Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #57: Pick-Me-Up

Sometimes, taking just a few minutes during the day for a quick pick-me-up can re-energize and rejuvenate you. Studies show that chronic stress not only ages your prematurely, but it also contributes to many health problems, including headache, chest pain, backache, stomach upset, sleep problems, weight gain or loss, high blood pressure, fatigue and more. Try these quick pick-me-ups during the day to de-stress.

Pick-Me-Ups

1) Do deep breathing. Try taking a deep breath, holding it for a count of five and then exhaling for a count of seven. Repeat this pattern for about five minutes.

2) Try a cool spritz. I opened my friend's refrigerator and was surprised to find a bottle of light cologne in the fridge. She told me that every so often, she gives herself a cool spritz and it refreshes her. Try it!

3) Use ear plugs. We're constantly exposed to noise pollution. Whether it's the chatter of other people on their cell phones, babies crying, construction equipment or airplanes flying overhead, all that noise can be stressful. Try using ear plugs to block out the world. The secondary effect of earplugs is they magnify the sound of your breathing. Focusing on your breath is used in meditation to relax.

4) Relax your jaw. Many people unconsciously clench their teeth and jaws when they're stressed out and that can lead to a variety of ailments including headaches and neck pain. Try massaging the jaw muscles just below your ears, behind your jaw bone.

5) Sniff peppermint or cinnamon. Studies have shown that smelling peppermint or cinnamon can actually make you more alert.

So, if you find your energy lagging during the day or you're stressed out, try these tips for a quick pick-me-up.