It’s no secret that the holidays can be a stressful time for many of us, whether we’re stressed out about paying end-of-the-year bills, springing for lavish gifts for family and friends, not to mention having relatives over for celebrations and gatherings that take effort and planning.

No wonder so many people feel stressed and anxious during this time of year. However, there are ways you can deal with and cope with your stress and anxiety, so you don’t end up becoming a Grinch this holiday season.

Tip #1: Exercise

Don’t put off exercising in lieu of working extra hours and especially don’t put exercise on the backburner in favor of binge-watching your favorite trash TV show. Make sure you get your workouts in. Go for a run or a hike, especially if you feel like stress is setting in. You’ll feel better about most things after a workout!

Tip #2: Don’t Over Do It

It might be tempting to create that all-elusive “Best Christmas Ever” but the reality is that nothing is perfect. You might spend a lot of time, money, and put your peace of mind at risk by trying to create and manage the perfect holiday. Instead, just be present and do what you’re able. Be there for your family, because that’s what counts!

Tip #3: Visit a Chiropractor

Visiting a chiropractic care specialist is a great way to offset the stress and tension that the holiday season brings on. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more about how our treatments can help you live a healthier, more enjoyable life.

If you’ve engaged in Black Friday festivities this past weekend, it’s a good idea to make self-care a part of your wellness protocol this coming week. There’s actually a lot you can do, even if you keep a busy schedule during the week, in order to stay on top of your health and wellness protocol.

Below, Barton Chiropractic goes over a few recovery tips that will be sure to set you up for success this week after Black Friday shopping.

Eat Clean, Whole Foods

Replenish your body with clean, whole foods, and make sure to stay hydrated leading up to Black Friday and afterward. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water and eat plenty of veggies, not to mention clean sources of protein.

Practice Mindfulness

After a hectic shopping day, try to take a few minutes to meditate and practice mindfulness. This will help your mind reset and help chip away at any anxiety you’re experiencing.

Visit Barton Chiropractic Clinic

Visit Barton Chiropractic Clinic for post-Black Friday recovery. Chiropractic treatment has been shown to provide drug-free pain relief, increase flexibility, increase range of motion, and more.

If you’re looking for some fresh, clean dish options to include in your spread this holiday season, you’re not alone! More and more of our patients at Barton Chiropractic Clinic are choosing to combine a healthy diet with chiropractic treatment in order to unlock hidden health benefits like better mobility, improved flexibility, restful sleep, peaceful mood, not to mention a cognitive boost.

Below are a few dishes that will keep your holiday season healthy.

Sweet Potato Lasagna

Sweet potatoes are a great substitute for starch-heavy bulk potatoes. Sweet potato lasagna will be a big hit with your vegan attendees, not to mention provide a healthy alternative to the normal Thanksgiving fare.

Kale, Fruit, and Nut Salad

Definitely include a salad at the table, and use kale in lieu of romaine for additional health benefits. Adding dried fruit and plenty of crunch (almonds, sunflower seeds, etc.) will diversify the flavor and give you additional healthy fats that will help your mind stay sharp.

Use Dark Chocolate

Try to be sensible when planning desserts and make sure you use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is believed to have nutritional value and serve has healthy fuel for the brain. Dark chocolate and all-natural peanut butter make an excellent combination. 

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic if you need a quick tune-up before Turkey Day. We’re here if you need us!

When it comes down to it, our recovery routines should be given just as much thought as our workout routines. We can learn a valuable lesson from professional athletes from previous generations, athletes who now have trouble getting around and performing simple tasks because they’ve pushed their bodies to the limits.

When we work out, we put our bodies through tremendous strain. It’s important to have a plan in place to recover properly.

Hydrate

Drink coconut water right after your workout — it’s a great way to get a quick hydration boost. Make sure to have at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day to stay properly hydrated.

Yoga

Stretch it out after your workout. If you can develop a yoga practice, this is all for the better. For every hour you work out, you should stretch for half an hour. Your body and joints will thank you!

Visit Your Local Chiropractor

Your chiropractor can do a lot to increase your range of motion, help with drug-free pain relief, and provide you with treatments that help your body and brain function at optimum capacity. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.

It’s likely that you have a friend out there who is raving to you about their essential oil collection. You might be interested in learning about essential oils, but maybe you don’t know where to start. That means you’re in the exact right place! Barton Chiropractic Clinic would like to go over a few things about essential oils that will help educate you before you make any commitments or purchases.

Essential Oils Go Way Back

Folks have been using essential oils since ancient times — there are descriptions of essential oils throughout ancient texts, including the bible.

Essential Oils Have Healing Properties

Essential oils are derived from plants and seeds and have healing and regenerative properties.

Each Oil Has a Different Use

Lavender is generally used for soothing and calming effects while peppermint is used to revitalize. Sandalwood, on the other hand, calms the nerves and improves focus. Make sure you know the effect each essential oil produces for best possible results.

How Do I Use Essential Oils

Essential oils can be rubbed on the body, breathed in through a diffuser, or sniffed gently through an inhaler. 

If you have any questions about essential oils, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.

As Veteran’s Day Weekend gets underway, Barton Chiropractic Clinic would like to discuss ways that chiropractic treatments can help veterans who have faithfully served our country. Below are some of the distinct benefits chiropractic adjustments can offer.

Drug-Free Pain Relief

It’s important to pursue pain relief options that are drug-free. In today’s opioid crisis it’s important to protect yourself by exploring healthier alternatives to prescription medication.

Insomnia Relief

Those who experience the trials of war might have more trouble achieving a restful night of sleep on a nightly basis. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help promote a more restful night of sleep, not to mention reduce insomnia symptoms.

Chiropractic Treatments in Homewood, IL

Chiropractic adjustments are a great countermeasure to wear and tear that soldiers experience from lugging around heavy equipment, which can really do some serious damage to your back, neck, and joints. Let’s do something about it together! Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more!

The holiday season might present a few obstacles to your health and wellness plan, things like relatives coming to visit, large meals to prep and cook, dinner parties to host, and maybe even a work function or two to attend.

However, it’s during these times especially that it’s important to have a plan in place to keep your wellness program going strong. Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over a few ways to stay healthy and well during the holiday season.

Switch Up Your Fitness Routine

The holiday season might mean extra crowds in the gym, either just before holiday festivities or just after. Maybe switch to a more outdoor routine during the holidays to avoid crowds and maximize your time.

Prep Healthy Food

Meal plan for yourself (and your family, if applicable), and make sure to prepare healthy dishes for your holidays, that way you and the people you’re close to have plenty of healthy snacking options available.

Visit Your Local Chiropractor

Visiting your chiropractor will bring benefits like enhanced sleep, improved mood, and increased energy, so you’ll be able to spend more time preparing for the holidays and spending those special holidays that only come once a year with the ones you love. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your holiday chiropractic consultation.

Building your neck and back muscles is a great way to strengthen and fortify your spine, so long as you do it the correct way. When we’re engaging these important muscle groups, it’s important to be mindful of the fact that they are prone to injury, especially if we’re lifting excessively heavy weight. Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over some measures you can take to properly build your back.

Go Light on the Weight

Lighten up on the weight when you perform lifts that work your back and neck muscles.

Engage Your Core

Engaging your core is an important part of getting a 360-degree workout. Think of your core as your midsection — your back, your abs, your obliques, and more.

Invest in Kettlebells

Kettlebells are great for doing at-home core workouts. Invest in varying weights to get more complete workouts.

Don’t Forget Your Neck

There are apparatuses that help you properly work your neck which are worth researching. Not all products are as made as high quality as others.

Chiropractic treatments are a great companion to an active lifestyle routine. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation in order to learn more.

Determining how often you should see the chiropractor is an important decision in your treatment and wellness protocol. If you’re experiencing pain and discomfort at a high level, depending on if it’s focused on one area of your body or occurring in multiple areas of the body, you might need to see your local chiropractor in Homewood, IL more frequently than a more minor situation.

Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over how often patients should see a chiropractic care specialist in order to achieve the best possible results.

Executing a More Rigorous Chiropractic Treatment Protocol

Those who experience intense pain and discomfort should see the chiropractor frequently, initially. Some patients experience maximum benefits coming to the chiropractor 3 times per week initially, then perhaps 2 times per week in month 2 of their treatment protocol, then once per week in the 3rd treatment month. Chiropractic treatments, after the initial protocol has been completed, can eventually be used on a maintenance basis or whenever you’re feeling like you particularly could use one.

More Casual Chiropractic

If you’re not injured or experiencing discomfort, visiting the chiropractic care specialist in your area once a month or so is a great idea for injury prevention, increased range of motion, boosted brain functionality, and more.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more about how treatments and how they benefit our patients.

There are certain times when the body simply calls for chiropractic treatment. At Barton Chiropractic Clinic, we provide chiropractic treatments and adjustments that help the neck, back, legs, joints, sinuses, gastrointestinal system, immune system, and more.

Below are a few occasions when chiropractic adjustments come through in the clutch, improving symptoms associated with various health conditions, not to mention relieve general wear and tear you’re experiencing from everyday use.

You’ve Been Getting Sick More Often

If your immune system seems to be underwhelming you, it’s a good idea to schedule a chiropractic adjustment, which can help clear the sinuses and help the immune system function in an optimum capacity.

You’re Training Extra Hard

If you’re training for an event like a marathon or a belt test for your martial arts class, it’s a great idea to make chiropractic adjustments a part of your active recovery plan to make sure the body recuperates from training.

You’re Not Getting Enough Rest

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help with insomnia and help patients achieve a more restful night of sleep.

If you have any questions about what to expect from chiropractic treatment, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.