17 Science-Backed Ways to Relieve Stress Right Now!

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• published: 15 Apr 2016
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10 Steps to Fast Weight Loss + Full Course: http://courses.thehealthnerds.com/p/the-science-of-fast-weight-loss Is there anybody who doesn’t feel stressed these days? Between work and school and zombie TV shows and money and Youtube and family and relationships and EVERYTHING ELSE... The problem is that stress is actually highly damaging to our health and well being. And chronic stress has been associated with: Poor sleep, Low testosterone levels, High blood pressure, Heart attacks, infertility and erectile dysfunction, Damaged Skin, Stubborn body fat, and lots of other terrible things you don’t want in your life. That’s why today, The Health Nerd is going to show you 17 Science Backed Ways to Relieve Stress Right Now! 1. Eat Something or chew gum. Science has shown that just chewing on something lowers stress. To avoid the calories, you can always just chew the sugar free gum. 2. Do yoga. It has been proven to lower resting cortisol levels and greatly reduce stress in its regular practitioners. Just 20 minutes of yoga will give you these effects. 3. Meditate. Just 5 minutes of concentrated deep breathing and meditation has been shown to both lower blood pressure and greatly reduce cortisol. There are plenty of free guided mediation apps for beginners that can be downloaded on your phone right now. 4. Walk away from the computer. Uninterrupted computer use has been associated with stress, lost sleep, and depression. Take frequent breaks throughout your day, and make sure to shut it off 1 hour before you fall asleep. 5. Cuddle something. Oxytocin, also called the cuddle hormone, gets released when you spend time with others or cuddle. This hormone has been shown to create a buffer against stress and will lower your heart rate and cortisol when released. 6. Listen to some stress relieving music. Research points to multiple ways in which music can help relieve stress and trigger biochemical stress reducers. There are plenty of great Youtube videos for this, and I will link my favorites in the description. 7. Watch a funny video. Laughter has also been show to reduce the physical effects of stress and lower blood pressure. So next time you’re feeling stressed or anxious, science says to watch a funny cat video! 8. Try progressive muscle relaxation. All the way from the fingers to the toes, tense and then relax each muscle group in the body. This will help relieve tension and you’ll find that once the muscles are relaxed, the mind will soon follow. 9. TURN YOUR FREAKIN PHONE OFF. Just talking on the phone has been shown to raise blood pressure. Whenever you need a break, just turn your phone on airplane mode for an hour and put it out of sight. 10. Hop off Facebook for a week. Facebook has been proven to make us feel sadder and less satisfied. Studies have also shown that when people deactivate it, they feel happier and less worried. 11. Go for a 10-minute walk. Just walking around your neighborhood for 10 minutes will boost endorphins and reduce stress hormones. If you can, walk in a park or a place with nature for greater effects. 12. Use your nose There are plenty of studies that support aromatherapy as a good way to reduce stress. Certain scents, like lavender and peppermint, have been shown to repeatedly reduce stress levels. 13. Take vitamin C. Vitamin C has been shown to stop cortisol in its tracks, and thus, lower your stress levels. If you don’t have a vitamin c pill or package around, you can always drink some lemon water for a quick boost. 14. Write your feels. Keeping a gratitude journal has been shown to make people feel happier over time. Even doing something as simple as writing out 3 new things you’re grateful for every morning in your phone will work. 15. Take a cat nap. Napping has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and aid in stress relief. A simple 20-30-minute nap is perfect for a boost of energy and a reduction in stress. 16. Have sex. Sex, well, at least after you’ve finished the deed, has been shown to reduce stress levels. 17. Buy a puppy. Studies have shown dog owners to be less stressed than others. Most likely from the ability to cuddle with something and take badass Instagram photos. Video inspired by: Greatist.com http://bit.ly/1hiuiHJ Huffingtonpost.com http://huff.to/1O8LvDE Favorite stress relieving Youtube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZLRjXorI_4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAPE_3513PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ziw4yd5R0QI Studies used in this presentation: http://1.usa.gov/1qPcKv4 http://1.usa.gov/1p7H174 http://1.usa.gov/1ySRGDg http://1.usa.gov/1YAdted http://1.usa.gov/1kyVrKh http://1.usa.gov/1qPcRXH http://1.usa.gov/1NuTHLk http://1.usa.gov/1VwCgCH http://1.usa.gov/1W7SUXF http://1.usa.gov/VJTaRc http://1.usa.gov/1SdZtDb http://1.usa.gov/23OALk9 http://1.usa.gov/1TbPpwK http://1.usa.gov/1qxTNfV http://1.usa.gov/1VsDy0K http://1.usa.gov/1XBW2tH http://1.usa.gov/1VwCrhc Thanks for being here :)