5 Ways Older Adults Can Reduce Stress
Tips for relieving stress tailored for seniors, based on an article from www.judsonsmartliving.org.
This article focuses on stress and the way that stress can worsen or even cause health problems. Stress is defined as being “the body’s natural reaction to a stimulus or stressor that disturbs our physical or mental equilibrium. It’s also commonly known as our ‘fight or flight’ response.”
Some of the physical signs of stress are:
- Increased pulse or heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Increased blood pressure
- Loss of sleep
If you feel particularly stressed or are noticing signs of stress in someone close to you, here are five different ways you can reduce stress.
Mindfulness/Meditation
First, mindfulness. Mindfulness is when you are able to clear your head of negative, stressful thoughts and focus on the present instead of worrying for the future. One of the main ways to achieve mindfulness is through meditation. Meditation is said to help strengthen one’s ability to accept your thoughts and worries without allowing them to impact you negatively.
Exercising
Another way to reduce stress is by exercising. Studies have shown that exercising regularly impacts the parts of the brain that control your stress level, and by going for a walk just three times a week can help lower the levels of stress you are experiencing.
Body Manipulation
Next, you can try body manipulation to control your stress. This includes activities like yoga, tai chi, and massage therapy. These forms of body therapy have benefits like:
- Decreasing blood pressure
- Enhancing concentration
Releasing helpful endorphins
Build Positive Realtionships
You can also try building positive relationships to combat your high stress levels. Getting involved in a community of sorts and being social with people who treat you with warmth is another good way to keep your stress in check. Having a support system to help you with your stressors can be a very effective form of stress relief.
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Eat Nutritiously
Finally, eating nutritious foods and avoiding sugars can help limit your stress. An easy way to do this is to cut fast food out of your diet and limit your sugary snack intake. Sugar has an overwhelmingly negative impact on the body, and this includes your stress! Eating foods with helpful vitamins and minerals is important to maintaining health of your body and mind.
