Stress is a natural part of life and can even be motivating in certain instances. However, ongoing and persistent stress can start negatively impacting physical, mental, and emotional health.
Get a better understanding of the stress cycle and how to break free from it with these stress management strategies!
The Stress Cycle
1. Cortisol is a hormone produced in response to stress, also known as the ‘fight or flight’ response.
2. When chronically elevated, cortisol can have undesirable effects on weight, immune function, and chronic disease risk.
3. Chronic stress can raise our blood glucose levels and promote weight gain through increased appetite and fat storage.
4. How we handle negative stressors can impact our health and happiness.
How to Break the Stress Cycle
Break the cycle by managing stress and eating a healthy diet with these tips!
- Exercise: Exercise produces feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins and can help improve mood.
- Take slow, deep breaths: Deep breathing sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax, which can help slow down heart rate and blood pressure.
- Limit caffiene intake: Too much caffeine can make us feel jittery and increase our heart rate.
- Use apps: make use of apps that target stress management, including Calm and Headspace
Other common ways to manage stress include:
- Talking to a friend
- Being around animals
- Resting
- Taking an adventure
- Listening to music
- Going through guided meditation
- Reading
- Laughing
- Dancing
Overall, identify and practice stress management strategies that are effective for you!