Stress is an inevitable part of today’s fast-paced society. Nowadays, people are juggling more responsibilities than ever before. Between work, deadlines, kids, pets, and social life, it’s becoming more difficult to find a balance for it all. Stress can cause negative physical and mental side effects. Some of the side effects of stress include hair loss, stomach ailments (including cramps, heartburn and IBS), insomnia, lowered immune system, heart disease, depression and more. Some side effects are very dangerous and could possibly be life-threatening.
Stress is unavoidable. There are simply too many uncontrollable circumstances that occur to live a stress-free life. There are, however, ways to boost your mood and reduce the amount of stress that we endure.
- Get sunlight! Direct sunlight, especially in the morning, can stimulate your body and brighten your mood.
- Play with a pet. Petting a dog or a cat for 15 minutes releases serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin into your body, which are all mood boosting chemicals.
- Live a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet and regular exercise have been known to reduce stress.
- Music. Listening to music is a known mood booster. Singing can boost your mood as well. An organ is the inner ear is connected to the area of the brain that recognizes pleasure.
- Eat chocolate. A chemical found in chocolate called tryptophan is said to boost levels of serotonin in the brain.
- Smile. Simple, yet effective. Even a fake smile can stimulate happiness centers in the brain.
Stress is controllable and it’s important for your mental and physical health to find ways to relax and worry less. Keep in mind that some situations are out of your control and stressing will not make it any better. Finding time to relax helps make for a healthier lifestyle.
Resources:
https://www.health.com/health/calendar/0,,20351621,00.html
https://www.everydayhealth.com/womens-health/physical-side-of-stress.aspx