Take Five
Don’t let a hectic schedule keep you from taking care of yourself. These five stress-busting strategies each take less than five minutes — but the rewards could last the rest of your day!
- Take five for exercise. Recent studies prove that frequent short bursts of exercise are just as effective as one, long exercise session. Hop on a treadmill, board an exercise bike or just jog in place for five minutes several times a day to keep your cardiovascular system healthy and ward off weight gain. Exercise can release endorphins to improve your mood and boost your creativity.
- Take five to exercise your brain. A daily crossword or Sudoku puzzle can help keep your brain sharp as you age. Research shows that seniors who regularly challenge themselves mentally have half the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. Or take five minutes to read up on current events or study some vocabulary - in English or a foreign language - just for your own self-improvement.
- Take five for beauty. In five minutes, you can:
- use a refreshing stress gel to firm to nourish and tighten up tired, puffy skin
- shape up your fingernails
- paint your toenails (slip your feet into your sandals first, and you're ready to go as soon as you finish painting!)
- exfoliate and moisturize your legs or feet
- apply a tooth whitener and
- shape your brows
- Take five for stress relief: Learn a quick yoga routine or borrow some warm-up and cool-down stretches from your exercise class to give yourself a quick, rejuvenating break from work. If you've been sitting at your desk too long and are developing achiness in your neck, lower back or wrists, take five minutes to rest and ice the affected area.
- Take five for health. Lots of good health habits take only minutes to incorporate into your day. It only takes five minutes, for example, to make yourself a healthy salad that includes several fresh, vitamin- and fiber-filled vegetables.
- Flossing takes just a couple of minutes, and it helps improve tooth and gum health, not to mention your breath. In addition, researchers have discovered that good oral health can help prevent heart attacks, strokes and other heart disease.
Question:
What are your time-saving techniques for reducing stress?
