4 Ways To Beat Stress This Memorial Day

Updated on May 17, 2020

Memorial Day is supposed to be relaxing, joyous, and fun, but for thousands of Americans, they bring stress, anxiety, and even depression. A lack of time to prepare for family gatherings, shortage of money, and an excessive amount of expectations, are some of the top reasons people list for their stress levels.

To make the holiday more enjoyable, and to reduce stress, people should make their overall wellness a higher priority on their long holiday weekend to-do list.

Physical exercise makes the mental strain of the season much more manageable and can substantially decrease the stress one feels from all the demands. Exercise and some refreshing thinking and relaxing techniques help if done on a consistent basis.

Here are ways to beat holiday stress:

Walk somewhere besides the mall. 

A brisk half-hour walk a day relaxes the brain and improves sleep. A study by California State University found a 10-minute walk increases energy, alters the mood, and can bring a positive outlook for up to two hours. There’s a rhythm to it that relaxes the brain. It’s a proven stress-reducer. Movement makes the worries keep their distance.

Be a “chairman” if you’re bored. 

Most of working America is sedentary, and now much of shopping America is as well given the growth of online purchasing. A chair dip exercise is a handy way to tone and energize between your computer screen times. You use two chairs facing each other, about three feet apart. Sit on the edge of one chair and grip the edge with your hands. Place your heels on the edge of the other chair. Slide forward so your rear end clears the edge, then lower yourself until your elbows are between 45-90 degrees. Slowly push yourself back up. It works your triceps, shoulders and your core.

Unwind a little.

Sometimes, we try to power through the day to get more work finished. But it’s best to take a little time to just detach for a few minutes. Research has shown that engaging in casual video games can help restore mood in response to stress. Online games such as SlotoCash Casino can be an engaging and enjoyable activity, and help people recharge.

Drink heavily … water, that is! 

Many people over-imbibe during the holiday weekend and it has a detrimental effect on their wellness. Water brings weight loss and keeps your body in balance for all kinds of stressors. A whopping 75 percent of all Americans are dehydrated. Staying properly hydrated is a panacea for what ails you—from daytime fatigue to headaches to back and joint pain to losing weight. Why wait ’til after the holidays to lose weight?

Give gratitude. 

In the rush to get everything done, we forget to appreciate what we have. Pause to reflect brings a perspective that calms you down. Take a few moments to really relish your health and all your blessings. The holiday weekend is a perfect time to remember all that.

People who are over-burdened often make time for everybody and everything but themselves, and that takes a toll. People troubled every Memorial Day by all the pressures must ask themselves, ‘Do I want to enjoy this?’ If so, they need to step away for a few minutes each day, get in a sweat, and get in tune with themselves.

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