35 unemployed men and women who were looking for work and under a lot of stress were recruited for one study. They all did stretches, but half of them also received formal instruction in mindfulness meditation. Everyone repor
How to be better at stress by Meditation
35 unemployed men and women who were looking for work and under a lot of stress were recruited for one study. They all did stretches, but half of them also received formal instruction in mindfulness meditation. Everyone reported feeling rejuvenated and more equipped to handle the pressure of unemployment after three days. Yet only in those who practised mindfulness meditation did subsequent brain scans reveal alterations. The areas of their brains that process stress-related reactions and other regions connected to attention and calmness were more active or communicated with one another. Even though few of the mindfulness group were still practising meditation, four months later, they had significantly lower blood levels of a marker of harmful inflammation than the relaxation group.
Try the to learn more about meditation.
Put it on paper.
Writing is yet another method for reducing stress. It is predicated on the notion that everyone of us has a unique story to tell about ourselves and the world. But occasionally, our inner voice is not quite accurate. Some academics contend that by crafting and revising our own narratives, we might alter how we view ourselves and spot barriers to greater health. Research reveals the effects are real, despite the fact that it may sound like self-help rubbish.
While writing doesn't always help individuals cope with problems, according to Timothy D. Wilson, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia and the author of "Redirect: Transforming the Narrative We Live By," it may unquestionably be beneficial. Writing compels people to reconsider their problems and give them new context, he claimed.
There are several ways to harness the potential of expressive writing:
- Keep a daily journal. Just keeping a daily journal of your thoughts, emotions, and experiences might be helpful. Examine your feelings and opinions on a subject. Instead of simply reliving your stressful experiences, attempt to discover significance in them or consider how successfully you handled particular situations. To make writing a habit, practise discipline and write at the same time every day. Students who wrote about upsetting or traumatic events for four days straight at the University of Texas benefited for months thereafter. The writing students took less painkillers and made fewer trips to the campus health centre over the course of the following six months than the experiment's students who wrote on unimportant topics.
- Alter your narrative. To push yourself to face the life adjustments you need to make, use writing. Write down your goals on the first day, then list the reasons why you haven't met them (such as "I don't have the time or the money," "I have too many family duties," etc.). The following day, go through your writing. Ask yourself now: What is truly getting in the way of your objectives? Alter the narrative to regain command. Maybe this is the answer: I don't prioritise myself. Exercise is not something I prioritise. I gave in to pressure from others to spend money rather than put it away.
- Publish your purpose statement. When a person has a strong moral compass, they are better able to handle stress. This entails being aware of your personal values and using them as a compass for all decisions. People can start to pinpoint the root causes of their behaviour as well as what really drives them to change by developing a mission statement. According to Dr. Groppel, "A mission statement becomes the North Star for people." It influences your decision-making, leadership style, and boundary-setting abilities. Read our article "Creating a New Mission Statement" for more information.
Download the Well Newsletter.
Get the best of Well, including the most recent information on nutrition, exercise, and health, given to your inbox every week.