CONQUER STRESS: PROVEN TECHNIQUES FOR HEALTHY CHILLING

IT MAY NOT ALWAYS FEEL THIS WAY, BUT STRESS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GOOD thing! It’s your body’s survival mechanism. Sudden stress shoves your body into high-alert, sending extra blood coursing through your heart and muscles. The response is designed to give you the superhuman ability to take on a life-or-death challenge. In dangerous situations, your survival may depend on this biological response.

The trouble with stress is that we’re only equipped to handle it in small doses. But for many of us living in the modern world, our stress levels stay elevated for too long, with impacts on our health including tension headaches, migraines, muscle stiffness, high blood pressure, and reduced immune system function.

The first step to reducing stress is to identify the stressor. Ask yourself: Is it work or family related? Research shows that toxic relationships–particularly those that invite the constant risk of conflict, rejection, or isolation promote the body’s inflammatory response. Removing yourself from these situations can do your body (and mind) a world of good.

Sometimes, escaping a situation can be challenging or impossible. Maybe you can’t quit your job or find somebody to look after the kids. In cases like these, it’s important to find tools that reduce that stress on a reliable ongoing basis by cultivating some inner peace and harmony. A social support system of friends, family, and colleagues is a great place to start: Research shows that social support improves our ability to handle stress and boosts our mood. And when your social circle isn’t enough, a clinical psychologist or counselor can equip you with techniques to better handle stress triggers.

Even small everyday changes can help. Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation, a practice that involves tensing and relaxing various muscle groups over and over. (Studies show its effective in reducing anxiety and insomnia too.)

Keep you smartphone out of the bedroom, or invest in a blue light filter, blue light can suppress melatonin, causing sleeplessness and boosting stress. And try mindfully meditating for at least five minutes a day. If meditation isn’t up your alley, carve out more time to do quiet activities that you enjoy. According to Harvard Medical School, activities like fly-fishing can improve sleep, lower stress, and even reduce symptoms of PTSD.