2017 is the year of self-care. From apps that remind you to drink water (and take a deep breath) to detoxing from everything from social media to sugar, we’re a generation fairly aware of what stresses us out — and what we can do to fix it.
In spite of our newfound obsession with wellness, studies find that the stress levels of Americans are at a record-breaking high. With stress seemingly around every corner–whether it be school, money, relationships, family– it can be tempting to fall back on old comforts.
If you’re a smoker, you may turn to cigarettes because you think they’re helping relieve your stress—problem is: they aren’t.
In fact, it’s been shown that smoking actually creates more stress than it dispels — a 2010 study from The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in the UK revealed that smokers experience higher levels of tension and stress between cigarette breaks, and those levels lower all around when they quit.
Learning how to deal with stress without lighting up can be difficult as first. Fortunately, in our wellness-centric society, it’s never been easier to de-stress and stay healthy — and many of these tips don’t require a dime.