Have your checked your 401k balance lately? Tried to buy a home? How about help your kid with Common Core math homework? Let’s not even get into the whole commute thing.
That’s probably why you are feeling so stressed out right now. Living in the Bay Area these days basically means coping with stress is a major part of your week. But take heart: You are not alone in this. We’ve got your back with 5 easy ways to reduce the stress in your life.
Take a hike
Nature has magical stress-busting powers. A recent German study, cited in Nature, found that living near a forest had a positive impact on brain elasticity and the workings of the amygdala, the part of the brain that regulates the stress of your fight or flight response. In another study conducted by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, nature proved to be a key factor in longevity. If you don’t want to hike up a mountain, take a stroll through the park.
Keep a journal
Remember that diary you had as a kid? Turns out it was really good for you. Writing in a journal can help you get things off your chest, as the Chicago Tribune noted. It helps relieves the sense of pressure without having to resort to medications. Get it all out on paper.
Move it
There’s a link between physical fitness and brain health, as Forbes notes. Exercise taps into a well of good feelings by letting loose endorphins, which reduce stress. Work out when stress hits and you will often find yourself with a solution to your worries.
Play the piano
Tickling the ivories can reduce stress, according to a study published in the International Journal of Music Education. Music soothes the savage anxiety, so take a few minutes a day to tune up your instrument.
Digital detox
Unplugging. It’s not just for millennials anymore. Anyone can do it. The constant pinging of our devices can keep us on edge 24/7 so loosen the electronic leash. Resist the urge to check the phone, especially while driving. Set time limits. If the urge is to hard to fight, try the new Forest app, which grows a virtual tree that gets bigger the longer you resist.
