We all experience stress at some point in our lives, whether it’s due to work, relationships, or the countless challenges life throws our way. Stress is a natural response to all of the above, but it’s important to learn how to manage it. By understanding how to regulate our stress levels, we can maintain a sense of balance and well-being. Here’s 8 reasons how self-care can help to reduce your stress hormones, helping you to feel more relaxed.
1.Reduced cortisol levels
Regular self-care activities, like meditation or deep breathing, can significantly lower your cortisol levels. Lower cortisol levels help the body to return to a state of calm and balance. If you haven’t tried deep breathing or meditation before, Morphée is our relaxation aid that has over 200 guided sessions for you to listen to.
2.Promotes relaxation
Engaging in self-care activities like yoga, or having a massage, or taking a warm bath, helps to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which counteracts the stress response, decreasing the production of adrenaline and cortisol.
3.Improves sleep quality
Good sleep is foundational to self-care because it supports every other aspect of health: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Prioritising sleep sets the stage for a more balanced, healthy, and fulfilling life, helping you to reduce stress.
4.Supoprt physical activity
Exercise is a key component of self-care. When you exercise, you release endorphins, known as the happy hormones.
5.Boosts endorphin production
Self-care activities that bring joy or a sense of achievement, like hobbies or creative pursuits, can boost the production of endorphins. These “feel-good” hormones naturally lower stress hormone levels.
6.Regulates blood sugar levels
Proper nutrition, a core aspect of self-care, helps in stabilising blood sugar levels, which is crucial for regulating the release of stress hormones. Balanced meals prevent spikes in cortisol levels that can occur due to erratic blood sugar.
7.Encourages social connections
Spending time with loved ones is an important self-care activity that can reduce the release of stress hormones. Social support and connections trigger the release of oxytocin, a hormone that counters stress.
8.Improves emotional resilience
Self-care practices like journaling or therapy help build emotional resilience. By processing emotions and developing coping strategies, the body is less likely to release stress hormones in response to daily challenges.
If you have a particular stress-relieving activity you like to take part in, we would love to know!
