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Practice just a few of these habits daily to protect against stress.
- Exercise: Physical exercise influences brain and body health and may help reduce the cumulative effects of stress.7
- Balanced nutrition: Nutrients from our diet directly impact the growth and repair of brain cell and fuel our ability to cope with physical and emotional stressors. 1, 2
- Quality sleep: Quality sleep is healing and restorative which enhances our cognitive and physical health and our ability to manage stress. 5, 9
- Relaxation and meditation practices: Daily practice promotes a state of relaxation, enhances positive wellbeing, and can enhance physical and mental health for stress management. 3, 4
- Setting goals: Helps to reduce stress hormones and may increase a sense of control and accomplishment.8
- Positive perspective: Provides hope and helps us keep us moving forward.8
- Social supports: Connection with others helps to reduce stress, and may increase mental wellbeing and positive experiences.8
References
- Bremner, J. D., Moazzami, K., Wittbrodt, M. T., Nye, J. A., Lima, B. B., Gillespie, C. F., ... & Vaccarino, V. (2020). Diet, stress and mental health. Nutrients, 12(8), 2428.
- Godos, J., Currenti, W., Angelino, D., Mena, P., Castellano, S., Caraci, F., ... & Grosso, G. (2020). Diet and mental health: Review of the recent updates on molecular mechanisms. Antioxidants, 9(4), 346.
- Li M., Wang L., Jiang M., Wu D., Tian T., Huang W. (2020). Relaxation techniques for depressive disorders in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 24(3), 219–226.
- Riches, S., Azevedo, L., Bird, L., Pisani, S., & Valmaggia, L. (2021). Virtual reality relaxation for the general population: a systematic review. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 56, 1707–1727.
- Rivera-Kloeppel, B., & Mendenhall, T. (2021). Examining the relationship between self-care and compassion fatigue in mental health professionals: A critical review. Traumatology.
- Su, M. R., & Shum, K. K. M. (2019). The moderating effect of mindfulness on the mediated relation between critical thinking and psychological distress via cognitive distortions among adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1455.
- Venkatesh, A., Edirappuli, S. D., Pedersen Zaman, H., & Zaman, R. (2020). The effect of exercise on mental health: a focus on inflammatory mechanisms. Psychiatria Danubina, 32(suppl. 1), 105–113.
- Waters, L., Algoe, S. B., Dutton, J., Emmons, R., Fredrickson, B. L., Heaphy, E., ... & Steger, M. (2022). Positive psychology in a pandemic: Buffering, bolstering, and building mental health. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 17(3), 303–323.
- Wong, M. L., Lau, E. Y. Y., Wan, J. H. Y., Cheung, S. F., Hui, C. H., & Mok, D. S. Y. (2013). The interplay between sleep and mood in predicting academic functioning, physical health and psychological health: A longitudinal study. Journal of psychosomatic research, 74(4), 271–277.
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Last Updated: March 19, 2024