Reduce Your Holiday Stress with Exercise

Even though exercise may not be the most exciting word in your vocabulary, it sure is a word with a lot of benefits.  Participating in daily exercise will not only make you healthier in general, but it can also diminish the effects of stress on your body (and mind) as well.

Think about all the times you have heard someone say "the doctor says it's stress related".  Normally people will laugh it off, concluding that doctors say that when they don't know the real answers or diagnosis.  The truth of the matter is that too much stress can play a role in many diseases.

To help increase your immune system and decrease your stress level as well, try exercise, as movement is the key word here.  Bending, stretching, reaching and walking.  There's really no need to buy any expensive equipment either, as you can simply implement more movement into your daily routine and reap the benefits.

Image by colorblindPICASO via FlickrIf you like aerobic exercise, you can grab a partner and have a blast with one of the basic aerobic videos. (There are a number of fun ones on our website at http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html.)  Or, you can simply go out for a walk and enjoy spending time together with a friend, your spouse, or your children.  As you may have heard, walking really is one of the best overall exercises you can do for your health.  As long as you have a pair of walking shoes, you can utilize this method of healthy stress relief.

As you go through your daily activities, make it a point to walk a little farther, bend down and pick something up without using a pick up stick or moving the item towards you with your foot.  This will stretch and exercise muscles that are often neglected. While you are sitting, you should also do some simple and quick stretches for your neck and shoulders.

If you enjoy sitting around watching television, you may want to consider buying a jogging board.  These padded boards will make running, jumping, or walking in place less stressful on your knees and joints.  They are easy to store as well and also very portable.

In many people's opinions, jogging boards are the best pieces of equipment you can buy.  They are also far cheaper than bulky treadmills and stationary bikes.

There are several different exercises that you can do to help you eliminate the stress in your life.  Walking is by far the best, as you can easily lose yourself and your troubles by walking in nature and immersing yourself in your surroundings.  Even if it is just around the block, walking can do wonders for your overall health as well as stress levels.

Image via WikipediaIf you have a lot of stress in your life, you may want to consider a gym.  Working out hard, then sitting in the sauna is also a good way to relieve tension.  If your gym has a pool, you may find swimming to be very beneficial as well, as it provides a good, relaxing workout, but is less stress on the joints.

Regardless of the method you choose, fitness and flexibility is definitely a case of "use it or lose it." Getting some form of exercise on a daily basis is not only great for your body, but also for your state of mind as well. During the busy holiday season, be sure to take a break to fit in some form of exercise - your body, your mind, and your family will thank you!