Best Activities to Help Reduce Stress

4 simple ways to improve your daily life!

Source: Unsplash (@ante_kante)

Being stressed is never a fun time. Unfortunately, there are many instances where we find ourselves in a constant state of stress: important deadlines, final exam weeks, personal reasons, etc. Stress has become a part of our day-to-day lives, however, there are many ways to help reduce it. Here are some ways to help combat your stress and provide you with ease of mind!

1. Exercising

Exercising is a great way to limit your stress. Countless studies have proven how exercise produces endorphins, “feel-good” chemicals which instantly make you feel better. Additionally, any form of working out your body can help with stress relief and improving your mood. A simple walk around the neighborhood with your dog or a quick game of basketball with your buddies is all it takes to reduce your cortisol levels. Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone, thus, reducing these levels works to lower the stress your body is experiencing. Here’s a list of exercises to help you get started!

2. Meditation

Meditation is the act of training yourself to achieve a mental state of calmness; it allows you to practice controlling your attention and creating a sense of ease within yourself. Research has proven meditation as a great way to combat stress and improve mental health. A 2015 study on 61 patients demonstrated that a daily 5-minute meditation routine significantly decreases stress levels. Meditating allows you to unwind and tune out the outside distractions, thus, lowering your body’s stress response. Here’s a quick 5-minute meditation video to try out!

3. Spend Time in Nature

Did you know that simply spending 20 to 30 minutes in nature can significantly drop your cortisol levels, and therefore lower your stress? Even a quick 10-minute sit-down at your local park’s bench helps relieve stress and results in improved mental health. Therefore, the next time you're feeling a bit stressed, try taking a short 20-minute nature walk to breathe in some fresh air and recharge!

4. Spend Time with Loved Ones

Gaming with your friends, board game night with your family, or even a nap with your pet can all help lower your stress! Laughing, enjoying yourself, and having a good time trigger releases of endorphins, successfully lowering cortisol levels and reducing stress. These feelings of contentment from being around the people you love promote hormones responsible for happiness and provide for a healthier lifestyle. Here’s a bucket list of things to do with a friend for some new ideas!

Unfortunately, stress is a constant for most of us; however, we hope our list can better equip you to manage those stressful scenarios and provide you with the ability to practice self-care. :)