December is a season full of both excitement and demands. Between year-end projects, personal commitments, and holiday preparations, it’s natural to feel some extra pressure.
The staff of NHC want to take this opportunity to remind you to prioritize your well-being, especially during this busy time. While we push to finish the year strong, it’s equally important to take care of yourself and support one another.
We know that your day-to-day work environments differ, depending on if you work in the office or remotely. Managing stress is not one-size-fits-all, so here are some tailored tips:
3 Stress Tips for Desk Workers
- Move regularly: Stand up and stretch or take a short walk every hour to ease tension and improve circulation.
- Desk stretches: Try simple stretches like neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, or seated spinal twists to release built-up tension.
- Organize your workspace: A clean, uncluttered desk can help reduce mental stress and improve focus.
3 Stress Tips for Workers Who Stand All Day
- Stretch your legs: Roll your feet with a ball or foot roller during breaks to relieve tension and improve circulation.
- Wear supportive shoes: Consider insoles or compression socks to reduce fatigue.
- Shift your weight: Alternate standing positions and use a small footstool to rest one foot periodically.
6 General Stress-Relief Tips
- Take breaks: Short, intentional breaks can recharge your mind and body, no matter your role.
- Set boundaries: Communicate your limits and don’t overcommit to tasks that stretch you too thin.
- Stay active: A brief walk, some light stretching, or breathing exercises can work wonders for stress relief.
- Seek support: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depending on what area of your life is affected, it may be helpful to reach out to a licensed healthcare provider, a therapist, a certified nutritionist, your manager, a colleague, HR, or a friend or family member for support.
- Try joint and muscle pain relief options: Natural herbs in pain relief balms, creams, or sprays, outlined below, may help soothe achy joints and muscles.
- Opt for stress relief supplements: Dietary supplements may include naturally occurring stress relief and mood stabilizing nutrients to help you feel more balanced.
We encourage you to incorporate these 10 ways to prioritize your well-being this December into your daily routine – whether during the day or to unwind in the evening. Small habits like these can make a big difference over time and may promote better physical health, higher energy levels, and improved mental well-being.
After stretching, if you’re still experiencing achy joints or muscles, try a soothing balm or cream with calming nutrients that warm or cool, depending on your needs. Here are some recommendations.
Joint and Muscle Pain Relief Options
- NOW Foods Joint & Muscle Cream: This cream provides soothing relief and warmth to help alleviate joint and muscle discomfort. Formulated with glucosamine, a natural compound that supports and nourishes the cartilage in your joints, this cream promotes joint health. Boswellia extract and methyl salicylate work together to help ease more acute or temporary discomfort, while capsaicin provides targeted, temporary relief by stimulating the area and then reducing the sensation of pain.
- Organic Innovative CBD OVA Muscle Rub: This organic topical ointment is designed to soothe sore muscles, joints, and alleviate back and shoulder pain. This formula blends CBD hemp oil with camphor and menthol crystals, offering fast-acting relief for muscle discomfort. Its cooling and calming properties work together to help ease tension and promote relaxation, providing targeted relief where you need it most.
- Pranarom Muscle & Joint Spray: This highly concentrated, non-aerosol formula is crafted to deliver fast-acting and long-lasting relief from muscle and joint stiffness and discomfort. Its highly concentrated blend of essential oils targets problem areas to soothe and relax, providing immediate comfort while helping to maintain flexibility and ease of movement.
In addition to soothing sore joints and muscles, dietary supplements may help ease symptoms of stress. Here are 3 dietary supplements for stress relief.
Dietary Supplements for Stress Relief
- Thorne Research Stress B-Complex: This dietary supplement provides 8 B vitamins in a highly absorbable form for adrenal support to help you manage stress.
- NutriDyn Stress Essentials Calm: This dietary supplement contains L-theanine and GABA that support a healthy mood, stress and frustration response, sleep cycle, and may promote abdominal comfort during PMS symptoms.
- Gaia Herbs Stress Response: This herbal stress relief support supplement contains ingredients such as ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, and schisandra that support day-to-day stress.
Other Ways to Ease Stress
Stress can cause burnout. Healthy habits like taking vitamins and supplements, stretching before physical activity, writing in a gratitude journal, and limiting screen time and social media scrolling can also help you ease holiday stress. Take a break to prioritize your mental health and physical health. Spending time outdoors away from holiday stress and overwhelming social interactions and deep breathing exercises are easy ways to prioritize self-care.
Let’s make an effort to prioritize balance and self-care so we can enjoy the holiday season with loved ones and celebrate our successes.
Here’s to a healthy and stress-free December.
