veryone is familiar with the major holidays in the United States, like Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. After all, you probably get the day off work or away from school for the big ones. But there's a good chance you aren't aware of many lesser-known holidays. For instance, November 5 is National Love Your Red Hair Day, while February 5 is National Clam Chowder Day. April 4, meanwhile, is National Hug a Newsperson Day (we suggest you get permission first).
You may not have red hair to love, a taste for chowder or access to a newsperson who's willing to be embraced, but there’s one relatively obscure holiday we can all celebrate: August 15, National Relaxation Day.
Five Tips for Relaxing the Right Way
Founded by 9-year-old Sean Moeller in 1985, National Relaxation Day started when the fourth-grader told the Des Moines Register, “People don’t think enough about relaxing. They think too much about working, and that’s not good.”
We agree with Sean 100%—after all, chronic stress can be "toxic,” according to Matthew Miller, Ph.D., Manager of Behavior Science, Johnson & Johnson Health and Wellness Solutions. In fact, stress can negatively affect your health in myriad ways—by elevating your blood pressure, for instance, or contributing to weight gain.
But when you’re in the middle of a stressful situation, it’s not always easy to make smart decisions for your health. That's why we've put together some tips to help you manage stress and stay relaxed and healthy—even when life puts the pressure on.
Get Better At Sleeping
It’s not just about sleeping more, it’s also about sleeping better. In fact, the majority of Americans aren't great at prioritizing sleep, even though 65% believe it contributes to their effectiveness the next day. Need some guidance? Check out these five useful tips for better winks each night.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
It might seem like exercise is the opposite of relaxation, but just a little activity can increase the quality of your downtime. Concerned that you don't have time to fit exercise into your busy schedule? Check out the Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout® App—it's a fast and easy way to start burning calories.
Make The Most Of Your Employee Benefits
Whether it's upping your 401(k) contribution, being reimbursed for gym memberships or scheduling free preventative health services, you should try to get the most out of your benefits. Just think about how many worries you could shed when you're not stressed about your finances or your health!
Take Advantage Of Simple, Science-Based Stress-Management Tools
Sure, a spa weekend in Napa Valley would be nice, but a vacation isn't always a ready solution whenever stressful situations occur. Try these free options to stay consistently calmer until you can book your next vacation.
Know Your Energy Pitfalls
Modern life moves fast, and sometimes residual tiredness might even seem like an inevitable side effect. But fatigue affects us differently at different stages of life—and we each have unique energy pitfalls. Want to get a better handle on yours, and learn how to avoid them? Check out this free diagnostic tool from the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute.
It can be hard to find ways to unwind, unplug and make time for relaxation, but with these five tips you should have an easier time kicking bad habits, being more mindful and generally getting into the wellness groove. At Johnson & Johnson, we're committed to having the world's healthiest workforce, which means helping more than 100,000 employees achieve their personal bests when it comes to health and wellness by 2020. If health, wellness and mindfulness are top priorities for you—and you want to work for an innovative company that shares your values—check out all of the opportunities available to join us today.