Exercising Makes Bosses Nicer

Boutique gyms push them hard and charge bigtime

(NEWSER) - Think you're in shape? Then meet the New Yorkers who endure—sorry, enjoy—two or three workouts a day, along with a full-time job and whatever family or social life they can fit in. “It’s New York, and I think that everyone’s always just trying to look better and better,” a 32-year-old working mom tells the New York Times . “Some people think it’s crazy. ... But you see so many other people doing it, you don’t feel crazy.” More»

Surveys point to the most stressful jobs, ages and places

(NEWSER) - So you’re stressed? So what. Everybody’s stressed. But who wins the stress Olympics? The Daily Beast set out to find out, compiling various stress studies. A smattering of the findings:

• Detroit is the most stressed-out city, based on unemployment rate, crime rate, sunshine, and other economic indicators. Salt Lake City, incidentally, is the least stressful.
• Firefighters have the most stressful jobs, according to one report, closely followed by corporate executive, taxi driver, and surgeon. If you’re looking for a low-stress career, try musical instrument repair.
• Women are more stressed than men, according to one psychological survey, with 8% more reporting “a great deal of stress,” and 11% more reporting stress headaches and upset stomachs.
• Gen-Xers are the most stressed generation, with more than half reporting frequent feelings of anger or irritability.
• Married women report more stress than single ones.
• Babies pushed in forward-facing strollers are probably more stressed out than those who face the person pushing them, according to one researcher, because they’re half as likely to fall asleep, and have higher heart rates.

Exercise in fresh air boosts mood; for greater benefits, just add water

(NEWSER) - Moving your workout outdoors improves overall mental health, and the benefits kick in within the first 5 minutes, researchers say. To get the greatest mood boost from exercise in fresh air, work out near a body of water, British scientists advise. In an analysis of 10 studies involving 1,250 subjects, young people and those diagnosed with mental illness showed the greatest improvement, reports the BBC . More»

Icy beverage seems to keep body cooler longer

(NEWSER) - Excellent news on the exercise front—ice slushies help. Two important caveats: They must be accompanied by actual exercise, and their benefit is evident only on hot days. It seems that people who drink the syrupy, icy concoctions before exercising—or, say, running a 5K or playing tennis—are able to to go longer before feeling the effects of the heat, the New York Times reports. More»

From disconnecting to breathing, relieve social-media angst

(NEWSER) - Mobile devices might be great for social networking, but extreme devotion to Facebook, Twitter & Co. can lead to “Stress 2.0,” Soren Gordhamer cautions. Fortunately, he has tips for dealing with it:

• Disconnect, even just briefly. When you stop absorbing information, go outside, eat lunch, chat up a friend, he urges on Mashable (while suggesting apps that make his tips easier to accomplish.
• Breathe. Seriously, take a deep breath. You’ll feel calmer almost instantly.