Life
7 Scientifically Proven Ways to Relieve Stress
At one point or another, we all go through some form of stress. It would be difficult to find someone who isn’t feeling pressured at work, having issues with their significant other, or going through some nail-biting life experience. In moments of high anxiety, it seems like we would do anything to calm ourselves down.
Oftentimes, in desperation to make that gnawing, jittery feeling go away, we’ll turn to a glass of wine or our favorite TV show to escape the uncomfortable feeling. While that may do the trick, the escape can be just momentary, and the anxious thoughts return again. Luckily, there are other easy, accessible ways to relieve your stress naturally. To help you cope with whatever life is throwing your way today, we’ve come up with a list of seven scientifically-proven ways to relieve stress.
Meditation
Meditation has been shown to help people deal with stress, even improving the sleep and eating habits of those who practice it. Because meditation helps you hone in on the present as well as helps control your breathing, it is a great way to stay calm and focus on the task at hand.
Reading
Studies have found that reading for as short as six minutes can reduce stress levels by two-thirds. Concentrating on a book or newspaper takes the mind away from whatever else is going on in your life, and researchers say this works even quicker than listening to music or going for a walk.
Exercise
Whether you choose to do yoga, go for a run, or even take a dance class, getting your body moving reduces stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates endorphins, helping to relax your mood and feel pleasant overall.
Lavender
Lavender is used in aromatherapy to calm the mind as well as release stress and tension in the body. Research has found that stress levels become reduced when people smell the scent of lavender, so much so that even physical pain is lowered when inhaling the scent.
Writing
Plenty of research has shown that taking the time to write down your thoughts and feelings on what’s bothering you can significantly help reduce your stress levels. Researchers postulate that giving meaning to your emotions helps regulate them as well as helps you open up about them to others.
Classical music
Many people naturally turn to music in times of stress, but classical music in particular helps to control symptoms of stress, including heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of cortisol.
Chewing gum
Chewing gum helps you feel less stressed and more alert by reducing your body’s levels of cortisol. The chewing motion may help relieve tension in the body and help get your blood flowing and active.
