Tips for Managing Holiday Stress

HEADLINE: 7 Tips for Managing Holiday Stress

 

The holiday season is here!

 

It’s the time to sit and reflect upon the past year, celebrate with family and friends, and appreciate life with good food and drink. But with the excitement and happiness come the responsibilities of finding the perfect gifts, wrapping presents, dinner plans, family discussions, traffic and long lines. These all add up to stress and, if not handled well, could impact your health and your enjoyment of the holidays.

 

Take these steps to manage your stress:

 

1.       Plan early. Get a head start on your shopping and your holiday cards. Make lists and know what you need. Purchase gifts online, so you can avoid the crowds.

2.       Take some time to breathe. Stress builds up when you are constantly on the go. Make sure you take time for yourself. For just 10 minutes in the morning or 10 minutes at night, try to breathe deeply, meditate or have some quiet time to release the built-up stress in your body.

3.       Enjoy tasty treats in moderation and don’t skimp on workouts. Many of us gain weight during the holidays, but we can stave off the extra pounds by enjoying delicious foods and drinks in moderation. Also, consider taking digestive enzymes to help you digest rich foods. Along with the food, balance your intake with calories expended. Exercise is a great way to stay in shape through the season and to relieve stress. Shoot for 30 minutes of exercise a day. And, no, shopping doesn’t count as a workout!

4.       Be there for others. If you know individuals who have a hard time during the holidays, reach out to them and let them know they are loved. Many people struggle this time of year with sadness and depression. We are all connected and should be there for each other.

5.       Don’t over commit. Too many gatherings can overwhelm and leave no time for anything else.  Having a packed schedule is a big holiday stressor. Prioritize your commitments and learn to say, “No, thanks.”

6.       Be grateful. Appreciate the relationships in your life – family, friends, co-workers, etc. Be grateful for your loving relationships and that you have wonderful people to share these times with. Make memories. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

7.       Get Adjusted! Stress builds up emotionally, chemically and physically in your body. Chiropractic care releases the pressure that interferes with your nervous system, allowing your body to handle stress easier.

 

Just a few easy changes can make all the difference and lead to a more enjoyable holiday season.

 

Cheers!

 

 

Losing My Chiropractic Virginity

By guest blogger and patient Nicole van Esselstyn

It happened. I demystified the world of chiropractic by having my first adjustment.

What brought me to this point of deciding it was the right time?

Two things:

1. Getting to know a chiropractor and hearing her patients' rave reviews. That's Dr. Sherin Bourne at Integrative Chiropractic Center. 

2. Watching my husband lie flat on the floor for nearly five days straight after throwing out his back.

Dr. Sherin Bourne

I was desperate for him to be well. Desperate. As any wife can understand when her husband is injured. Desperate. 

So I made him go first to Sherin. And he did. And he survived. In fact, he walked out feeling better than he had in a week. But this story is not about him. It's about me, losing my chiropractic virginity.

I was nervous. Let's just be honest here. Throughout the years I'd heard horror stories. Of cracked backs that just got more jumbled. Of an endless string of visits that never produced more than just extra bucks in the pockets of the chiropractors.  

I took all of these at face value, never looking into it myself. Considering all chiropractors to be the same, doing the same. 

Until I met Sherin. Until I heard about her services. Until I heard the stories of her patients, from the patients themselves. 

But a little skepticism remained. I mean, I'm a farm girl from southern Virginia. We tough things out. We keep going. That is ... until we can't anymore. And that's what happened to my husband. I didn't want that happening to me. So I made my appointment and went in. Nervousness and all.

I could be honest with Sherin, telling her I really didn't buy into the whole thing. I asked many questions. All were answered patiently. She scanned my back using a wand, which revealed my areas of discomfort. Those areas matched up precisely with how I was feeling ... stiff neck and shoulders, clogged sinuses, and headaches. OK, I was beginning to feel a little more convinced.

On the adjustment table

Then it was time for the table. After lying down, she started with a heated blanket and massage pulses. Heavenly. Next up was the adjustment. Sherin didn't push me too far. She was confident but with a gentle approach. She explained what she was doing as she went. It actually felt quite nice. 

Once it was over and I stood up, I noticed a difference immediately. My feet felt more firmly planted on the ground. As if I was standing up straighter and taller. Sherin never told me I might feel that way. I noticed it all on my own. Further convincing me that this isn't hooey after all.

In the days that followed, I felt a little sore. But then, not much different from how I felt before my adjustment. The next week, I went back for a second appointment. That was when I really started noticing an ongoing difference.

My neck isn't as stiff anymore and isn't as uncomfortable when I'm lying down to sleep at night. My headaches are almost all gone. I was at least good for several a month - all minor. My sinuses feel more open, again leading to the decrease in headaches. And all of this from two adjustments. I couldn't believe it.

Coincidence? Maybe. 

But I can't imagine that these symptoms would disappear all on their own, especially since I'd had them for years. I honestly believe it is a result of chiropractic intervention, an intervention I didn't know I needed but am glad I tried. I just wish I had lost my virginity sooner.

Tell us about your experience.

Chiropractic – A Prescription for Healthy Living

Chiropractic – A Prescription for Healthy Living

To help individuals better understand chiropractic and its benefits, Dr. Sherin Bourne answers some frequently asked questions. 

What is chiropractic?

When asked about chiropractic, I compare it to hitting a reset button for your body. Our bodies are in constant stress as we endure the emotional, chemical, physical and environmental factors encountered each day. With a chiropractic adjustment, your body releases this built-up stress as spinal segments are realigned.

 An adjustment is a treatment for subluxations in the spine. Subluxations are misalignments that can cause unwanted pressure on spinal nerves and surrounding tissues. Chiropractors are trained and educated in detecting subluxations in the spine.

What are the benefits of chiropractic?

Stress interferes with the natural functions of the body and prevents the body from performing at its highest level. The human body was created to adapt to and tolerate significant tolls, but over time, this begins to weaken the body and compromise its capabilities.

Regular adjustments allow the body to strengthen and adapt to its new natural form.

Other benefits of chiropractic care include:

·         a better night’s sleep

·         more energy

·         an immune system boost

·         improvements in posture and circulation

·         restoration to normal mobility

·         slowing of the aging process

·         faster recovery times from injuries

·         pain reduction or complete elimination of pain

 When do you need chiropractic care?

At the core, chiropractic care is not about treating symptoms. Chiropractic is about living a healthy lifestyle and enabling your body to function as it was designed.

Symptoms – stiffness, tightness, aches and pains – are a warning, a flashing red light that something is wrong. Some people wait until they feel pain before they come in for a chiropractic visit. Others, who have been adjusted regularly, know that chiropractic does more than relieve pain. These individuals are aware of the tremendous health benefits that chiropractic can bring when adjusted regularly, thus they often experience fewer symptoms.

What are the types of chiropractic treatment plans?

There are two types of treatment plans depending on how a patient is feeling: relief care and wellness care.

Relief care is when the main objective is to rid a person of the pain he or she is experiencing. This requires frequent chiropractic visits during a short amount of time. Wellness care visits are once or twice a month to keep a person healthy and balanced on all levels.

 

What is involved in a chiropractic visit?

During the first visit, the patient will be evaluated by the chiropractor, using different positions and performing a palpation of the spine. Other therapies – soft tissue work, stretches, electric stimulation or ultrasound – may be used to relax the musculature around the affected area. After this, a patient receives an adjustment.

Therapies and adjustments are not painful, but during an adjustment, you may hear crackling or popping noises, which is air being released from the joint as the bone moves into its proper position.
 

Many patients report feeling less pain after just their first chiropractic session.  

Dr. Sherin Bourne earned a Doctor of Chiropractic from National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, Ill. She is the owner of Integrative Chiropractic Center in Branchburg, N.J., (www.IntegrativeChiropracticCenter.com) and has seven years of experience in chiropractic. She had her last adjustment four days ago. Visit her website to make an appointment for your adjustment.

It's a New Year!

Ok well it's January! We all have spent time thinking about this New Year and what we want it to bring for each of us. Wouldn't it be nice if New Year resolutions were as easy as making a wish on your birthday and blowing out the candles?  Done! Out of our control, hopefully it just happens...
There is work to do in order to be successful with resolutions but most of us forget about this part. Actually by February we tend to forget what our resolution even was! Many people try to have a healthier lifestyle whether it be to exercise more or to have a good diet.  Gym memberships skyrocket in January and then by February you have no problem getting a treadmill when you want one. Don't give up. If you fall off track just get back on. Don't beat yourself up over it. Tomorrow is a new day to start again.

I'm gonna share a story with you. My resolution was to not eat any red meat this year. I feel that it is a healthy choice for me and I feel better without it in my diet. So that was it. And it's only January 10th....I have ordered a salad that had bacon in it. I told myself, "Well it's just little pieces of bacon mixed in." It's not like I was ordering bacon strips! So I let it slide. I made up excuses to make it seem okay.... Soooo not okay! That is the first step in the wrong direction. I really wanted to stick to this. I can do it and I will... No more excuses! Order a different salad Sherin!!
So I decided to let it go and start over again... No one is perfect. I allow myself to fall down but it's how many times I get back up again that counts. Life will throw many challenges my way... If I slip up then I start again the next time a menu is placed in front of me... Wish me luck!

Know you all are worth it this New Year and think about what you really want on all levels. Like the secret says "what you think about , you bring about" so spend some time thinking about what you want to attract this year ... You're  well worth the time don't you think??? There are so many things that we can do without being so extreme. Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves?

Her are some ideas of little changes that can make a big difference in our lives:

1 Smile more often.. It instantly makes you happier and as my friend Dorothy says,”It burns more calories.”

2.  Talk to strangers ... Say hi to people when you make eye contact with them. They may need a friendly gesture too it's not always just about you.

3. Chew your food slowly and sit down to enjoy your meals. You might enjoy it more when you actually think about what you're eating and take time to notice how the flavors complement each other. If it’s a healthy food maybe it will give you a new sense of satisfaction and therefore you will want to eat healthier rather than feel like you have to.

4. Put some music on!! Before you know it you might find that your mood changes automatically. It's difficult to be upset when you’re singing at the top of your lungs thinking you could possibly be the next American Idol.

5. Start thinking and knowing that you are worth it. Write down some positive affirmations daily.

The time is now...no more excuses...go after what you want...only YOU have the power to change things that aren't working for you...if you don't change the things you do, you will continue to get the same results... What do you want for yourself this year? Go get it!