Reduce Stress…to live a longer, healthier life

Reduce Stress

1. Stay calm and be patient – Stress, particularly angry stress, can cause you to have a stroke. In fact, men who express anger frequently are more than two times as likely to have a stroke. Find ways to defuse your anger quickly and learn to let go. Your health depends on it. Chances are what you’re so angry about is not worth the price you’re going to pay.
2. Embrace your creative side – Expressing your creativity in the form of playing music, engaging in a hobby, painting, singing, writing or any other creative endeavor can help you unwind. Take up a new hobby or learn to play a new instrument. Simply the act of learning something new is rewarding and the process is good for your brain as well!
3. Meditate – Studies have shown that people who meditate daily can add five or more years to their life. You don’t have to meditate for hours, either. Twenty to thirty minutes a day makes a big difference. Start small. Try to meditate five minutes a day and gradually increase your time. If you have trouble disciplining yourself to do even five minutes, just start with a few deep breaths and a minute of quiet gratitude before breakfast and dinner. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to do this, and just a few slow breaths slows you down as well.
4. Volunteer – Volunteers live longer. Find a cause that is near and dear to your heart and get involved. It reduces stress, connects you to your purpose, and surrounds you with positive people. You never know where it will lead you either. I began in 1998 as a volunteer at an animal shelter; now I’m on the Board, and as Vice President, I’m involved in making important decisions for the future of the shelter that really matter and are very rewarding.
5. Make time to exercise – Exercise actually provides an abundance of longevity benefits. It improves your outlook and reduces depression. It also improves blood flow and cellular function. And when it comes to stress, the endorphins that are released during exercise help you better manage stress, and exercise reduces cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone that over time can cause damage to your body as it causes inflammation. You want to avoid inflammation as it is being shown to be the basic cause of disease and aging.
6. Be social – Make good connections with people, and develop friendships. People with social connections and strong ties with friends and family have a lower stress level. They have stronger immune systems. Both lower stress levels and stronger immune systems can help you live longer.

We’ve talked about diet, mindset, and reducing stress, but that’s not all that you can do to live a longer, healthier, and happier life. There are simple lifestyle habits that you can adopt to add years to your life. We’ll explore these habits in the next post… stay tuned!

Make Major Improvements in Your Life!

Cheryl A Major, CNWC