4. Make a Gratitude List
We know that the most healing emotion is
gratitude. It is truly important to reflect on the
aspects of life that we are most appreciative of.
Gratitude does reflect attitude. It is best to make
a list or journal so that you can think about
what you are most thankful for. This is also a
great way to start or end your day to make
sure that you are not stressed first thing in the
morning or last thing before going to bed.
5. Exercise
It is important to make sure that you are getting
the right type of exercise depending on what
you are going through. If you are experiencing
times of higher uncontrolled stress than it
might be better to do fewer intensity exercises
that don’t increase your already elevated
cortisol levels. No matter what, movements
help to release endorphins and other positive
chemicals that help to decrease the stress
response in the body. So get moving!
6. Practice Mindfulness and Be Present
Mindfulness is paying attention on purpose
and staying in the present moment. People
who utilize mindfulness practices have been
shown to have increased personal awareness
and decreased emotional negativity and
reactivity. Ultimately this leads to an increased
awareness of stress and a better ability to
cope. There is a lot of research out there that
practicing mindfulness in college students
leads to a reduction of stress. That is why
these practices are so important to incorporate
into your life to help to decrease the stress
response.
7. Laugh
Laughter has so many benefits. Proven
benefits at that! It is known to increase
feel-good hormones such as endorphins
and neurotransmitters. It also stimulates
other organs like your heart, lungs, and
muscles. Laughing with others makes you
feel connected to others. And there is even
research that laughing reduces those stress
hormones that wreak havoc on your body
while increasing oxygen that promotes
healing and optimal function.
8. Connect with individuals
It is so important to feel a sense of purpose
and to connect with others. The feeling of
purpose helps to bring meaning into our lives
by clarifying what is most important to us. Most
people agree reflecting back on their lives that
the most important thing is the relationships
they formed and love they shared with others.
And the more you have a purpose in the world,
the less alone you feel. This helps to bring
serenity into your life and focus on your goals.
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