The Mindful Path: Navigating Stress with Awareness
Want to improve your mood and decrease your stress levels? Want to learn how to cope with stress? In this blog I will provide you with some great techniques on how to decrease stress levels, as escaping stress in this world might seem impossible. This blog is here to guide you on some wonderful techniques that can help make your life a little less stressful. Today I will go over 5 techniques that you can apply to your everyday routine to help you reduce that stress. Its important to learn to manage life stressors as long-term stress puts your health at risk.
Staying active has a positive impact on your body, your brain will increase production of dopamine and endorphins which will cause you to feel more relaxed. Being active will decrease you stress hormone levels which are cortisol and adrenaline. Staying active can be as simple as taking a 15-30-minute walk a couple times a week. Not only will this help you with stress reduction but it will also improve your mood, increase your energy, improve your self-esteem and improve your sleep.
Practicing mindfulness will reduce stress levels and cause improvement in your overall health. Some techniques are gentle stretching, guided meditations, reading a book, mindful break throughout your day to check on yourself and to see how your feeling, practice daily gratitude, mindful walking while focusing on your sensation of movement you are creating. You could also go for a hike to connect with nature or go for a swim and let yourself float in the water. Practicing Mindfulness techniques can really help you gain greater sense of calm while promoting mental well-being.
Nourishing you body with healthy meals and drinking plenty of water is extremely important as your body needs enough fuel to function. There has been recent studies that show that there is a connection between the brain and the gut, which is called the “Gut-Brain Axis”. In order for our brains to be able to produce dopamine it needs amino acids called tyrosine which is food like bananas, avocados, soy, poultry and diary. Also consuming nuts and seeds can help maintain good brain function and ward off depression as it has a great source of tryptophan. Avocado provides us with health fats which has a positive impact on our guts. Not drinking enough water can have a negative impact on our moods because, dehydration can cause cognitive difficulties, low mood and fatigue.
Aromatherapy can help you feel more energized and relaxed. There has been research that suggest that some scents can alter brain wave activity plus decrease your stress hormones.
Using a Problem focused technique. This technique consist of removing stressors from your life. For instance, reducing your workload, cutting out things that add to your stress like watching the news, consuming too much caffeine, drinking alcohol. Also making sure to have a support system who you are able to vent to.
We have to remember to be gentle on ourself as we are all doing the best that we can each day. We have to think positive, exercise daily, eat health, stay strong, worry less, dance more, love often and BE HAPPY.