If you are searching for ways to reduce stress and attain peace of mind in your daily life, this article is written just for you!
Stress is a common physiological condition, that does not do serious harm to your body if that remains only for a shorter period of time. However, the harm of stress happens when it remains in the body for a prolonged period of time.
In most of the cases, these harms can be caused by a disrupted endocrine system in your body. That is, when you are stressed out, the body may release stress hormones such as cortisol into your bloodstream. This release of hormones can be beneficial again for a shorter duration and the hormonal levels should be restored in order to get the body back to function normally.
This article will help you understand, select, and follow some ways that are convenient for you to lower the levels of cortisol in your body, and thus effectively reduce long-term stress.
Best Ways To Lower Your Cortisol Levels To Reduce Stress
- Never compromise on your sleep
An uninterrupted sleep of 8 hours is mandatory for all human beings to function in a productive manner every day. If you are someone having issues with insomnia and sleep apnea, make sure to seek the help of an expert medical practitioner as soon as possible and fix the same.
Working in a shift system may also worsen the mental health condition of individuals which may eventually lead to issues such as higher cortisol levels and stress. If you are not professionally committed to an irregular sleep cycle, you can easily get back to a healthy sleep cycle by following some tips and tricks.
Avoiding bright screen exposure before bed, setting a strict bedtime routine, taking naps, reading a book before going to bed, etc. can help.
- Workout regularly
Working out on a daily basis can also be really helpful when it comes to reducing the levels of cortisol hormone in your body. Even though working out may cause the release of cortisol hormone, it will get restored within a couple of hours. And if you remain regular and disciplined with the routine, the cortisol release will reduce slowly.
Working out can also help you with the issues of your sleep cycle. Many people have reported that they have started to get sound sleep after sticking to a proper workout routine.
- The magic of mindfulness
When you feel stressed out, it is common for you to get anxious again because of the increasing stress and the stress reactions of your body. Instead of perceiving yourself as a victim of the release of cortisol hormone and increasing stress, try to observe your body during these hard times, if possible with an objective mindset.
Make sure you are letting the stressful thoughts come and go at their own pace. Practising this kind of acceptance will help you stress less, the very next time. This can also be a beautiful practice of self-love over time.
- Breathing exercises
Breathing exercises can also do wonders if you are someone who is struggling with increased cortisol levels and related stress levels. Every time, you experience increased stress, focus on your breathing pattern with all your mind. This conscious practice is proven to reduce the cortisol levels in your body quite effectively.
You may also do meditation, yoga, and other productive activities or techniques that involve breathing exercises. Even if you are totally ignorant about all those practices, you can still get the benefits by just drawing all your attention to the breaths, the inhalation, the exhalation, the rhythm, beats, literally anything and everything about it.
- Laugh out loud
Laughing deliberately and indulging in activities that stimulate laughter in you is quite important for you to have a reduced cortisol level in your body and also to have good mental and social health. You can participate in activities such as laughing yoga among a group or seek other ways to get it done.
Related Topic: Natural Ways To Lower Cortisol Levels: Stress Reduction Techniques
Conclusion
So these are some of the most effective methods that you can get your hands on for improved mental health with reduced stress and cortisol levels. You may also practise anything that you think working for you by imparting a good mood, and happiness. It is also important to be part of healthy personal and social relationships that may help you in achieving these mental health goals.
