(DailyVibe) – Got stress?
You are not alone. Life doesn’t come with instructions. It also doesn’t come with fine print, but if it did, we’d probably find that stress is a part of the package along with traffic and taxes.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, chronic stress can have a long-term impact on our overall health. Higher stress levels can lead to higher blood pressure, digestive troubles, fertility issues, sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety, diabetes, and even heart disease. We know that stress isn’t good for us–but what do we do about it?
The good news is that we have seven secrets for stressing less–and they are all backed by science.
1. Kiss Someone
Kissing has been shown to reduce stress, burn calories, and reduce stress. That’s quite the workout. Of course, kissing requires consent, but when practiced with a partner, it can actually help us stress less.
2. Laugh
People say laughter is the best medicine for a reason. Laughter has been linked to a variety of benefits, including stress relief, pain reduction, and even boosted immunity. Take a break to watch a funny cat video, watch a short comedy sketch, or even share a funny meme.
3. Take a Nap
Whoever coined the phrase “if you snooze, you lose” clearly didn’t read the research on the benefits of napping. Researchers have found that it helps lower stress, improve memory, and help us learn.
4. Make Time for Fitness
Experts have found links between exercise and reduced stress, improved self-esteem, and elevated mood. But if we think about fitness and feel disinclined to do it, we may want to replace the word “fitness” with “fun”. They can be the same thing. Considering physical activities that we find enjoyable can help us fit in more “fun” into each day.
5. Listen to Music.
Music has been proven to alleviate stress. Whether we listen at work or listen while we work on tasks at home, music can help us stress less.
6. Use Aromatherapy
Researchers have found that the scent of lavender and rosemary decreases cortisol, the hormone linked to stress. Using these essential oils in our home or work environment can help us stress less.
7. Spend Time in Nature
Even 20 minutes spent in nature can be impactful when it comes to reducing stress. Time in nature can reduce cortisol, contributing to lower levels of stress.
With these seven simple science-backed secrets, we can stress less and enjoy our lives more.
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