3 simple strategies for stress relief

The last few months of any year, with deadlines and holidays, often create a harried pace. The beginning of a new year can give you a chance to exhale. But even if you experience a few serene days or weeks, tight shoulders and tension are never far off. Family stress. Work stress. Daily life stress. Self-induced stress brought on by scrolling through the news. As it turns out, stress is almost impossible to avoid. So this year, instead of waiting for your most recent stressful patch to ebb, take a different approach. Teach yourself to stay grounded and calm — regardless of what’s going on around you. Managing stress helps you stay healthier It’s important to manage stress, because it’s not only emotionally taxing, but it’s also bad for your health. When you are under stress, the levels of a hormone called cortisol start to rise in your blood. Over time, chronic stress that results in higher than normal levels of cortisol can wreak havoc on your metabolism, spurring weight gain (particularly around your middle), and causing dangerous inflammation inside your body. It can affect your blood sugar levels, your blood pressure and heart, and even your memory. Three simple strategies to counter stress To lessen the effects of stress, try three simple strategies to help you reset. Take a new approach. Much of life’s stress comes from how we view the various situations we encounter. For example, two people may take on the exact same task, but only one person may find it st...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Mental Health Stress Source Type: blogs