Every life involves some stress. To some extent, stress serves a purpose – as lifting a heavy weight can make your muscles stronger. However, psychological stress often crosses the threshold into anxiety. When you continue to worry about events in the past, about events in the future, or you generally feel unsettled and unfocused on the present, you have a level of anxiety and stress that can be detrimental to your health.

Calming Stress Naturally

Anxiety is linked with sleep disorders, inflammatory conditions, ADHD, and other physical and mental health conditions. Sometimes, anxiety symptoms are significant enough to warrant medical intervention with prescription drugs. This decision is never made lightly, as medications that affect the brain can have unwanted side effects. Reducing anxiety and stress through natural methods is always preferable, when possible.

CBD Capsules

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural supplement that is becoming well-known for its ability to lower anxiety without negative side effects. In fact, CBD has several positive effects, including acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which can soothe some of the physiological effects of stress on the body. CBD can be delivered in a variety of ways. For long-term relief of stress and anxiety, ingesting CBD in a capsule such as these https://cbdfx.com/collections/cbd-hemp-capsules/ can produce effects throughout the day.

It’s important to note that CBD can affect the way your body processes certain medications. Those looking for natural stress relief who aren’t taking any prescriptions can safely try CBD supplements. However, those currently taking prescription drugs need to consider possible interactions.

Getting Adequate Sleep

It may be difficult to maintain sleep when you feel stressed, but it’s even more important. Lack of sleep, even just a few hours less than the optimal 8 hours per night, can affect mood and emotional stability, reduce focus, and increase the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) that stays in your system. Incidentally, CBD can also improve sleep.

Exercise

Getting regular exercise is vital to health, and reducing anxiety is just one of many reasons. Instead of adding exercise to a long and stressful to-do list, include simple daily exercises into your morning, mid-day, or evening routines as a way to lower stress. For example, if you dread starting your workday, a brisk walk outside in the morning can bring your mind into the present moment and energize you for the day ahead. If you become burnt out or unfocused by mid-day, do a quick yoga routine during lunch. Similarly, a bike ride after work can help you to switch off at the end of the day and focus on self-care.

Mindfulness

Chronic stress occurs when your thoughts too often dwell on the past or worry about the future. You can reduce stress and anxiety by focusing on the present moment. Mindfulness practices include breathing exercises, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and thought exercises such as starting or ending each day with a gratitude journal.

A Healthy Diet

The food you eat can contribute to stress in several ways. A diet high in refined carbohydrates tends to be inflammatory and contributes to weight gain, both physiological factors that are linked with chronic stress. Also, a poor diet is unlikely to provide enough of the essential nutrients your brain needs to function at its best. Unsaturated fats, B-vitamins, and antioxidants are just a few of the vital nutrients your diet should provide through food and, if necessary, through supplements.

When Stress Is Purposeful

Life requires equilibrium, so the ability to calm yourself and focus, to let go at the end of the day, and to get a good night’s sleep is vital. However, not enough is said about the true purpose of stress. Stress can be a signal that something needs to change. If there is a mismatch between your actions and your values, for example, if you are working at a job that does not fit the way you want to live your life, you will feel stress. In this case, thinking about the future and how you can change it can be immensely helpful – as long as you bring those actions into the present. Then, when you’ve done all you can for the day, you’ve got to know how to relax, let go, and be ready to do it again tomorrow.