stress

Grip Strength

Multiple research shows a correlation between overall health markers and grip strength. There seems to be a particular correlation with cardiovascular health (based on a study of 140,000 people over 4 years). Some researchers think testing grip strength might be a cheap, easy way to assess general heart health.

This matters because grip strength often starts to diminish between the age of 50-55 (I don’t know about you, but that sounds young to me). And Millennials have lost grip strength compared to their adult counterparts from the 1980s. This loss is more pronounced in men than women, but both have lost their grip. (Note: the research on this did not indicate they are concerned this is causing heart issues in adults today, more just that as a population we do less manual labor.)

The real issue is that grip strength has such practical applications in life, so if and when you lose it, you notice it daily. If your grip strength is still good you might take for granted using a fork, pumping gas, vacuuming, lifting a water jug, or opening a jar of pickles, but all these tasks require grip strength.

Grip strength is interconnected with wrist health and forearm strength. So […]

Grip StrengthMaggie Downie2023-09-28T12:46:41-04:00

Relieve Stress with these 3 Tips

Sometimes when we have been stressed for a prolonged period of time it can start to feel normal and we forget that we have tools to relieve stress that are available anytime we need them. The best part is those tools to relieve stress can be free. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but they can be helpful if we can tap into them.

Breathing to Relieve Stress

Diaphragmatic breathing (a big, deep belly breath) is known to lower blood pressure and heart rate, ultimately relieving stress. But many of us don’t naturally take a deep breath. Take a moment to try to focus on breathing into your belly and letting it expand versus breathing into your chest and letting your shoulders rise. Try placing one hand on your stomach and another other on your chest. When you inhale you are looking to feel your stomach rise before your chest.

Or count your breath pattern. You can also pick a variety of rhythms, but one that has been researched is to inhale for a count of five and exhale for a count of five. Play with that pattern until you feel yourself start to relax.

Mediation Calms the Mind & Can Relieve Stress

Meditation […]

Relieve Stress with these 3 TipsMaggie Downie2021-01-11T14:59:00-05:00

Feeling on edge?

Have you been feeling on edge since mid-March? Hmmm, I wonder why? Perhaps you are human. We’ve been dealing with a lot in the world lately between COVID, loss of work, black lives matter, and a general sense that we don’t know what the future holds or how to bring about changes we may desire. And, we’ve been going through a lot of it in some degree of isolation—never a good thing for humans. We are social animals. Even if you are one of those people that say you prefer cats and dogs to your fellow humans, you need people and support.

Does Rest Still Work?

I’m a big believer in a rest day from exercise, but I’ve found that it hasn’t been an option. Prior to COVID I could take a rest day. If I took three or four in a row, I’d start to get antsy. (Matt might use the word grumpy.) But now, if I don’t exercise one day, by midafternoon I’m not in a good place. Movement is such a useful tool for me. It makes me feel better. It helps my sanity. Moving boost my spirits. But perhaps […]

Feeling on edge?Maggie Downie2020-06-19T14:16:27-04:00

Stress Relief

In the last month have you found it hard to make a decision or have you wanted to curl up and stay in bed all day and imagine COVID-19 doesn’t exist? Maybe you’ve had a sense of drive and told yourself multiple times that you are okay even though you haven’t had a great night’s sleep in weeks. If you’ve had any of those experiences you are totally normal and having a very natural stress response. But what can you do to get stress relief?

Under Pressure & in Need of Stress Relief

Most people I know put a lot of pressure on themselves. We can push ourselves at work, as parents, as partners. Sometimes we feel like we are not doing enough even though the day is full. Now add quarantine to the to-do list when no one has the answers and somehow there is just more pressure to do more and be more. We tell ourselves we need to learn to slow down at this is the time, but in reality everyone is learning how to homeschool and trying to save the careers we spent a lifetime working toward.

As I saw […]

Stress ReliefMaggie Downie2020-05-11T16:20:42-04:00

Slow down to go fast

It’s the most wonderful and most busy time of year. Once Thanksgiving hits it can feel like a mad dash to the New Year. There can be so many wonderful, generous, magical moments if we stop to notice them whizzing by in a blur.

Slow Down to Go Fast

Lately, I keep hearing different variations of the same sentiment: slow down to go fast. Personally, I’m not sure I’m good at following that motto, but I believe it is important to consider. In a rush I often create more work for myself. This time of year can be especially hard with the added tasks of cooking, baking, getting presents, wrapping presents, and forcing your friends to go caroling with you in the freezing cold—all the usual stuff.

During the holiday season, one of my favorite things to do is to stop, sit wrapped in a blanket, turn off all the normal lights, and look at the white lights on the tree or in my Christmas village. It’s possible I’m really an 80-year-old woman. I gaze at all the ornaments and remember the people who gave them to me and the stories they conjure.

It’s a […]

Slow down to go fastMaggie Downie2019-12-20T11:03:25-05:00