Huffington Magazine Issue 85 | Page 85

Exit of sleep in order to curb their stress. Not catching the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night can severely affect stress and your physical health, according to research published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The study showed that severe sleep loss had the same negative effect on the immune system as exposure to stress, decreasing the white blood cell counts of those sleepdeprived participants. Naps can also be an instant stress reliever. Studies have shown that taking naps can reduce cortisol levels, as well as boost productivity and creativity — as long as they’re kept short. Professionals recommend fitting in a short, 30-minute siesta early enough in the day so it doesn’t affect your sleep cycle at night. THEY SOCIALIZE. When calm people start to feel anxious, they turn to the one person who can make them feel better — their BFF. Spending some time with your friends can reduce your stress and buffer the effects of negative experiences, according to a 2011 study. Researchers monitored a group THE THIRD METRIC HUFFINGTON 01.26.14 of children and found that those participants who were with their best friends during unpleasant experiences logged lower cortisol levels than the rest of the participants in the study. Recent research also found that becoming friends with your co-workers can help you feel calmer at work. According to the Lancaster University study, people form the strongest, most Letting in a little stress isn’t all bad — in fact, it may even help.” emotionally-supportive friendships in their work environments, which helps create a buffer in high-stress workplaces. Carlstrom suggests burning off some steam with people you feel closest to, whether that’s friends, co-workers or family, “as long as there’s a diversity in your social relationships.” THEY DON’T KEEP IT TOGETHER ALL THE TIME. Calm people don’t have everything together 24 hours a day, they just know how to manage