Having a lousy day at work?

20 Monday May 2019

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

Tags

anxiety, anxious, bad, bad day, bad day at work, bad news, boss, comedy, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, depressed, depression, friends, funny tv show, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, news, nightly news, reruns, Seinfeld, stress, stress levels, stress relief

bad-day-at-work-wp

It could be due to the lousy, depressing news you watched last night! Researchers found negative media stories increase stress levels – especially among women – and make us more anxious during future nerve-wracking events… like an upcoming face-to-face with the boss. So experts say to skip the negative news at night – and watch a “Friends” rerun instead.

Follow me on Facebook

Kill the push notifications!

20 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

cell, cell phone, cellphone, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, push notifications, stress, stress levels

push-notifications-wp

You know those push notifications on your phone? They spike stress levels. We never know when one is coming, so we’re constantly in a state of hyper-vigilance. And the WORST push notifications are those from a text or email from work. According to the Future Work Center in London, an occupational psychology institute, seeing a work message on your own time takes you out of the moment and boosts psychological pressure. So kill those push notifications on your phone, otherwise you’ll walk around stressed 24/7.

Follow me on Facebook

Stretch for energy!

16 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

anxiety, anxious, confident, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, energized, energy, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, starfish, starfish pose, stress levels, stretch, stretching, testosterone, wake up, X

stretch-starfish1-wp

Try this to start your day with more energy. Before you get out of bed, lie on your back, and stretch out your arms and legs as if you’re making the letter “X.” It’s called the “starfish pose,” and a Harvard study found that holding that posture for 2 minutes raises testosterone levels, while lowering stress levels. So you’ll feel confident and energized, but not anxious, and start your day out right.

Follow me on Facebook

After a long, stressful day – feel free to plop down on the couch and watch TV.

29 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bad day, bad day at work, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, favorite tv show, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, meditate, relax, relaxing, stress levels, stressed out, stressful day, University of Georgia, watch tv, Yoga

relax-tv-wp

A study from the University of Georgia found that people’s stress hormones were slashed after watching their favorite shows. Sure, meditation and yoga can also lower stress levels – but unless you’re really “in” to those things, feeling the pressure to do something “healthy” can prevent your stress from dropping. So, if you’re really into certain TV shows – don’t feel guilty anymore – enjoy! Because this study found that getting absorbed in the plot and characters of a show takes your mind off your own stresses, which can go a long way toward helping you relax.

Follow me on Facebook

Who doesn’t like a good massage?

06 Wednesday Sep 2017

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

anxiety, anxious, bloat, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, dog, dogs, give your dog a massage, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, massage, massaging, reduce anxiety, reduce bloating, relax muscles, stiff, stress, stress levels, zigzag

massage-dog-wp

Well, your dog wants one, too! And it can be really good for them.
Massaging can relieve anxiety and lower stress levels in anxious dogs. So, massage your dog’s head, neck and tips of the ears with light pressure, and a slow but consistent pace.
For digestive issues: Massage your dog’s back and belly. That’ll help your dog’s stomach muscles relax, and reduce gas and bloating.
And for older dogs, massaging their back legs can help reduce stiffness and improve flexibility.
Overall, vets say that massage stimulates circulation and lowers tension so effectively, that a lot of them use massage to calm dogs after surgery. And it’s easy to give your dog a calming massage at any time, whether they’re standing, sitting or lying down. Just use the “zigzag touch.” Simply spread your fingers wide, and make zigzags along your dog’s sides, between the hips and shoulders.

Follow me on Facebook

Have you ever felt hungry after an argument?

31 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

appetite, argue, argument, blow your diet, chips, depressed, depression, gain weight, ghrelin, Greek yogurt, high-fat, high-sugar, hunger, hungry, ice cream, Psychological Science, stress, stress levels, stressed out, vegetables, weight gain

stress-level-arguement-wp

Research in Psychological Science found that as our stress levels rise, our body produces more of the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin, which boosts hunger. And lots of studies have shown when we’re stressed out, we’re more likely to reach for high-fat, high-sugar treats, than something healthy…… which significantly raises our risk for weight gain and depression. And while we can’t change how our body reacts to stress, we can change the foods we keep on hand. So, stock up on more vegetables and Greek yogurt, instead of chips and ice cream! That way, you’re less likely to blow your diet after your next argument.

A messy kitchen can make people eat more.

09 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

clean, clean the kitchen, clutter, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cookies, Cornell University, diet, eat more, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, kitchen, messy, messy kitchen, snack, snacks, stress, stress levels, tidy, visual clutter

messy-kitchen-eat-cookies-wp

Cornell University found that people ate TWICE as many cookies in a messy kitchen, compared to a tidy one. That’s because visual clutter raises our stress levels. And when we’re stressed, we’re more likely to turn to unhealthy snacks for comfort – like cookies. So, the first step to taking control of your diet may be to clean up the kitchen.

Wait before having your first cup of coffee…

14 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

90 minutes, brain, caffeine, coffee, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, energy boost, energy levels, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, morning coffee, Steven Miller, stress, stress hormones, stress levels, wake up

coffee-morning-90-minutes-wp

No matter what time you wake up – wait 90 minutes – THEN have coffee. Psychologist Steven Miller is from BrainFacts.org – and he says when you wake up, your stress hormones will start rising. So drinking coffee right out of the gate is a waste of good caffeine. Because we’re already on a natural cortisol upswing, so you won’t feel the energy boost. But after 90 minutes, those stress hormones will start leveling off. That’s when a dose of caffeine will pay off, raising your energy levels back up again. So remember, wake up time – plus 90 minutes – equals coffee.

Are you getting enough exercise at work each day?

25 Monday Apr 2016

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, desk, energy, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, lunch, pace, power-walk, productivity, stress, stress levels, take a walk, University of Birmingham, walk, walk at work, walking, work

walk-after-lunch-at-work-wp

After you eat lunch at your desk – take a walk. Research from the University of Birmingham shows a 30-minute post-lunch walk immediately improves stress levels, energy and productivity. And you don’t have to power-walk…going whatever pace you want will do the trick.

Can’t sleep at night?

30 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by ConnieSellecca in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bed, bedtime, can't sleep, change the sheets, clutter, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, deep sleep, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, make your bed, relax, sleep, stress levels

Make your bed in the morning! A survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that deeper sleepers tend to make their bed every day. They also change their sheets at least once a week, and keep their bedroom tidier than those who are poor sleepers. The link? A clean, comfortable bedroom allows your brain to relax. A cluttered bedroom raises stress levels and delays sleep.

ConnieSelleccaBlog

~ Intelligence for Your Life

Tag Archives: stress levels

Having a lousy day at work?

Kill the push notifications!

Stretch for energy!

After a long, stressful day – feel free to plop down on the couch and watch TV.

Who doesn’t like a good massage?

Have you ever felt hungry after an argument?

A messy kitchen can make people eat more.

Wait before having your first cup of coffee…

Are you getting enough exercise at work each day?

Can’t sleep at night?