Is it possible to SNIFF your stress away?

08 Thursday Jul 2021

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

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are you nervous?, are you stressed?, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, essential oil, eucalyptus, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, nervous, relax, relaxing, sniff, sniff eucalyptus essential oil, sniff stress away, stress, stressful

Yes, according to a study from Italy’s Orthopedic Institute. Researchers asked adults prepped for surgery to sniff essential oils. Those who smelled eucalyptus felt much calmer than those sniffing citrus, or plain unscented air. The reason? Eucalyptus or “gum” trees – contain a compound that cuts production of the stress hormone cortisol. And the benefits of eucalyptus kick in within FIVE MINUTES of your first whiff! So, next time you feel nervous, sniff your stress away with eucalyptus essential oil.

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If you’re stressed, try this side dish:

09 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

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Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, lower blood pressure, papaya, red peppers, stress, stressed, stressed out, vitamin C

A red pepper and papaya salad. People who eat foods high in vitamin C are better at handling stressful situations, like a test and public speaking. Vitamin C is known to lower blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol. And a cup of papaya has twice as much vitamin C as an orange, and red pepper has even more.

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Do you find it hard to unwind after work?

21 Thursday Nov 2019

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Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, cranky, de-stress, destress, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, stress, stress hormones, unwind, walk the dog, work

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Well, the lingering stress hormones, like cortisol, could make you cranky, and hurt your health in the long run. So, work-life balance expert Mary LoVerde recommends a “power hour” ritual to help you switch from work mode to home mode. So maybe you walk the dog and take a soothing shower. Or you change into sweats and start dinner if you find that relaxing. Just make your “power hour” a repetitive ritual, because planning something new every day will just ADD stress. LoVerde says rituals make it easier to wind down and relax. They also make you more mindful, so you’ll spend your time at home “in the moment,” instead of stressing about work.

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Reduce stress by listening to this music – LIVE!

16 Friday Aug 2019

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classical music, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, heart rate, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, live music, lower heart rate, music, reduce stress, stress

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What can reduce stress in everybody – young, old, men, and women? Hearing classical music played LIVE! A study in the journal Public Health found people who attended a concert had significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. And that was even true for people who didn’t usually go to concerts or weren’t familiar with the music being played. It’s partly because classical music has been shown to lower heart and breathing rates… and partly because experiencing the same thing with others makes us feel part of a community – and that social support reduces stress.

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To feel more energized in the morning:

25 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

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brain, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, ear plugs, earplugs, energized, energy, focus, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, morning, sleep, sleepy, tired

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Go to bed wearing earplugs! A joint study between British and Swedish researchers found people who feel foggy and slowed up in the morning probably aren’t producing enough cortisol, a natural brain-energizer that wakes us up, and heightens our alertness. But wearing earplugs to bed blocks low levels of overnight noise – like nearby traffic, or barking dogs. And research shows that when the quality of our sleep improves, our brain churns out more cortisol in the morning – giving us more focus and energy.

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Use coconut scents to relax!

10 Thursday Jan 2019

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aroma, candles, coconut, coconut candle, coconut lotion, Columbia University, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, lotion, stress

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If you find it hard to relax on your day off because you can’t stop worrying about the little things, try this: Rub on a little coconut-scented lotion, or light a coconut candle. Research at Columbia University found the aroma of coconut helps blood pressure return to normal after a stressful task. It also reduces the levels of the stress hormone cortisol by 24%. The reason? Because the smell of coconut stimulates the area of the brain that regulates mood.

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What can a museum do for you?

25 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

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art, art museum, calm, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, happy, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, Italy, IULM University, lower heart rate, Milan, museum, paintings, reduce stress, relax, relaxing, sculpture, stress free

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Sure, it can expose you to fine art – but it can also slash your stress by 60%! That’s according to IULM University in Milan, Italy. The researchers measured people’s levels of the stress hormone cortisol, before and after they visited a museum. And they found just spending a few minutes admiring paintings or sculpture dramatically reduced stress. Their cortisol dropped 60%! Plus, the study participants said they felt happier and calmer. It works because, when we’re looking at art, we’re in the moment. And Stanford psychologists say that looking at something awe-inspiring makes us more patient and unselfish, and it makes time seem to slow down. Art also fills us with positive emotions, which lower levels of inflammatory proteins, reducing stress and lowering our heart rate.

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Here’s a trick to help get rid of tension in 60-seconds:

03 Monday Sep 2018

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Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, face, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, scalp, stress hormone, tabla, tension, trick

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Close your eyes and tap your fingers all over your face and scalp, using both hands, just like you would if you were typing on a keyboard. Massage therapists call that technique “tabla playing” – after the traditional Indian percussion instrument. And it supposedly relaxes tense muscles and reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

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The importance of a high five at work!

17 Tuesday Jul 2018

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Berkeley, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, coworkers, high 5, high five, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, job, morale, oxytocin, productivity, reduce stress, stress, trust, work

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Wanna lift the morale at work – and improve your own mood? High five your coworkers. High fives release the trust hormone oxytocin and reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Experts from UC Berkeley say high fives promote bonding among coworkers, and increase trust and productivity.

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This may be the best way to fight colds and flu:

14 Thursday Jun 2018

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

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cold, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, flu, foot massage, foot rub, immune system, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, Miami, scalp massage

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A foot massage! University of Miami researchers say a 10-minute foot rub can boost levels of virus-attacking white blood cells by 25%. A daily foot rub also lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which weakens our immunity. If your partner isn’t into giving you a foot rub, a do-it-yourself 10-minute scalp massage can have the same effect.

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Tag Archives: cortisol

Is it possible to SNIFF your stress away?

If you’re stressed, try this side dish:

Do you find it hard to unwind after work?

Reduce stress by listening to this music – LIVE!

To feel more energized in the morning:

Use coconut scents to relax!

What can a museum do for you?

Here’s a trick to help get rid of tension in 60-seconds:

The importance of a high five at work!

This may be the best way to fight colds and flu: