Ways to combat stress - Find your inner center
But there are a lot of things you can do to reduce stress to combat it naturally. The goal is to find ways to reduce and manage it:
1. Meditation for more inner stability
Regular 2 and time for yourself improve the way you cope with stressors. Researchers demonstrated in one study that meditation improved emotional reactivity and reduced cortisol levels and inflammation in the body. They also compared meditation with other forms of stress relief, such as physical activity and music therapy, and found that while they all had a positive effect on cortisol levels, meditation seemed to help the most.
2. Use aromatherapy for relaxation
There's hardly a person who doesn't respond to soothing scents. Whether it's the scent of lavender, cocoa, vanilla, or cinnamon: smelling these aromas automatically relaxes us. This is due to the olfactory nerve, which travels from the nose to the brain. It sends signals to the brain that affect the limbic system and the amygdala, parts of the brain that influence emotions and mood (as well as memory).
Some active ingredients in essential oils cause the olfactory nerve to shut down signals, creating a calming effect in the brain. Lavender essential oil, in particular, improves mood and helps calm the nervous system—all factors that play a role in stress relief. Other essential oils that may help reduce stress include:
- Ylang-Ylang
- lemon
- Clary Sage
- Bergamot
- chamomile
- jasmine
- Sweet basil
- Saint Basil
- incense
3. Try yoga!
Anyone who's previously been put off by the prospect of strenuous contortions and chanting Om can breathe a sigh of relief. Yoga offers such a wide variety of styles that even the toughest opponent can overcome their fear. And while yoga certainly stretches the muscles and can make you physically fitter, it's even more beneficial for the mind.
Yoga moderates the nervous system, balances hormones, and regulates nerve impulses—three factors that can reduce stress levels and better prepare you for stressful situations. Regular yoga practice can also lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce cortisol and inflammation, and promote beneficial changes in the brain.
4. Get enough sleep!
Sufficient sleep allows us to wake up refreshed and start the day with energy. During sleep, the body recovers and releases large amounts of growth hormones, which it needs for regeneration. The immune system also works at full speed, and defense cells defend against viruses and bacteria. But sleep isn't just about the physical; it's also important for the soul. We process many of our impressions at night, allowing us to wake up with a clearer perspective in the morning. Balanced and focused on what's important!
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Photo by Amy Treasure on Unsplash
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