stress

If you're not the best in the morning, I feel your pain. While some people are naturally wired early birds who effortlessly catch the morning worm, some people just aren't. Here are five easy tips to de-stress your morning routine and make things a little easier.

1. Pack your bag the night before: Laying things out before going to bed is a tiny step that can be a huge help. Packing both your work and gym bag the night before takes just a few minutes, but it's one less thing you'll have to scramble to do in the a.m.
2. Don't start with the snooze: We know that starting your day by hitting the snooze button is not ideal for your morning routine. It may be difficult at first to get into the swing of things without snoozing, but the benefit is starting your day less groggy and in a better mood. Plus, the extra minutes you have to yourself will make the morning remarkably easier!
3. Drink plenty of water: Since you've been a sleeping beauty, your body needs to rehydrate! Leaving a big glass of water next to your bed is a great habit to get into so you can just chug away when you first wake up.

Keep reading for two more ways to make your morning better.

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to not stress, the characteristically quiet weeks of January are a good time to start working on a few habits that will help you manage this when things become more hectic. Here are five habits to learn now so you can beat stress when it starts to creep up on you.

1. Streamline your morning: If you normally start the day behind, devote some time to learn how to make getting ready in the morning a quick and painless affair. Pack your work, lunch, and gym bags the night before so you're not frantically packing in the morning, and start training yourself to stop relying on the snooze button. And when you wake up, think of something positive — it helps to begin a busy day on the right foot. Read more tips on having a stress-free morning here.
2. Schedule tasks: If you're feeling overwhelmed when it comes to your to-do list, schedule them out on your calendar. That way you can group them in a way that makes sense, tackle a few during your lunch break, or postpone them until the weekend when you have more time. Seeing them scheduled throughout your week can make your tasks seem less daunting, which can help reduce stress.
3. Make time for fun: It can be hard to synch up with friends and family, especially when there's so much to do, but hanging out doesn't have to take up a lot of time. Schedule a lunch with a friend who works close by, or block some time on the weekend for a friend you haven't seen in awhile. Enjoying social time with friends and family reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol to make you more productive overall.

Read on for the rest of the list.

Coffee may have its place as a healthy beverage, but green tea is often touted as the miracle drink for your mug. That's especially true with busy holiday schedules; here's why you should drink the green stuff regularly this holiday season.

Weight-loss wonder: For many, the holiday season is the worst time for maintaining diet goals. During the season of indulgences, then, every little bit helps. Drinking green tea regularly has been shown to help suppress appetite and increase your metabolism — both of which can help you save or burn a few calories while you celebrate this season.

Sickness prevention: Nonstop shopping, traveling, and socializing can mean the combination of cold-inducing pathogens and a weakened immune system, so give yours a boost with green tea. Several studies have shown that green tea has antiviral properties; one study found that taking green tea catechin capsules helped prevent health-care workers from catching the flu, and another found that Japanese schoolchildren who drank green tea for six days a week or more were less likely to catch the flu.

Stress relief: Curling up with a warm beverage can be relaxing, especially when the rest of your day is hectic, but drinking too much caffeine has its downsides. Too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, stress, and trouble sleeping, so if you find yourself running out for a coffee break or having friends over for a cup several times a day, switch to green tea. Not only does green tea contain only half the amount of caffeine than a normal cup of coffee, but many people also say green tea's fresh, grassy flavor helps them relax.

It's coming: holiday travel will be here before you know it. Braving long lines and cramped seating situations can take a toll on your health. Come armed and ready to fight germs and stress-causing situations by traveling with these essentials.

1. A reusable water bottle: Traveling, especially if you're flying, is dehydrating. Don't let it compromise your immune system; travel with a leak-proof reusable water bottle, and fill up at any water fountain while you're on the go.
2. Healthy snacks: A grumbling stomach can talk you into an unhealthy eating decision, so keep your energy up and your diet on track by carrying a few healthy snacks, like an all-natural granola bar or a container of hummus and veggies. Get more healthy snack ideas here.
3. Green tea bags: Green tea has been shown to help boost your immune system, so keep it handy while you're braving travel germs. Bringing your own green tea bags makes it easy for you to enjoy a cup on the go; just request a cup of hot water while you're on the plane or stopped at a gas station.
4. Running shoes: Exercise relieves stress, boosts immunity, and helps counteract that heaping Thanksgiving plate. Bringing running shoes wherever you go means you can go for a walk, run, or hike whenever the mood strikes.

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

How to respond to stressful situations without heading to the fridge!

By Melissa Roberson, Prevention

If we could all try to learn healthier habits in a stress-free bubble (real life, in other words), the going would be a lot easier. Who hasn’t received an irritating email and had a sudden urge for a bag of chips, not baked?

When it comes to weight loss, stress reduction is extremely important, according to Pam Peeke, MD, MPH, and author of the just-published The Hunger Fix. "When life’s stresses hit, you must learn to adapt and adjust without resorting to self-destructive habits — your False Fixes," she writes.

"Studies have shown," writes Peeke, "that forming what is referred to as an implementation intention (‘If I encounter situation X, then I will perform behavior Y') increases your probability of carrying out your goals.

"These problem-solving skills require creativity, and by flexing those cognitive and creative muscles . . . you’ll also exercise and thus strengthen your PFC [prefrontal cortex], giving you a Healthy Fix that will make you more creative! Definition of a virtuous cycle."

Thirteen Foods That Fight Stress

Learn how to fight stress eating after the break!

To make Monday through Friday run more smoothly, tweak your weekend routine and take advantage of the extra free time. Saturday and Sunday tend to fly by, but if you learn to make the most of those hours, you'll be able to tackle extra tasks and set yourself up for an easier work week. Follow these three tips for a productive weekend and prepare to reap the benefits all week long:

• Schedule a time slot for errands. Spend five to 10 minutes each Friday figuring out which tasks you need to check off by Sunday night. Make a list and plan to take care of them in one day so that you'll have at least one full day to have fun and fill however you'd like. Once you've finished brainstorming and marked the to-dos on your calendar, move the chores to the back of your mind and focus on enjoying your days off.
• Keep up your routine. If you wake up at 6 a.m. throughout the week, don't sleep until 11 a.m. on weekends. Give your body a break and stick fairly close to your standard sleep schedule. Same goes for your diet: don't shock your body with excess food or alcohol or you'll risk getting sick. Just because it's Saturday doesn't mean you should toss your healthy habits aside, so keep your mind and body in shape by taking your vitamins, eating balanced meals, and staying hydrated.
• Chill out, guilt-free. The best thing you can do to kick-start a productive work week? Relax. Use your time off to cut yourself some slack and enjoy the things you love. It's important to maintain a work-life balance, so remember to reserve at least one day each weekend to sit back and unwind.