The holiday season is finally upon us here at Foothills, and while we may not expect a white Christmas in Arizona, we expect that you may start to feel the effects of stresses that come along with the holidays. Our physical therapy experts understand that for many people, the holiday season comes with added psychological and physical stress. Follow these helpful tips to ensure you get the most rest and relaxation with minimal stress during your winter break!
- Stretch it out. Psychological stress often results in tight muscles. To combat this, take time to stretch slowly and properly. This will bring a feeling of relaxation and relief to get rid of the tension your muscles were holding.
- Give yourself a break. Getting stressed out planning your holiday plans? Anxious at the thought of your whole family together under your roof? Relax! Take the dog on a walk, go on a jog, or go to the gym. Make time for yourself to do some activity that gets you out of your own head and allows you to release some pent up energy. Physical exercise also triggers the release of endorphins in the body, resulting in a naturally improvement of your mood.
- Watch what you eat! Many people tend to overeat when they are stressed, but this is not a good idea. Healthy eating fuels your mind and body while sweets may make you feel worse. Be mindful of your food intake, especially during the holidays and remember that exercise and healthy foods will help with your stress much more than pie!
- Meditate. 15 to 20 minutes of meditation can greatly decrease your stress and relax your body. If meditation isn’t your thing, consider taking a relaxing yoga class!
- Assess your stress. Do you suffer from physical discomfort from your stress? Consider visiting a Foothills physical therapist for treatment options like trigger point dry needling that has been shown to improve symptoms like muscle tightness and spasms among others.
Make an appointment today for your physical therapy consultation! To learn more about different physical therapy techniques and what our certified physical therapists can do for you check out the Foothills blog. Happy holidays!
Image: john.schultz
