Nowdays, people are getting more and more concerned with the environment. We all worry about what we put in our body and on our skin since no one wants to put chemicals in their body. We try to buy organic and locally grown produce. One thing that not everybody realizes is what effect chronic stress can have on our health and our looks. Chronic stress can lead to many health problems including premature aging. Keep reading to learn what an anti-aging expert, Jackie Silver, uses to relieve stress and keep her skin looking young and beautiful.
It has been proven that chronic stress can cause premature aging. Elissa Epel, Ph.D., and her colleagues from the University of California, San Francisco’s psychiatry department found that while hormonal changes are a normal part of aging, chronic stress can alter the body’s delicate hormonal balance. You’re probably familiar with stress-relieving techniques such as yoga and deep breathing, but why not try something different? I recently spent a week at Rancho La Puerta spa in Tecate, Mexico, where I had the opportunity to try some new things. Among them – bird watching. Bird watching may not be the first thing you think of for relaxation, but it can be an excellent way to relieve stress. Not only does spotting the myriad varieties of birds let you enjoy the calming effects of communing with nature, but the birds’ songs, chirps, warbles, tweets and twitters can relax you as well.
Birdwatching - Image from Wikipedia
Aging Backwards Bird Watching Tips:
Go where the birds are. Not sure where to start looking for birds? Try the Top 200 North American Birding Hot Spots website by Peter W. Thayer.
Get some binoculars. Look for binoculars with “image stabilization” to keep them from shaking because, chances are, you’ll be looking at the birds from a distance. While you’re at it, you may want to get a digital recorder that you can attach to your binoculars, such as RememBird. Weighing less than two ounces and using a single AAA battery, it allows you to whisper into it without ever taking your eye off the bird.
Familiarize yourself. These days, you don’t even need to buy a bird book to learn about the various species of birds. AvianWeb.com has a comprehensive index from A to Z that not only features photos of the birds for easy identification, but also gives encyclopedic explanations about each type.
There are many other ways of stress relief. Pick something that you enjoy, but do it consistantly and regularly. You can just go for a walk in your neighbouhood or try a yoga class that’s offered locally. Some people choose a hobby, like crafts or a book reading club. Whatever you do, just make it fun and enjoyable. Your skin and your health will thank you.
