Health
STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR MORE BALANCED, PRODUCTIVE, AND HAPPY LIFE
While some stress is healthy, long-term stress is detrimental to your health. Stress management skills will ensure a more balanced, productive, and happy life. Learn how to say “no” and prioritize activities that you enjoy. Those activities will boost your career, personal development, and overall happiness. Practicing effective time management skills will help you get more rest and improve your quality of life. And, don’t forget to have fun!
Time Management
By separating important tasks from less important ones, you’ll have more time to spend on the meaningful tasks. By doing this, you’ll avoid the last-minute scrambling that can add up to stress. Using a step-by-step plan will allow you to focus on the important tasks while leaving the less important ones for last. This will help you build momentum and save time on the less important tasks.
Organizing Your Life
One of the ways to organize your life is to make it easier to find what you need. Cluttering can be depressing, and stress is only one of the many reasons. When you’re disorganized, you’re more likely to feel depressed. The same applies to unfinished projects. When you have less clutter to deal with, your brain has the chance to rest and feel happier. Keep in mind that organizing your life will take time. If you’re busy, you probably won’t prioritize this task.
Changing Your Diet
Consuming plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will help you get the vitamins and minerals your body needs. The human body needs more vitamins and minerals when it is under chronic stress. Try to eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day to boost your stress-fighting capabilities. If you want to increase your mood, focus on foods rich in B vitamins, C, and magnesium. B vitamins are found in leafy greens, bananas, nuts, meat, seeds, and dairy products. Click here for more options.
Aromatherapy
While aromatherapy is popular as a means of reducing stress, the exact mechanism of its effect on cognition remains unclear. In a recent study, researchers sought to examine how aromatherapy affects cognitive performance and the role of expectancy in these effects. The researchers compared the cognitive performance of three different aroma groups and measured GNG task performance and ERPs in two prime subgroups. The participants’ stress ratings were also assessed.
These tests were conducted on a variety of participants, including healthy and unhealthy individuals. The participants were asked to rate their expectations of the effects of aromatherapy on their stress levels. The study also measured cortisol levels in their saliva. Using Sarstedt Salivettes, the samples were stored at -80 F. They were then run through an ELISA kit to measure cortisol levels. These results are helpful for determining how aromatherapy can lower your stress levels and the benefits of using it.
Nature Walk
Recent studies have shown that taking a nature walk can decrease your stress levels and reduce your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for this is a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology that looked at the impact of contact with nature on human health. Researchers recommended that individuals get away from urban areas and seek out natural settings. Group nature walks were just as effective as solo treks in reducing stress.
