your favorite tunes in the car can also be a stress-relieving practice. Get started listening to Pandora or Spotify while you get ready in the morning, or while you prepare dinner.
Design a sleep haven. A recent article in TIME suggests sleep is "more powerful than any drug in its ability to restore and rejuvenate the human brain and body." Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 to 70 million Americans have trouble sleeping.
To get your sleeping patterns on track, design your bedroom as a sleep haven. Subtle adjustments like dimmed lighting, soothing colors and an overall lack of clutter can do wonders in helping you catch some much-need Zzs.
Clean your sheets. Since we've determined sleep is a major contributor to our overall health and wellness, keeping your bed in tip-top shape should be a priority. According to a National Sleep Foundation poll, over 70 percent of those surveyed admitted to sleeping better on clean sheets.
Also, as tempting as it may be to invite Fido or Whiskers onto your bed at night, avoid sleeping with pets. Doing so not only disrupts your sleep patterns, but may require more frequent sheet cleaning, as animals have all kinds of things on their paws!
Which tip do you plan to take on? Tell us with a note below!