The Benefits of Smiling

There is nothing like seeing the smile of a friend or loved one. It gives us a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. We feel better when we smile at others, too. It brightens our day and the day of those around us. Did you know that there are also health benefits to smiling? Oh yes! Not only does it require fewer muscles to smile than to frown but it helps keep us healthy. Here are a few health benefits than can be gleaned through the simple act of smiling.

• Smiling makes us more attractive. Let's face it, who wants to talk to a frowning, scowling person? Smiles are far more inviting and makes us more approachable. Give it a try!
• Smiling changes our mood. Next time you are feeling down in the dumps, try smiling. It will raise your spirits and when that happens, things can turn around for you.
• Smiling is contagious. It really is. Try it. Next time you are in a room with friends or family, smile a bright sunny smile. I betcha others will start smiling more, too.
  
• Smiling relieves stress. This really goes back to the idea of smiling boosting our mood. Same concept. Smiling makes us feel happier and being happy releases more endorphins that help us manage stress better.
• Smiling lowers blood pressure. When you smile, there is a measurable drop in blood pressure. Don't believe it? Give it a try. Use a blood pressure monitor and write down your pre-smile pressure. Now, smile for one minute and take your blood pressure. I betcha it's lower!
• Smiling can help boost your immune system. This could be because when you smile, your body is more relaxed and being relaxed is less taxing on your body. This helps stave off colds and the flu.
  
• Smiling helps you stay positive. Try this test: Smile. Now think of something negative and see if you can hold that smile. It's hard to do!! When we smile, our body is sending a message to our brain saying that everything is a-okay! That's much better, don't you agree?

Some of the best ways to put a smile on your face are to spend time being with the people you love and doing the things that you enjoy. Take time out to watch a TV show that you find funny. Laughter really IS good medicine! Reflect on happy memories by flipping through photos. And one of the things that helps me smile is being with my dogs. Pets can do so much to brighten up your life and they are an endless source of smiles and laughter.

Hope this helps make you smile! Remember - we all have plenty to smile about. Focus on those things and it will make your days that much happier. Until next time, keep it clean!!

Under Pressure!!

Aside from being an AWESOME Queen and David Bowie song, being "under pressure" is a drag and, unfortunately, it's part of everyone's life at some time. Pressures at home, work and school can have a detrimental effect on your health. Luckily, there are ways to manage the stress in your life (because, let's face it, there is ALWAYS going to be SOME stress no matter how hard we try to eliminate it). The best place to start is at the beginning - what is causing your stress?
Once you figure that out, you will be able to learn healthy ways to reduce and alleviate stress.
Sometimes it's pretty clear where stress is coming from. Major life changes (the death of a loved one, marriage, the arrival of a new baby) can bring on stress and tension. Prolonged stress can wreak havoc on your body causing rapid heartbeats, headaches, stiff neck/shoulders, back pain, stomach upset and may lead to a weakened immune system, high blood pressure and a list of other detrimental health problems. We all know the signs of being stressed out but do you know how to manage or relieve your stress? Here are a few ways that I personally have found to be effective:

• Keep a journal. Write down those negative thoughts to get them out of your head! Imagine the stress traveling from your mind, down your arm and through your pen onto the paper. Once it's on the paper, let the stressful thoughts go and do your best to not revisit them.
• Exercise regularly. Even taking a quick 20 minute walk around your neighborhood can do WONDERS for improving your overall sense of well-being. Give this one a try - it's quick, easy and really helps.
• Do something you enjoy. Doing volunteer work, gardening, painting, coloring in a coloring book or partaking in any hobby that makes you smile is a great way to reduce stress.
• Let the feelings out! Talk, laugh or cry with someone you trust.
• Ask for help. Sometimes we take on too many things and don't like to say no to people and this causes us to feel overwhelmed and stressed. If you have too much on your plate, ask for help.
  
• Speak up. Not talking about your concerns and/or needs creates stress. Learn to express yourself in a thoughtful manner so that those concerns are released instead of keeping them bottled up.
  
• Learn to relax. Activities like yoga, tai chi and meditation are known to lower blood pressure and reduce stress. Can't hurt to try, right?
• And lastly, when all else fails......LAUGH!!! In the end, sweating over the small things just bogs us down. Why not laugh them away? Put on a silly movie, get a friend to tell you a funny joke or remember a time when you did something sooooo silly that you can't help but laugh. Laughter IS the best medicine!

Hope you will give these pointers a try next time you are feeling some tension in your world. Until next time, keep it clean and don't forget to LAUGH!