02/08/2021
Stress management is one of the most important things about your recovery. This is because stress, even mentally-induced, increases your cortisol levels. When this stress hormone's levels are up, your immune function & the growth of your organism are slowed down. Chronic stress can lead to suboptimal recovery, mental and physical burnouts, poor sleep and overall exhaustion. Here are our best stress-management tips:
1. Meditate. Meditation is without a doubt the single most effective stress management tool. And it is quite intuitive - Simply sit down, close your eyes and drive your attention to your heart & lungs. Slow down your breathing pattern to 3-4 seconds on the inhale and 3-4 on the exhale. If intrusive thoughts come by, don't cling onto them, just let them pass and return the attention to your heart and lungs.
2. Go for a walk. A simple walk can have a massive stress-relieving effect. Emotion is energy in motion and so, even the lowest intensity exercise like walking can help you manage stress levels. Feeling stressed out? Put your shoes on and go out for a walk!
3. Read more books. Reading is not only a great way to learn new information, but also a relaxing activity to use as a stress-management tool. Books are the things that can get you to a certain, playful state of mind. Sit down, grab a book and look at the bigger picture!
4. Exercise. Last but not least, we have exercising, which is proven to lower cortisol levels. This is without a doubt one of the most effective stress-management tools. We recommend exercising for longer periods at least 3 times a week and if possible, do some type of exercise (even mental) every single day. Overall, if you include at least one of these 4 practices regularly, you will feel less stressed and more focused in your daily life.
