SUPPLEMENTS TO QUELL STRESS

While you’re waiting for a little silence to reduce your stress load, you might want to try the following supplements.

Ashwagandha may help reduce cortisol, stress, and anxiety.

Rhodiola is used to help cope with stress and is helpful for managing symptoms of burnout.

L-theanine may help reduce heart rate during acute stress and improve cognitive performance.

Lavender essential oil diffused as aromatherapy has been shown to reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, and promote alpha and theta brain waves associated with relaxation and meditation, respectively.

Even the busiest and most meditation-averse of us can hop on this bandwagon, because all it involves is sitting in silence, without having to clear your mind or quit your job! Intermittent silence offers a much less intimidating introduction to meditation.

“Meditation doesn’t happen when you are being guided, when the music is in the background, or when you are chanting ‘Om,’” says Bhatta. “Meditation happens in the silence.”

Reaping the benefits

In Bhatta’s experience, intermittent silence cultivates inner silence, which can help you navigate emotional storms with ease. “People who start doing it find it brings quietness and peace in their life and gives rest to the brain,” says Bhatta. “If you can find some peace, what more do you want?”

Psychology researchers suggest that inner silence increases self-awareness and is a powerful stress-relieving tool that can be used to reduce overstimulation from one’s environment. Research has also found that the practice of silence can enhance one’s sense of personal belonging and purpose and contribute to feelings of interconnectedness between oneself and the world.