The bottom line: Even a few minutes of meditation each day can dramatically lower your stress levels. So the next time you feel your stress start to snowball, or the clouds of a funk start to descend, hit the gym, go for a bike ride, or take a brisk walk. Many natural smells that you encounter outdoors have been linked with lowering stress levels, too. Some of the scents include lavender, rose, and possibly pine. RELATED: 7 Physical Signs You’re More Stressed Out Than You Realize But taking time off helps us de-stress—and that has long-term health implications. Women who only took one vacation every six years or less were nearly eight times more likely to suffer a heart attack or develop heart disease than those who took at least two vacations every year, The New York Times reports. RELATED: Time for a Staycation: How to Kick Back, Relax, and Vacation at Home And because stress can also interfere with sleep, sleep loss and stress feed on each other. Luckily, if you’re having trouble sleeping, there are a few simple tricks to try. Stick to the same bedtime every night, lay off the booze, and read a book instead of staring at a screen before hitting the hay. And you can always opt for a nap, which has the power to stave off some of the negative effects of sleeploss and decrease the amount of stress hormones in your body.
