Maximum stress relief
The days are getting shorter, darker and cooler— and our to-do lists are getting longer. No wonder two in three women say this is the time of year when tension, edginess and anxiety start to climb. To the rescue: Experts say these simple strategies can shut down anxiety in a flash— plus steady your moods all season long!
Massage your brows Relaxing your eyebrows with a 60-second massage will help you feel calmer and more content for one hour straight— and giving yourself a brow rub once each hour could cut your blood pressure by as much as 10%. According to Stanford University scientists, when your forehead muscles relax, your brain responds by producing calming alpha waves. Brow massages also stimulate acupressure points that prompt the release of mood-steadying compounds.
Leave a happy note
Posting little notes for loved ones thanking them for jobs well done or just reminding them they’re loved helps 96% of women prevent upticks in stress and worry. It can even cut edginess by 55% the first time you do it! Explains psychologist Michael Smith, PH.D., putting positive thoughts on paper and sharing them with others calms the anxiety center of the brain.
Nosh on roasted veggies
Roasting caramelizes vegetable sugars, bringing out yummy flavors while hiding bitterness. And that’s good news for your mood! Research in the journal Frontiers in Psychology suggests 1 cup of vegetables can help us instantly de-stress—and eating 21⁄ cups daily can boost your mood by
2
66% all season long. Explains psychologist Tamlin Conner, PH.D., vegetables are rich in carotenoids, nutrients that impact the brain just like prescription antidepressants!
Speed- clean your kitchen When you’re feeling edgy, take 90 seconds to turbo through an everyday chore like wiping off the counter or putting away clean dishes. Brief but vigorous bursts of motion prompt your pituitary gland to release endorphins, hormones that Yale University researchers say can help you feel 65% calmer and more energized for up to 90 minutes straight.