This fall I have been hanging out at the corner of Calm and Crazed a lot. The stress levels are high, and I need to be vigilant! In addition to my “sauna workouts” and following “stress -reducing” routines, I have found this “prescription” to be helpful during my season of stress.

1. Drinking Tea:

Have you heard of l-theanine? This amino acid is found at high levels in green and black tea, while at levels as much as 5 times more in matcha tea. L-theanine actually impacts the alpha brain waves, creating a calming, focused and yet not drowsy effect on the mind. It may also induce the feeling of pleasure by affecting dopamine and serotonin. Try starting with 2-3 cups of tea a day to help increase your sense of calm! If you are not a fan of tea (and haven’t tried Pique Tea Crystals) there are supplements that can be purchased such as Jarrow Formulas Theanine 200.

2. Moderate to Intense Exercise:

We all know exercise is good for us... Science supports the idea that aerobic exercise improves our health in many ways, including reduced chance of weight gain, increased cardiovascular and metabolic health, and a lower risk of developing certain cancers. According to Dr. Rhonda Patrick, "For many people who exercise regularly, the benefits are more tangible: It simply makes them feel good. In fact, the feel-good effects of exercise may be one of the most powerful strategies available to improve a person's mental health, whether they're suffering from a mild case of mental funk or dealing with anxiety or major depressive symptoms." Moderate to intense exercise will impact how you feel today!

3. Getting in the moment:

Slowing down, being aware of what is in front of us, and engaging will have a positive impact on our stress level. This might occur through reflection and prayer, focusing on a task or hobby, time well spent talking to a friend or family member, or a walk in the park really noticing what is around you.

I learned this succulent is called an echiveras thanks to my Google Lens!

Recently, I discovered a new tool that has brought a fun twist to my “getting in the moment”. Google Lens (within the Google Photos app) is a photo tool that could improve our well-being (including reducing our stress)! Tim Ferriss points out that it does A LOT: “Search what you see with your camera, copy and translate text, find similar apparel, identify plants and animals, scan QR codes..." That means we can turn information from PHYSICAL BOOKS, our writings, or magazines into DIGITAL TEXT, and then edit, save, organize and/or share!! Using Google Lens we can find new motivation to get out and go for a walk in the park knowing that we can learn about the plants or animals we come across with a simple click.

4. Learning a new skill:

Both “pushing through” and “retreating for a break” are common strategies for dealing with stress that have their pros and cons. So what else can we do to fight the effects of stress? Scientists suggest, we try to reframe a stressful situation as a learning opportunity! "This can mean picking up a new skill, gathering new information, or seeking out intellectual challenges."

Recently, I read about a study where rats are being taught to learn to drive a tiny car in order to better understand how learning a new skills can reduce stress. In this study when the rat gripped a copper bar, while standing on an aluminium floor the car moved, and in turn, where they touched the bar determined what direction they went. Kelly Lambert, Psychology professor from the University of Richmond, describes their advancing skills, “They learned to navigate the car in unique ways and engaged in steering patterns they had never used to eventually arrive at the reward.” What was seen in this study and others showed that corticosterone (marker for stress) goes down and dehydroepiandrosterone (counteracts stress) goes up.

What would you add to this list?

Wendy Dellis is a certified wellness coach. She joins years of training and work in the area of behavior change, experience as a fitness instructor and run club coordinator with a passion for adventure and people. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, Jay, and two sons.

The information contained on this page is for general information purposes only. Nothing here should be construed as medical or healthcare advice, but only topics for discussion. No physician-patient relationship exists; please consult your physician before making changes in diet or lifestyle.