Climbing ladders, stringing lights, carrying shopping bags, playing hoops…
Getting ready for the Holidays can be stressful on your body, your back, your spine. Before singing carols with family, is your back healthy enough to lift your tiny tot with great cheer?
With Holidays around the corner, take a few steps to manage your stress level. Here are my tips to avoid stress-related back and neck pain.
1. MANAGE YOUR TIME
There is only so much you can plan and the more you plan the better you can manage last-minute hiccups. Take the time to list out everything you need to do, want to do. Add time to be flexible with your schedule. If you stay on your schedule and get everything done, then it’s a bonus! It’s ok if you don’t get everything done, if you plan ahead you may be able to reduce adverse effects, like chronic fatigue, which can lead to muscle and joint pain throughout the body, including the back. Manage your time and you can reduce physical stress and mental exertion.
2. PREPARE EARLY
With the Holidays less than 30 days away, don’t stress. Get your list of gifts and activities ready as soon you can. Wake up early, prepare your week on Sunday evenings, shop for groceries on Friday nights. The earlier you start, the less anxiety you may have, which can prevent panic attacks, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and back pain amongst other conditions. Take your list and begin knocking out one task at a time and before you know it you have completed everything on your list. Cheers, to a relaxing Holiday!
3. TAKE IT EASY
Now that you have a schedule and have a head start on your Holiday activities. Break down your day and your week into sub-tasks or smaller tasks. By doing this you will make it easier to accomplish. Need to clean the house or pack for travel? Then clean one room a day or pack one bag day. Prioritize your sub-tasks or smaller tasks by importance, and do those first, then move on to the less-important ones. Reward yourself with a back massage or cider by the fireplace after you accomplish a chunk of smaller tasks.
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Getting ready for the Holidays can be stressful on your body, your back, your spine. Before singing carols with family, is your back healthy enough to lift your tiny tot with great cheer?
With Holidays around the corner, take a few steps to manage your stress level. Here are my tips to avoid stress-related back and neck pain.
1. MANAGE YOUR TIME
There is only so much you can plan and the more you plan the better you can manage last-minute hiccups. Take the time to list out everything you need to do, want to do. Add time to be flexible with your schedule. If you stay on your schedule and get everything done, then it’s a bonus! It’s ok if you don’t get everything done, if you plan ahead you may be able to reduce adverse effects, like chronic fatigue, which can lead to muscle and joint pain throughout the body, including the back. Manage your time and you can reduce physical stress and mental exertion.
2. PREPARE EARLY
With the Holidays less than 30 days away, don’t stress. Get your list of gifts and activities ready as soon you can. Wake up early, prepare your week on Sunday evenings, shop for groceries on Friday nights. The earlier you start, the less anxiety you may have, which can prevent panic attacks, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and back pain amongst other conditions. Take your list and begin knocking out one task at a time and before you know it you have completed everything on your list. Cheers, to a relaxing Holiday!
3. TAKE IT EASY
Now that you have a schedule and have a head start on your Holiday activities. Break down your day and your week into sub-tasks or smaller tasks. By doing this you will make it easier to accomplish. Need to clean the house or pack for travel? Then clean one room a day or pack one bag day. Prioritize your sub-tasks or smaller tasks by importance, and do those first, then move on to the less-important ones. Reward yourself with a back massage or cider by the fireplace after you accomplish a chunk of smaller tasks.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash.com
4. REST, RELAX and REJUVENATE
Yes, reward yourself or treat your active family to a day of REST and relaxation. By now, you are almost done checking the task list, activities from your preplanned schedule to prepare for visitors, travel and the sorts. It is perfectly fine to do things for others (and they will be most appreciative) but take time to RELAX! Yes, lack of sleep can make your stress worse, it can also make your back pain worse. Take a yoga class, schedule a massage. Get some sleep and REJUVENATE!
5. THINK HEALTHY
Sleep is one way to help reduce stress. To manage your stress level even more, drink plenty of water and prepare healthy meals. Often times we eat “convenience” foods and forget about healthy nutrition. If you are not already a fan of meal prep, become a fan. Make a large batch of food at the beginning of the week and separate into individual, re-heat portion containers. By doing this, you can both reduce stress and cravings that often temp us during the Holidays. Also, make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Did you know that dehydration affects the structure in the back, resulting in stiffness and soreness.
6. BE ACTIVE, BE CALM
Along with healthy sleeps and eats, it is important to keep the body moving. Take a walk or a jog to manage your stress level. Do some activity to help keep your muscles strong and help control your weight during this season. By doing this you can avoid back pain. If taking a jog is not your thing, try a yoga class to strengthen the core and promote spine health. The slow, controlled breathing of yoga forces you to slow down and relax. Whichever activity you choose, be active, be calm to manage your stress during the Holidays.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BACK PAIN
4. REST, RELAX and REJUVENATE
Yes, reward yourself or treat your active family to a day of REST and relaxation. By now, you are almost done checking the task list, activities from your preplanned schedule to prepare for visitors, travel and the sorts. It is perfectly fine to do things for others (and they will be most appreciative) but take time to RELAX! Yes, lack of sleep can make your stress worse, it can also make your back pain worse. Take a yoga class, schedule a massage. Get some sleep and REJUVENATE!
5. THINK HEALTHY
Sleep is one way to help reduce stress. To manage your stress level even more, drink plenty of water and prepare healthy meals. Often times we eat “convenience” foods and forget about healthy nutrition. If you are not already a fan of meal prep, become a fan. Make a large batch of food at the beginning of the week and separate into individual, re-heat portion containers. By doing this, you can both reduce stress and cravings that often temp us during the Holidays. Also, make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Did you know that dehydration affects the structure in the back, resulting in stiffness and soreness.
6. BE ACTIVE, BE CALM
Along with healthy sleeps and eats, it is important to keep the body moving. Take a walk or a jog to manage your stress level. Do some activity to help keep your muscles strong and help control your weight during this season. By doing this you can avoid back pain. If taking a jog is not your thing, try a yoga class to strengthen the core and promote spine health. The slow, controlled breathing of yoga forces you to slow down and relax. Whichever activity you choose, be active, be calm to manage your stress during the Holidays.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BACK PAIN
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash.com
7. RING in THE NEW YEAR
When the Holidays are over, you can take these best practices into the New Year. Manage your time, schedule some time to relax, plan healthy meals, be active daily. Follow these tips, and you should find that you are less tense, which will help with back pain. Make it a New Year resolution to reduce your stress.
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