To first learn how to relieve stress, it is important to know its causes.
Stress is inextricably linked our thoughts. Every day, people face a multitude of experiences or situations that leave them with feelings of stress or anxiety. From work situations, to the drive home, to mustering up the energy to prepare and cook dinner. Stressors are always there, happening minute by minute.
What causes stress in the first place? Stress is often triggered by adverse or overwhelming moments in one’s life. Many forms of stress are impossible to prevent or avoid; thus, it is important to learn how to cope, instead.
To relieve stress, one may consider the following:
- Brain exercises
- Mindfulness meditation
- Top rated nootropics
Below we’ll look at how these can help reduce the effects of stress on the mind, body, and our overall health.
The Benefits of Brain Exercises for Coping with Stress
You can use brain exercises to combat stress from increasing. As well, these methods reduce the overall effects of stress.
One effective way to relieve stress is to relax and stay calm when confronted with a trying situation. This can include practicing techniques such as mindfulness meditation. These methods will help you center the mind and clear away negative or anxious thoughts.
Brain exercises are similar to exercises one would perform to build muscle. However, when performing brain exercises to reduce stress, we strengthen the mind in order to combat stressors.
What Are Nootropics and How Do They Help?
Nootropics are a class of drugs that influence and increase cognitive function, including motivation, memory, and even creativity.
According to sources, Dr. Corneliu Giurgea introduced the word nootropic in 1972, a Romanian doctor. It combines the words “mind” and “bend.”
So, how do nootropics work?
First, they reduce symptoms of fogginess and mental fatigue, thus improving cognition. Studies demonstrate that with improved cognition, the body’s and the brain’s response to stress appears to be less severe, and thus, less detrimental.
Furthermore, when a person is stressed, the brain signals for the production of the stress-related hormone cortisol. Large amounts of cortisol may be responsible for weight gain, according to some scientific studies. Other research shows that elevated cortisol may lead to health problems such as decreased bone density, high blood pressure, heart disease, and more.
Nootropics may help weaken the body’s cortisol response. Thus, the negative impact of stress is less severe.
Most Effective Brain Exercises that Relieve Stress
Now that we know the benefits of brain exercises for coping with stress, what are some of the most effective brain exercises?
Below are seven effective brain exercises that relieve stress.
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- Mindfulness Meditation: According to sources, the act of mindfulness meditation may even increase the brain’s ability to deal with or cope with stressful situations.
- Writing Thoughts Down: If you had a stressful day at home or work and would like to work out that stress, you may also try writing down some of your feelings and thoughts. For some, this exercise is very cathartic and can help the brain organize and sort through some of the things which may be causing stress.
- Focused Breathing: To relieve stress using a simple method, you may try the simple breathing technique of counting in 1-2-3 and exhaling for 1-2-3. It is best that you do this at a slow pace and with control and focus on the abdomen.
- Body Scan: Performing the body scan exercise is fairly simple. To do this, you simply lie down and concentrate on the crown of your head. Then, you move your awareness down and throughout your body until you reach the very tips of your toes. You can also do this in the reverse order. This practice is very relaxing. Interestingly, some people who try this exercise for stress reduction even report falling asleep.
- Soothing Thoughts: Replacing unpleasant thoughts with soothing ones is an intuitive, simple way to stop stress from building. How does this work, exactly? By introducing pleasant thoughts or scenes, you are essentially not allowing your body to fixate on anxiety and stress, which generally makes stress grow even more.
- Share Your Thoughts: Picking up the phone or sharing your thoughts with a nearby loved one is another simple technique that may reduce stress. How does this help? By venting and allowing your stressors out and having someone else hear your problems in a supportive manner, it allows stress to escape, allowing you to cope. At times, having someone hear your troubles help you gain perspective and become more calm.
- Laugh: Laughing is not only a superficial way to seemingly reduce stress. It can reduce stress hormones while increasing positive corporeal responses, such as immune cells. According to sources, laughter wakes up organs and improves the body’s intake of oxygen-rich air. Laughing can also increase endorphins in the brain. As well, the body releases these substances during exercise to promote feelings of happiness, and even euphoria.
Brain exercises for reducing stress are often simple. Yet, they are effective in regulating your body’s response to stressful situations. Learning to cope with stress can, in turn, help prevent the negative health consequences of living under constant stress.
Conclusion
Stress is an unavoidable function of life. However, too much stress can lead to health problems and even mental clarity issues. In order to keep your mind and body functioning at its best, it is important to practice brain exercises to relieve stress. Further, it is vital to eliminate as many sources of stress as possible.
Please leave a comment if there are other mental practices you enjoy that help you to relieve stress and boost your sense of wellbeing.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105046489690011X
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037
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