Emotional & Physical Health, Plus A Giveaway

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.

This giveaway is now closed.

We all have those days, when we wake up cranky and disgruntled. Not only do our families try to avoid the resident black cloud, but our own bodies seem to rebel against the dark mood. Everyone seems to deal with some level of stress in their lives. Some people just do this better than others.

For me, stress and anxiety manifest themselves as a tight neck and shoulders, and a raging headache. It is as though someone turned a key to tighten all of the muscles in my upper body and then put a vise on my head. At that point, all I want to do is crawl back in bed and pull the covers over my head, which is rarely an option. Of course, others suffer from far worse ailments related to stress, such as ulcers, depression, and chronic pain. I can consider myself lucky.

While my emotional health certainly affects my physical health, I also find the reverse to be true. At times, when I my emotional reserves are low, all I want to do is sit in front of the TV and spoon my way through a pint of ice cream. This usually makes me feel worse in the end. I have found that I need a different strategy. Although it is the last thing I feel like doing when I am down in the dumps, I often strap on my running shoes and head outside for a little physical exertion and fresh air. There is something about breathing in mountain air, being outside when the streets are still quiet, and pumping my arms as I run that lifts my spirits. I could chalk it up to endorphins, but I give most of the credit to the overwhelming feeling of gratitude that washes over me.


When I return from my run, my to-do list has not disappeared, but I feel much more capable of dealing with it in a calm, rational manner. Now, that beats sitting on the couch and eating a pint of ice cream any day.



This giveaway is now closed.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

How do you boost your emotional health?

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This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
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You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

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