Ways to Reduce Stress
Stress is a part of life, but when it becomes relentless and starts to take a toll on your health and well-being, that’s when healthy ways are needed to reduce stress. As an educator in the Bay Area who leads workshops on reducing stress using mindfulness, meditation, and other strategies, I see first-hand the effect stress has on people. Jonathan Osler San Francisco suggests some simple steps to reduce stress and feel like yourself again.
Go for a walk
Walking is my go-to stress-reduction tactic because it’s free and easily accessible. An estimated 80% of adults experience some level of stress, and walking reduces stress and promotes overall health by reducing cortisol levels. When stressed, the body releases cortisol, a hormone involved in energy metabolism and blood sugar levels, but too much cortisol is linked to many health issues, including weight gain, low energy, and poor immune function. Studies show that stress-reduction activities like exercise, yoga, and meditation can help to reduce cortisol levels, but they don’t work for everyone.
Meditate
Meditation is one of the most well-known stress-reduction tactics. That’s not what it’s about at all. There are many ways to meditate. There’s no one way to do it. The goal of meditation is to focus on your breath. When stressed, it’s easy to get caught up in thoughts, which can add more stress when you’re focused on your breath, redirecting attention to the here and now.
Practice self-care
Self-care is a form of stress relief that people don’t often think of, but it’s one of the most effective ways to reduce stress. Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or anxiety. Stress can be caused by different things, like a demanding job, lack of sleep, or a relationship issue. Self-care can include:
• Getting enough sleep.
• Take time out for meditation or journaling.
• Even something as simple as taking a break from technology.
Many people, especially those in high-demand careers and fields that require a lot of mental energy, permit themselves to do nothing.
Create boundaries and set standards for yourself
When overwhelmed with stress, it can be easy to take on every obligation given. But letting goes of some to reduce stress. So, learn to say no and to set standards. Boundaries and standards are about more than just saying no to invitations that take too much time. They’re about setting the standard for day-to-day life. They’re about setting the standard for treating the body and how to treat your mind.
Find support from loved ones and friends
It can be easy to isolate when stressed out, but isolation only exacerbates stress. Find support from loved ones and friends. Find a group of people who also want to reduce their stress.
Conclusion
As an educator in the Bay Area who leads workshops on reducing stress using mindfulness, meditation, and other strategies, Jonathan Osler San Francisco sees stress’s first-hand effect on people. Stress is a part of life, but when it becomes relentless and starts to take a toll on health and well-being, that’s when healthy ways to reduce stress. When overwhelmed, it’s essential to take time. When stressed, look for healthy ways to reduce stress.