Tag Archives: calming

Feeling anxious, or unable to concentrate?

17 Tuesday Nov 2020

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Grab some lemon balm! The leafy plant from the mint family contains compounds that prevent the breakdown of a brain chemical linked to focus and memory. Lemon balm also contains brain-boosting quercetin and energizing caffeic acid… a combination proven to ease anxiety, and enhance problem-solving, focus, and recall. Your best bet: Place a drop of lemon balm essential oil on each palm, cup your hands over your face, and take 10 slow, deep breaths. And you’ll feel calmer, and more focused in no time!

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How to maintain a healthy trifecta:

12 Monday Oct 2020

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When it comes to keeping your mind sharp, our ancient ancestors were on to something. Florida State psychology professor, Dr. Thomas Joiner says they thrived thanks to a healthy trifecta: They interacted a lot with nature, and with others, and maintained a high level of physical activity. Put all of that together, and it can be calming and invigorating at the same time. And you don’t have to do all 3 separately. For example, invite a friend hiking, fishing, or for a round of golf. You’ll knock out all 3 at once, and be thinking more clearly as a result.

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Feel happier by holding hands!

07 Tuesday Apr 2020

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There’s a scientific reason you hold your partner’s hand to express love, or your child’s hand when they’re scared: Because skin-to-skin contact produces the bonding hormone oxytocin. Psychologists at DePauw University say skin contact also causes a calming drop in blood pressure and heart rate in BOTH of you. So, next time you need to feel calmer or happier or think a loved one does, grab their hand and give it a squeeze.

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How to feel calm quickly!

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

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People who listen to crashing ocean waves feel a lot calmer in 7 minutes. It’s down to something called the “biophilia hypothesis” – our innate connection to living things that we find reassuring and soothing. It explains our desire to care for animals and plants. And hearing ocean waves, rustling leaves, or a gurgling stream taps into that innate desire to be close to nature. Can’t get outdoors? Try one of these free apps: “Ocean Wave Sounds” or “Nature Space.”

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Lift your mood by engaging in a calming leisure activity!

05 Wednesday Feb 2020

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Want to de-stress? Do something soothing and hands-on, like knitting. British researchers surveyed over 35-hundred knitters – and the more frequently they sat down with needles and yarn, the lower their stress. Don’t want to learn a new skill? Try jigsaw puzzles. University of California at Merced researchers found people engaged in calming leisure activities reported a‑third less stress than those without a relaxing hobby. But the best ones create a finished product, whether it’s a completed puzzle or a knit hat. Because the accomplishment lifts our mood and reduces stress.

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Here’s a surprising stress reliever:

05 Thursday Dec 2019

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Look at something containing “fractals,” or repeating patterns… Like how a flower’s petals are all the same shape, getting bigger as they go from the center to the outer edge. There are also repeating patterns in leaves, seashells and ocean waves. Researchers found repeating patterns calming, so looking at a natural fractal for a few minutes can reduce stress by up to 60%! No natural fractals around? Try the app FRACT.AL or go to FractalFoundation.org.

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Feeling queasy from the heat?

02 Friday Aug 2019

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It’s not unusual to feel nauseous when the weather gets really hot. It happens when our body is trying to regulate our core temperature. But you can cut that queasy feeling by sniffing some lemon essential oil or a fresh cut lemon. Stanford University researchers say that when our body struggles to keep our core temperature lower than the temperature outside, it can over-stimulate the nerves in the area of the brain linked to nausea. But taking 6 slow, deep whiffs of lemon essential oil can calm those nerves… and make our stomach feel calmer in as little as a minute.

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Ice cream calms anxiety!

22 Friday Mar 2019

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Registered dietician Kristen Smith says one serving of ice cream provides 10% of the calcium we need daily. And calcium is proven to reduce tension and anxiety. Plus, the fat in ice cream helps our body absorb minerals and nutrients that help regulate mood. Which is why people who eat full-fat foods have lower rates of depression than people on low-fat diets. So how much ice cream can we have daily? One half-cup. That’s about the size of a tennis ball. If you’re watching your calories, get slow-churned ice cream. It contains more air, which means fewer calories per serving.

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To calm down, gaze at your Christmas tree for 30 seconds!

30 Thursday Nov 2017

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In one study from the University of Rochester, people who looked at something green felt significantly calmer and happier. It works because green is associated with peaceful, natural settings – which can help relieve anxiety and stress. Scientists even call it “the green effect,” and theorize that our brains have evolved to relax at the calming sight of trees and grass.

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Having a plant on your desk can do more than improve your mood and focus!

16 Thursday Nov 2017

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By afternoon, indoor air pollution reaches its peak. And according to Johns Hopkins, those chemicals increase brain inflammation – which produces feelings of anxiety. But if you have a plant on your desk, it’ll absorb the pollutants and pump out oxygen, leaving you feeling calmer.
One of the best plants you can get is a spider plant. It’s hard to kill – and within 24 hours, it’ll soak up 87% of airborne pollutants and carbon dioxide in the immediate area. It’ll also eliminate dangerous volatile organic compounds from the air – like benzene, ozone and formaldehyde – that are emitted by plastic, fabric, printers and cleaning solvents.

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