5 healthy Habits to Effectively Reduce Stress

If you’re feeling stressed, you’re not alone! There's a growing number of people  stressing over workload, perfectionism, and creating a balance between work and personal life.

We’ve developed some methods to manage stress and ultimately reduce the likelihood of suffering from thenumerous consequences that are associated with stress.

1) Get some fresh air

This cannot be emphasised enough. Whether it’s going for a walk, running, bike riding or just laying down in the park, getting some fresh air and sunshine will clarify your thoughts and calm you down.  

Also serves as a source of Vitamin D to give you the adequate levels that are required for calcium absorption that you may be lacking in the colder months of the year.

2) Add Adaptogens to your diet

Phytotherapy refers to the use of plants for their healing abilities, which includes the class of plants called Adaptogens, which balance, restore and protect the body. The notion was developed with scientific research in 1947, with properties increasing tolerance to stress.

According to Herbalist David Winston, author ofAdaptogenic herbs the top 7 most important Adaptogen herbs to add to your meals include:

• Panax Ginseng to improve calmness and aspects of working memory performance
• Holy Basil as an anti-aging supplement, it helps to lower blood pressure and improve immune system functioning
• Ashwagandha to prevent stress related ulcers, prevent weight increase and help to stabilise cortisol levels
• Astragalus Root decrease certain stress hormones and improves the stress response
• Licorice Root regulates hormone levels associated with stress
• Rhodiola increase mental performance and decreases cortisol response
• Cordycep Mushrooms for better regulated cortisol levels after exercise-induced stress.

3) Get a good sleep

Getting a good sleep maximises athletic performance, as poor sleep has been linked to slower physical movement and lower strength, with greater difficulty performing daily activities. Also, sufficient sleep is crucial to social interactions, important for various aspects of brain function, as getting the required 7-9 hours of sleep can enhance cognition, concentration, productivity and performance.

4) Meditation and yoga

Having some quiet time allows us to process our thoughts and emotions in a calm way, to manage the situation at hand and process the thoughts moving forward in a constructive manner.

All you need is 15 minutes out of each day, schedule in time each day and stick to the routine. Save money and do it from your own home in the comfort of whatever you want to wear.

5) Get social – People need people

Lacking a social connection is worse for your wellbeing than obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure. Taking time out of your busy week to get together with family or a friend will have a positive influence on physical and mental health, “lowering the occurrence of stress, depression, anxiety and also highly affect the endocrine-immune system.”