With the rush of the Christmas season upon us, it's sometimes stressful to keep up the pace. We want to make everything perfect: See everyone we miss, decorate beautifully, and give the perfect gifts. But stress can take the fun out of our holidays, taking its toll on our physical health.

A few minutes a day dedicated to stress relief can make your holiday season more fun and better for your health. At King Chiropractic Hand & Foot, we like a two-pronged approach: Exercise will warm and stretch your muscles to reduce physical stress, and relation techniques will ease the tension we harbor from stress.

Exercises to Reduce Stress During the Holidays

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High-Energy Aerobic Exercise

Running, spinning, Zumba: Aerobic exercise is the stuff that releases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals associated with "runner's high." Not only will you let off steam to reduce stress, you'll increase your heart rate and get those endorphins flowing.

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Team Sports are Great to Reduce Holiday Stress

Beat stress with a double whammy of aerobic exercise and community. Tennis, volleyball, and pickup games of basketball or soccer are perfect. Try rounding up a team at work or drag the family out into the yard to reduce holiday stress.

See Related: Fun Ways to Stay Fit in Wilmington During Colder Months

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Martial Arts

Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi and other martial arts are recognized for many benefits. They are great exercise, but also require self-discipline and can make you feel safer. That's just right for stress relief this holiday season.

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Gentle Yoga

Yoga is a mind-body exercise that helps with physical relaxation. It's easy to work simple yoga postures into your daily routine during the holiday season for stress relief.

See Related: Why We Love These Wilmington NC Yoga Studios

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Spin Down with Cycling

Getting outdoors in some fresh air can really help clear your mind. A quick bike ride is a great workout even when you're busy, and who knows? Once you're out there, you may decide to pedal a little farther.

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Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Holiday Stress

Meditation for Relaxation

Twenty minutes a day of meditation has proven relaxation results, reducing holiday stress. There are lots of meditation programs online, or try this: Sit up straight with feet flat on the floor. Focus your attention on your breath. When distracting thoughts pop up, let them float away as you return your attention to your breath.

Take a Deep Breath

During difficult moments, try a deep breathing exercise. It will give you something to do, it will allow you to count to 10, and it will reduce stress. Regular practice of deep breathing is helpful, too, lowering heart rate and blood pressure.

Share for Stress Relief This Holiday Season

Talking to friends and family about difficulties is one of the best ways to let go of worrying about them. Keep connections strong and listen to others, too.

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Laugh Out Loud

You'll feel better instantly with a good laugh, and it's great for your body-it lowers cortisol, the stress hormone. Laugh with friends, watch a comedy program, or check out the cat videos on Facebook to reduce stress.

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Set a Holiday Playlist

Sing along to the car radio or tune the radio to Christmas tunes for relation this holiday season. Music can lower blood pressure and reduce your heart rate and anxiety.

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If you need help with tension caused by stress or want to improve your performance, call King Chiropractic Hand & Foot in Wilmington at (910) 777-7228. We can help you feel better and get stronger, during this season and all year long. Happy holidays!