The most recent studies on American adults show that stress levels are at an all-time high and that the list of physical symptoms and diagnoses related to chronic stress continues to grow. It’s impossible to eliminate all stress from our lives, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from implementing a few practices to reduce stress and improve health. Read on to learn a few of my favorite (and easiest) ways to reduce stress and follow along with our Stress Simplified series on social media!
1. De-stress ahead of time
Instead of waiting until you’re overly stressed to take a break or use your favorite calming tools, build them into your day. Even the busiest person can build the habit of taking a deep breath at the start and end of each meeting or using their drive home from work to practice gratitude. Get creative and find a way to lower your stress as you go instead of allowing it to culminate throughout the day.
2. Tune into the body
I recommend practicing a body scan daily. This is as simple as it sounds; take a quiet moment to slowly scan your body from head to toe and try to notice any physical sensations you can. They may be pleasant or unpleasant. This practice has two amazing benefits. The first is that it’s a relaxing form of mindfulness, which is clinically proven to significantly lower stress levels. The second is that you’re strengthening your awareness muscle and you’ll be able to catch physical signs of stress sooner. You’ll find it easier to notice your shoulders are tense or you’re holding your breath and you can adjust those things in real time.
3. Have a mantra
We live in a society that glorifies burnout. This means it’s up to us to create an inner reality that also glorifies relaxation. Create a mantra that works for you when you’re tempted to do extra work, you feel guilty for relaxing, or you want to skip a walk outside because it feels frivolous. Use these for inspiration:
-My only job right now is to do things that make me feel alive
-Rest is not earned
-I am not alive to work
-I am not choosing this stress
Some stress is unavoidable, but finding your own practices to reduce it can still make a significant difference in your physical health and your quality of life!
