This week, TargitFit is pleased to bring you an informative health article by Daniel Kupnicki:
The idea of stress can be quite an ugly thought. There are healthy forms of stress that can help motivate you when under pressure, however, anything beyond that can lead to problems down the road such as anxiety and depression.
An even uglier thought is the idea of taking over the counter medication or getting prescriptions to handle your stress. If you’re to that point, then you’ll appreciate these 5 ways to reduce stress naturally to help you gain control again.
Start Exercising
Exercising regularly is one of the best ways to reduce stress. Any kind of physical activity, whether it’s walking, running, playing sports, resistance training, or aerobic exercises, can help boost your body’s natural endorphins. These endorphins are essentially the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters in our brain which deliver sensations of positivity and confidence.
Studies have shown that sleep is also a big underlying factor when it comes to stress, especially in those who take on a large workload. Regular exercise can help improve the quality of your sleep which is also linked to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Socialize with Friends and Family
Social interaction with others has proven to be one of the best ways to lower stress levels. In fact, Medical News Today reveals that researchers from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) found that socializing has a positive effect on cancer patients, and may even increase their chances of survival.
Becoming social and having face-to-face interaction with others during stressful times, whether severe or minimal, can even help promote better and healthier lifestyle habits. Recent studies showed that activities involving exercise with friends can significantly increase the quality of life holistically.
Practice Meditation
Meditation can help to reduce stress by decreasing stress hormones in your body, primarily cortisol. These stress-response hormones can disrupt healthy sleep patterns, increase blood pressure, and cause cloudy thinking which may contribute to both anxiety and depression.
The best kind of meditation for reducing stress is called ‘mindfulness meditation‘. A study concluded that the practice of this kind of meditation can reduce the cortisol responses in our brain, therefore reducing the production of stress hormones.
Get A Massage
Massage therapy is not only a great way to relax but can help alleviate stress. However, not all types of massages are to be treated equally. Many techniques and forms of massages will target different parts of the body which alleviates stress in a different way.
One of the most effective massages for relieving stress is scalp massage therapy. These can be performed by a massage therapist, or you can practice yourself by investing in a scalp massager. Both are just as effective and can help relieve stress and anxiety if implemented regularly.
Cut Out Bad Habits
One of the biggest factors that promote mental stress is substance abuse, such as drinking and smoking. These habits can cause you to build tolerance and a dependency on the addiction or habit itself and, if you try to quit, can increase the production of stress hormones due to withdrawal.
Eliminating these habits and replacing them with new ones such as healthy dieting and exercise will promote proper brain and hormonal function. Forming new habits can also significantly reduce the chances of anxiety, depression, and life-threatening diseases including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Daniel is the founder and one of the authors of TrueWellnyss.com. Coming from a military background, he has developed a passion for helping people achieve success in multiple areas, including health and personal development. He now focuses on providing value to the lives of others through his experiences as an entrepreneur and health advisor.