‘Tis the season to be merry — or not. Some like it and some do not. However you feel about the holidays, they will soon be upon us, and there is one thing that can help with the stress and/or distress.

“Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.” The Mayo Clinic

Exercise doesn’t have to be a rigorous boot camp class or a long run on the treadmill.  “Incidental” exercise has great benefits too:

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Park far away from a store in a parking lot, rather than driving around looking for the closest spot.
• Play some music and clean the house.  Window washing is great for the arms!
• Get a pedometer and aim to increase your steps each week.
• When on the phone, walk and talk.
• Spend half of your lunch break taking a walk outside.
• When watching television, get up during commercials and move.
• Emulate city-dwellers and walk to a restaurant or shop, if possible.
• If walking the dog is part of your daily routine, add a hill or an extra block to your route.
• Embrace the snow, shovel like you love it and remember “abs on” to support your lower back.

Beyond exercise, a microwave heating pad will relax stiff or tense muscles and may be just the thing to use after a workout or a stressful day.