8 Effective Stress Reduction Techniques
Minor stress from time to time is normal, but when it takes over your life too often, negative mental and physical changes start to occur. Life will always throw challenges your way, it’s up to you on how to respond. Your response can determine how much of an impact your body and mind take. When stress comes your way, it’s helpful to have useful ideas on how to calm yourself. Here are some of our favorite stress reduction techniques at Magnolia:
Taking a daily adaptogen supplement
Regulates a stable balance in the hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal glands - which are all involved in the stress response. For an even deeper dive, don’t miss this post about our favorite supplement to support you.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture provides relaxation time (hello acu-nap), uses your body’s internal mechanisms to bring you relief, reduces inflammation and pain, and releases endorphins.
Practicing mindfulness daily
Mindfulness anchors you to the present moment, which can combat the anxiety-inducing effects of negative thinking about the future and/or past. Examples of mindfulness practices include yoga, breathing exercises, meditation.
Movement
Exercise is scientifically proven and highly recommended to combat stress. It may seem contradictory, but putting physical stress on your body through exercise can relieve mental stress. The benefits are strongest when movement is incorporated regularly into your routine. Exercise will also improve sleep, which can be negatively affected by stress and anxiety.
Gratitude Journaling
Whether in your phone’s notes app or on a piece of paper, writing down even a few things you are grateful for can help focus your thoughts on what’s going well in your life - because there’s always something to be grateful for. This shift in perspective can combat an anxious or stressed mind.
Reduce caffeine intake
We know, this one can be hard for coffee lovers. But, high doses of caffeine can increase anxiety. So, if you notice that you get jittery or anxious after drinking coffee, you may want to consider cutting back. A healthy alternative can be mushroom coffee, which has a reduced amount of caffeine plus stress-reducing adaptogens.
Learn to set boundaries
Some stressors can easily be in your control. You have full control over your life, including how you spend your time and who you spend your time with. If you find someone or something is adding stress to your life, you have the power to say “no” or remove that. If you find yourself taking on more than you can handle, be more selective about what you take on. Your mental health is more important.
Indulge in laughter and activities that bring you joy
Watch your favorite comedy, surround yourself with your favorite people, paint your nails a fun color - do those things that bring you exponential joy - whatever that is for you!