10 Ways to Relieve Stress for National Stress Awareness Day - April 16th

WESTLAND, Mich.–– Sometimes we all just need to take a step back and relax. It's good for you and takes less time than you think. Stress is measured as physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. It lives inside each and every one of us in many different ways, whether it's work related, an issue with a relationship, or something else causing your brain to go wild. The amount of American's that experience stress has increased over the past few years, making it increasingly important for people to find new ways to cope with lifestyle changes and issues affecting them day after day. We want to ensure that you take the time you need to alleviate some of the pressure you are feeling. Try one of these 10 ways to relieve stress for National Stress Awareness Day - April 16th:

1. Exercise Regularly
Performing daily exercise is an easy and effective way to combat stress, especially after a long day of work. Putting your body through physical stress can actually take away some of your mental stress. Find an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, running, dancing, or even yoga. This will be a great way for you to take a load off!

2. Sleep Longer and Better
A lack of sleep can really cause a significant amount of stress on your body. When thoughts keep whirling through our head at night, it's harder to fall asleep. Relax before bed time to ensure you can enjoy a good night's rest. Avoid using your smart phone device, drinking caffeine, and performing demanding work before bed time. This will keep your brain calm and help you fall asleep faster!

3. Practice Deep Breathing
Stress on your brain ignites your sympathetic nervous system, sending your body into "fight-or-flight" mode. This releases stress hormones, getting you all worked up inside. Practicing deep breathing exercises will activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the relaxation response. Focus on the awareness of your breath to slow it down and make it deeper.

4. Light a Candle
Burn a scented candle or use essential oils to calm your body and reduce any feelings of stress and anxiety. There are certain scents that have been known to be especially soothing. These include lavender, rose, vetiver, bergamot, roman chamomile, neroli, frankincense, sandalwood, ylang ylang, orange, and geranium.

5. Listen to Music
Music works as a helpful tool in treating many different things. It can have a very relaxing effect on the body and helps us manage our stress levels. Whether you prefer to listen to your favorite tunes or you rely on soothing sounds, music is a great stress reliever! Turn it on, crank it up, and jam to some music that'll take your mind away.

6. Spend Time With Your Pet
Studies show that owning a pet, specifically a dog, reduces your levels of stress and improves your mood. Interacting with pets along with cuddling, can spark a positive mood and make you feel much better. Owning a pet gives you a sense of purpose, keeps you active, and provides a companion.

7. Learn to Say No
A lot of stress can be caused by having too much to do in too little of time. We tend to take on more responsibility than we can handle, causing our minds to lose control. Although you may want to take on every task, our bodies weren't meant to perform too much work. Juggle your responsibilities better by only taking on enough for your body to handle. Sometimes it's okay to just say no!

8. Take a Walk
Taking a quiet, meditative stroll, will work wonders in terms of stress relief. Even a simple walk around the block will free our minds and keep us calm. The outdoors are a great place to take our mind off everything and just enjoy the atmosphere. Don't rush, just take the time to relax and stroll.

9. Chew Some Gum
This is a relatively effective method for quick stress relief. Studies show that people who chew gum have lower stress and a greater sense of well-being. Gum chewing relaxes people and promotes blood flow to the brain. So, throw in a piece if you're starting to feel overwhelmed!

10. Laugh It Out
Laughing is a great mood booster and anxiety reliever. It brings more oxygen into your body, stimulates and relieves your stress response, and relieves tension in your muscles, ultimately relaxing your body. Watch a funny show or listen to a comedian for a good laugh. It's great for your health all the way around!

There are many ways to combat the stress you're feeling. Start with something simple and start incorporating these stress relief activities into your daily routine. The less stressed you feel, the happier and more productive you'll be down the road. Try one of these 10 ways to relieve stress for National Stress Awareness Day - April 16th. You'll be thankful you did! Another great way to take a load off your shoulders is making sure you vehicle is up to speed on spring car care. Schedule an appointment with our service team to ensure your ride is ready for the rainy weather this season!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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Tips to Stay Healthy and Avoid Sickness All Year Long

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– It can be hard to remain your healthiest all year round, especially if you are in a profession consistently exposed to sickness. Although cases of the cold and flu start to rise in the fall and winter season, there's still a chance that you might catch something any other time of the year. That's why it's best to take the necessary precautions ahead of time to combat any illnesses that might come your way. No one wants to be bedridden, so we've put together a list of tips to stay healthy and avoid sickness all year long.

1. Wash Your Hands & Pay Attention to What You Touch
It's a simple task to wash your hands with soap and water frequently throughout the day. Along with this, if you're touching "high-traffic" items such as the drinking fountain at work, the bathroom door handle, or someone else's keyboard, you'll want to avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes as these areas are gateways to your immune system.

2. Eat Healthy!
It's fine to indulge in a burger or some decadent dessert here and there, but it's more beneficial to eat foods that will benefit your immune system regularly! Eating healthy doesn't mean you need to eat a salad at every meal, but it's a good idea to aim to eat less processed foods. Make some soup recipes if you're feeling down. Broth and veggies together can help comfort a sore throat or aching stomach and are healthy, too!

3. Consume More H2O
Although simple, this health tip is used often for many reasons. Water not only keeps you hydrated should you already be sick and need to replace fluids in your body, but it also helps you flush some of the bad stuff out if you're harboring any flu germs. The recommendation is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water!

4. Keep Your Surroundings Clean
Sanitizing the areas around you, such as your workspace, is a simple way to maintain a healthy environment. Germs spread very easily, increasing your chances of getting sick. Using virus and germ killing soaps to keep your surroundings clean will stop the spread of any cold and flu bugs, ultimately helping you lead a healthier lifestyle.

5. Get Active
Exercise is another factor that can help boost your immune system. It can be a simple walk outside or an extra sweaty cardio session at the gym. Whatever method you choose, make sure you're getting your heart rate up and are breathing heavier than normal. Cardiovascular exercise can help excavate bacteria out of your lungs and airways.

6. Stay Home
Even if you're a person who's overwhelmed at work and think staying home will only hurt your schedule, don't go in if you have the flu! If you feel like you're getting sick, or are already sick, take caution and protect others around you. There's no sense in you exhausting your energy or spreading your illness onto others. Take time to rest at home with some water, vitamins, and sleep.

7. Get More Sleep

This may be a simple health rule but getting extra sleep when your immune system is compromised is crucial. Make sure you're getting 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. It may also be a good idea to take some cold medicine before you lay down to ensure your body is fighting the sickness while you sleep. Getting more rest allows your body to fight off any flu germs and revive itself so you can do what you need to the next day. 

We hope these tips to stay healthy and avoid sickness all year long will keep you out of bed and enjoying each and every day at your best! Getting into a rhythm is a great way to incorporate these activities into your daily routine. You'll be thankful you did! Taking care of your car is just as important as taking care of yourself. It's our goal to help you get your vehicle ready to hit the road. We're here to take care of any routine maintenance, such as oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections, as well as much bigger service tasks. For your convenience, we've added a feature for you to schedule your service appointment online. Give us a call is you have any questions! It's time to keep you and your vehicle healthy all year long.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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Activities That Will Help You Destress After the Holidays

WESTLAND, Mich.,––The Holidays are finally over, which means for many that it's back to the daily grind. However, some of the stress might still be hanging around and that can make it even harder to get back to your regular routine. Not to mention many of us have New Year's resolutions on our plates as well which can add another element of stress to it all. There are some relatively easy things you can do about it, though. Here are a few activities that will help you destress after the Holidays:

1. Exercise! 

You don't need to go all out, but a 30 minute walk or at-home, 20 minute, body weight workout will do the trick. Did you know that 10 minutes or cardio activity can help your brain focus? Exercise can also boost endorphins to help you fight the after-holiday blues. Not to mention, all the other physical benefits exercise provides.

2. Stretch Out All the Tension

Stress can often manifest itself into muscle tension in your body. Whether you clench your teeth or get knots in your back, stress can physically feel awful. Take a few minutes each day to do some stretching when your body is warm so you avoid any injury. If you're going to stretch around your exercise, do dynamic stretches beforehand and static stretches afterwards.

3. Spend Time Alone in a Quiet Place & Breathe

Find a space and a time to spend alone without distractions. Allow yourself to get comfortable, clear your mind, and focus on your breath. There are smartphone apps that can help you practice meditation, like Headspace, but you can begin the practice on your own with the basics: a quiet place without distractions and dedication to not letting your mind drift.

4. Avoid Social Media

Constantly reading others' thoughts and examining others' lives through photos for entertainment can not only be distracting and emotionally-triggering, but it can actually make you depressed because it allows you to compare yourself to others. If you're stuck on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, it may be time to mindfully take a step back and stay off social media for a while.

5. Clean Your Space

While rushing to clean or the thought of cleaning can be stressful in itself, the after math is really beneficial. Having clutter around can cause stress as well, but by clearing out the junk you'll be able to think more clearly and focus on whatever you need to focus on!

6. Make a Commitment to a Good Night's Sleep

Whatever you need to do to get a good night's sleep, make it happen! Some things you can do to get some good rest: don't engage in electronics about an hour before bedtime, take a warm shower or bath before bedtime, exercise (see tip #1), cut down on caffeine, eat well but avoid eating and drinking late at night, get into a nighttime routine.


We hope these activities will help you destress after the craziness of the Holidays. If you're going to be in the market for a car, or are already looking, we can help you avoid a lot of the associated stress. We'd be more than happy to get you approved for financing on a new Ford that meets all of your needs at a great price. We highly recommend taking a look at some of the newest 2018 models, including the 2018 Explorer and the full suite of SUVs, as well as the fuel-efficient 2018 Focus and the selection of other great sedans.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbrothersford.net

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+