The GOOD Guide to Living Better, Part Two: Work

You spend most of your day at work, but you shouldn't let it control your life. Follow these simple tips to be more healthy at the office, by not getting so stressed out, getting some exercise on the way there and back, and even burning some calories at your desk:

Simple Strategies for Stress Reduction

Stress makes the world go ‘round—it’s the fire behind art and  enterprising businesses and the thing that gets you to work on time—but too much of it will hinder your health.

One-third of Americans report experiencing extreme stress. That’s bad news since stress has been shown to inhibit immune function and slow the body’s capacity to heal. It can make your hair fall out, cause your skin to break out, and has been associated with everything from cancer to autoimmune diseases like lupus. That being the case, here are some ways to keep calm:

Focus on your breath: There’s a reason people tell you to breathe when stress has you mentally hyperventilating. Lengthening your inhales and can stop stress in its tracks. Yoga and meditation practices are designed around breathing principles. If you want to breathe more and worry less, check them out.

Experience aromatherapy: Until recently, the effectiveness of aromatherapy had about as much scientific support as the existence of unicorns. We’ve always known smell is a powerful sense, but it wasn’t until a recent study of the effects of jasmine on mice that it was proven to also be calming—as calming as Valium, in fact. Frazzled mice retreated quietly to their corners when exposed to the scent. Could carefully selected smells do the same for you?

Take timeouts and vacations: We tend to feel guilty about taking our lunch breaks, let alone our vacations. But time and again, these reposes from routine have been proven to minimize stress throughout the year, recharge our batteries and actually enable us to work more efficiently. Remember to step away from your smart phone or computer when you are trying to relax, or it might not be relaxing at all.

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A MORSEL FROM HEALTHYMAGINATION

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