Women are very busy these days, as a matter of fact they have always been. And as women, we know that unfortunately, most of the time we don’t prioritize our health.

Let us think, for a second, what causes stress in our life? Well, if I say emotions and bad food choices, will you believe me? I am not sure, but it is true. To feel and look good we have to find balance in our lifestyle and in our body.

As we remember, cortisol, the hormone your body produces when you are stressed, increases your appetite and promotes inflammation, reducing the body’s sensitivity to metabolic hormones. To reduce cortisol levels and normalize your metabolism, you must relax.

No time to de-stress? Think again! You can lower your stress level in a second with these on-the-spot mood boosters.

Start laughing.

Studies show that even forced laughter lowers cortisol and blood pressure instantly.

Start singing.

Recent studies show that singing your favorite tunes is more beneficial than simply listening to them.

Call your friend or talk to your pet.

Study shows that making conversation with someone you care about causes the same kind of positive physiological changes that a massage does. To express your feelings and thoughts you can either call a friend or talk to your pet (pets are even better listeners).

Take a walk.

Some fresh air and moderate exercise can help clear your mind and frustration or anger.

Squeeze a squishy ball.

Start squeezing something, such as a squishy ball, to work away your tension.

Have some Dark Chocolate

Studies show that Dark Chocolate (70-75% of cocoa and higher) not only low blood pressure and clear the arteries, but also improves mood by boosting serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. Take a piece of dark chocolate, close your eyes and relax.

If we don’t take care of ourselves, nobody will, but if something happens to us, who will take care of our children, our family? Studies show that more than 800.000 people a day take time off work because of a stress related illnesses. Let us be stress smart.