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Effective ways to deal with stress

Homepage Articles Effective ways to deal with stress

Effective ways to deal with stress

Long-term exposure to stressors can have many health consequences, and now everyone is exposed to them at work, at school, and at home, and underappreciated ways to deal with stress are healthy lifestyles and regular physical activity, which some people can cope with perfectly well, but some people don't find that easy.

Table of Contents

1. How physical activity can help you cope with stress

Physical activity is a very good tool for lowering cortisol (the stress hormone) and increasing the release of many symptoms of depression (the so-called happiness hormones), which in addition to improving mood and well-being also significantly affect stress reduction (Ch.M. Regular exercise also affects the human psyche; regular physical activity, especially in later adulthood, prevents the development of many depressive symptoms (G.J. Crews also shows that among adolescents, regular exercise in the context of physical activity has had a lower impact on the functioning of the body than physical exercise during stress, as well as a decrease in negative emotions (D.A. J. Landers has shown that regular exercise has improved well since its inception).

2. How can you cope with stress?

Regularity is very important here. Exercise intensity should be avoided individually, taking into account, first of all, the level of development, health status and ability. Otherwise, instead of reducing stress levels, the opposite effect can be achieved. It has been observed that when people engage in physical activity, we consider this strategy to be more effective in improving their stress levels.

3. I'm going to tell you something, and you're going to have to tell me something

To confirm this thesis, researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a study of 36 adults. The subjects could walk at any time of the day, for any length of time, without using their cell phones, reading books, or doing any extra physical activity. Nature's breast walk was shown to be an effective way of coping with stress. Hunter, B.W. Yu-Pu Chen, 2019). They promoted a reduction in stress levels, especially in the natural environment. For eight weeks, participants walked three times a week in nature for at least 10 minutes. Cortisol levels were measured on the basis of a blood sample.

4. It's a mountain trip

So it's a good idea to leave your daily routine behind from time to time and go on a full-day or multi-day trip to the mountains to relax and regain your strength. Getting along with nature away from everyday worries and responsibilities, lack of reach, quietness, and tranquility have a beneficial effect on your nerves. Mountain hikes can also help reduce stress levels, especially for people who live in a busy city every day.
Source

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Hunter M.C.R., Gillespie B.W., Yu-Pu Chen S., Urban nature experiences reduce stress in the context of daily life based on salivary biomarkers, „Frontiers in Psychology” 2019, 10, 722.
Łuszczyńska A., Nadwaga i otyłość. Interwencje psychologiczne, Warszawa 2007.
Crews D.J., Landers D.M., A meta-analytic review of aerobic fitness and reactivity to psychosocial stressors, „Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise” 1987, 19(5), 114–120.
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