Tips to Stress Less

Embrace Silence

Take some of the stress out of your day with these simple stress-busting tips and tricks.

by Winnie Yu

Too much noise can stress you out, so try spending time in complete silence, especially in the morning when the level of cortisol—the stress hormone—is at its highest. Too much cortisol over time can put you at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, impaired mental performance, and even abdominal fat.

• Spend time without your cell phone, computer, and other high-tech gear that’s become embedded into daily life.
• Drive with the car radio off.
• Do household chores without the TV or iPod for background noise.