Ladies, if you’re trying to get pregnant…

07 Wednesday Nov 2018

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babies, baby, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, fertility, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, mental wellness, pregnancy, pregnant, relax, stress, University of Louisville

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…you’ve gotta get a handle on your stress! Because researchers from the University of Louisville found that women under constant stress are 45% LESS likely to conceive. And it’s especially important to chill out when you’re ovulating – about 14 days into your cycle. The experts found that, during peak ovulation time, women who reported the highest levels of stress registered a significant drop in fertility. The doctors say this is a wake-up call to patients and doctors, that mental wellness is very important for women trying to get pregnant.

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What can a museum do for you?

25 Thursday Oct 2018

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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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Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night?

24 Wednesday Oct 2018

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bed, bedtime, can't sleep, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, insomnia, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, melatonin, read a book, relax

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Then start getting ready for bed about 30 minutes before you plan to turn in.
Psychologists say that creating a soothing bedtime routine will help your body associate these actions with impending sleep… and will help trigger your brain’s production of the sleep hormone, melatonin. So, whatever helps you slow down and relax, do it. Whether you meditate, take a warm bath, or curl up with a good book.

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Feeling stressed?

23 Tuesday Oct 2018

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Look out a window. Researchers at the University of Washington found the view outside is far more soothing – and lowers a person’s heart rate further than plopping in front of the TV. But there’s a catch: It has to be a view of nature. If you’re looking at a cityscape of buildings, traffic, and crowds of pedestrians, instead of flowers, trees or a burbling fountain, it’s not going to lower your stress.

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Here’s some intel for your next 5K, 10K, half marathon or full marathon:

13 Thursday Sep 2018

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10K, 5K, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, marathon, race, relax, run, running, squint, squinting, sunglasses, tension, win the race

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Wear sunglasses. You’ll not only look cool, you’ll stop squinting and relax your face. Doing that will set off a chain reaction… and you’ll end up relaxing your neck, shoulders and upper body. That’s according to marathon running coach Andrew Kastor. He says that even a tiny bit of tension in your upper body can throw off your form, which means you won’t stride as powerfully. And tight muscles work harder and use more energy than relaxed ones – so you’ll burn out more quickly. So wear some shades and leave everyone in your dust.

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If you’re feeling anxious, swing by a playground and hop on a swing.

11 Tuesday Sep 2018

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anxiety, anxious, brain, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, hammock, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, relax, rocking, rocking chair, swing, swinging, University of Miami

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Or if you have a porch swing, rocking chair or hammock, that’ll do the trick, too. Then spend 2 minutes swinging, rocking or swaying. The repetitive motion puts the nervous system into a more relaxed state and calms the amygdala… the brain region linked to stress and anxiety. And swinging is so powerful, the University of Miami says it can reduce the output of stress hormones by 25% for 2 hours. Just from 2 minutes of swinging, rocking or swaying.

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Stop stress eating!

21 Tuesday Aug 2018

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Why do we eat so much when we’re stressed?
Because we can’t taste things as well! Now, 90% of us admit to stress eating – but stress suppresses our ability to taste. So we eat more – trying to taste our food! So when you’re stressed, reach for something spicy or strong tasting, like a pickle. Or, relax first without food. Take a walk, calm down, and when you eat, your taste buds will be functioning more normally and you’ll eat less.

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Here’s the best way to fight stress, and feel calmer:

25 Wednesday Jul 2018

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Grab a pen, and write your worries on a piece of paper. Then, crumple it up – and toss it into the nearest wastebasket. Psychologists say this can ease the stress and strain because our brain links the act of tossing out our worries on paper – with eliminating actual negative thoughts inside our brain. This leaves us feeling calm and relaxed – and ready to move on, worry‑free.

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Are you going on a plane soon? Take THIS with you!

12 Thursday Jul 2018

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anxiety, chew gum, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, flight, flying, gum, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, jaw, plane, relax, stress

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On your next plane flight, bring some gum! The chewing stimulates saliva – and the extra swallowing helps equalize the pressure between your inner and outer ear. Plus, we tend to hold a lot of tension in our jaw – and chewing gum releases it. It also boosts blood flow to your brain and reduces levels of stress hormones. So if you have any flying anxiety, you’ll feel more relaxed.

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Here’s a way to relax…

07 Monday May 2018

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…and solve your stinky foot problem: Fill a foot bath with hot water – drop in a black tea bag – and soak those smelly puppies of yours for 15 to 20 minutes. The hot water will dilate your blood vessels helping you relax… and the tannins in the tea act like an astringent, killing the bacteria that make your feet stink.

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Tag Archives: relax

Ladies, if you’re trying to get pregnant…

What can a museum do for you?

Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night?

Feeling stressed?

Here’s some intel for your next 5K, 10K, half marathon or full marathon:

If you’re feeling anxious, swing by a playground and hop on a swing.

Stop stress eating!

Here’s the best way to fight stress, and feel calmer:

Are you going on a plane soon? Take THIS with you!

Here’s a way to relax…