CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 11/18/15

Exercise can take the edge off of holiday stress

By Bridget Marie Thompson

For children, there’s hardly a downside to the holidays; toys, treats and time away from school are enough to bring on dreams of sugarplums. For adults, the holidays can conjure a string of mental to-do lists and tension that make those sugarplums feel more like a sugar crash.

University of Georgia experts have some strategies to make the holidays feel a little less hectic.

You may not unwrap a My Little Pony play set or baseball glove, but physical activity can be the gift that makes this holiday season the best yet, said Bryan McCullick, UGA professor of kinesiology.

“When an individual is feeling stress around the holidays, it helps to get regular doses of physical activity that can help thwart the not-so-good products of stress that one feels not only in the brain, but in the body,” McCullick said.

Between travel, parties and errands, an extra busy holiday schedule can seem like a good reason to default on a regular exercise routine, so it’s important to create the time to be active.

Make a list. Check it twice.

Purposefully schedule time to move each day this season. Walk around the neighborhood to look at lights each night, jog in place while watching your favorite holiday movie or pull up a yoga class online and work out in your pajamas. Stay present this season through these kinds of activities, instead of being haunted by the ghost of Christmas Future.

As an added bonus, studies show exercise can help boost immunity, which could mean starting the New Year without a doctor’s appointment.

Give yourself the gift of self-compassion.

Don’t expect six-pack abs overnight. If it doesn’t take extravagant gifts to make you happy, the same expectations should apply to your exercise goals. A simple 20-minute walk will still offer amazing benefits.

Research shows that moderate exercise can produce both short-term and long-term mood-boosting effects.

“Moderate to vigorous physical activity releases endorphins, which are the naturally occurring chemicals in our body that mask pain and give us a sense of euphoria,” McCullick said.

Assembly not required.

Too often, adults also fall for the latest “toys.” There’s no fancy equipment (or any equipment) required to get fit and active.

It’s not the equipment that creates the mental and physical benefits of exercise. Consistency is key when it comes to gaining the full benefits. Pursuing an active lifestyle costs nothing. The great outdoors and your own body weight are all the equipment you need.

The ultimate gift is a clear mind and a healthy body. For more information about healthy lifestyles and how to promote physical activity, visit walkgeorgia.org.

Bridget Thompson is the public relations specialist for the University of Georgia's Walk Georgia program.

Authors:
Bridget Marie Thompson
Experts/Sources:
Maria Bowie
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
BabyEating CAES News
Early start, healthy futures: UGA Extension leads peanut allergy education 11/25/24 Emily Cabrera
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing peanut-containing products to infants as early as 4 to 6 months old, especially for children at high risk for allergies. But this information isn't reaching the public as it should. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Nutrition and Health Specialist Ali Berg is leading efforts to close this information gap.
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time to spend more of the holiday with guests, taking time ahead of the day to set expectations can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. CAES News
Need help managing stress this holiday season? Try these 3 tips from UGA Extension 11/21/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Much like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time allows you to spend more of the holiday with guests, setting expectations ahead of the celebration can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science.
Women play a vital role in rural American farming, but much of that work is "invisible," like raising children or household chores, according to a new UGA study. (Getty Images) CAES News
The women and stress behind rural farming in America 11/19/24 Leigh Hataway
Recent research from the University of Georgia suggests the unique stresses from farm life may be taking a toll on one of the pillars of the families that make your dinners possible: the women who keep farming families running. “If we don’t control our food sources, we don’t control our health and safety,” said Anna Scheyett, lead author of the study and a professor in UGA’s School of Social Work. “It’s a matter of national security that farmers survive in the United States. And one of the big factors in helping farms survive is women.”
Radon, an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., but it can be detected and mitigated with the help of local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices across the state. CAES News
UGA sponsoring radon poster contest for Georgia students 09/13/24 Rebecca Cantrell
Radon, an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., but it can be detected and mitigated with the help of local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service offices across the state. Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium in granite and rocky soils, so Georgia’s wealth of granite bedrock increases the chance of household radon for its residents.
A new UGA study found that individuals 65 and older are more than more than 10 times as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than people in the 18-to-24-year age bracket. (Getty Images) CAES News
Type 2 diabetes increased by almost 20% over a decade 08/22/24 Leigh Hataway
Type 2 diabetes increased by almost 20% between 2012 and 2022, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. The researchers found an increase in diabetes among all sociodemographic groups. But non-Hispanic Black people were particularly hard hit by the disease, with just under 16% of Black study participants reporting being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. More than 1 in 5 individuals aged 65 or older had the condition.