How Meditation Helps With Stress and Hormones – Welcome to Your Renewable Life

Through some research, questionnaires, and lab testing, I’ve learned that I have high cortisol and some level of adrenal fatigue. The reasons for this are a topic for another blog post. To regulate my hormones and heal my body holistically, I’ve been baby-stepping my way in making some lifestyle changes to better handle stress and aging. Even though I rarely “feel” stressed, my body and hormone panel have suggested otherwise. This post will be able how meditation helps with my stress levels and hormones.

Symptoms of high cortisol that prompted me to do my research:

Fatigue
Irritability
Headaches
Intestinal problems, such as constipation, bloating or diarrhea
Anxiety or depression
Weight gain
Increased blood pressure
Problems with regular ovulation or menstrual periods
Difficulty recovering from exercise
Poor sleep

I was experiencing all of these symptoms to some degree. Fatigue, poor sleep, and difficulty recovering from exercise were my top 3 symptoms that were the most debilitating to me.

How To Start Meditating

Concentrate on your breath. Take long slow deep breaths, building up to an 8 count, hold for 4 count, then release another 8 count. Counting in your head and repeating this breathing sequence for at least 4 breaths is a great way to get started. Counting will keep you concentrating on the present and prevent your mind from drifting elsewhere.
Use a meditation app. There are dozens of apps available for download. My favorite is Breethe. There are meditations that start at just 7 minutes and others that go for much longer. They also have topics to meditate upon, sleep aids, and hypnosis tracks. The free version has a few of these features, specifically a Beginner’s Plan. I highly suggest upgrading to their paid model because it opens up hundreds of guided meditations depending on your needs. Whether you use Breethe or another app, give it a few tries before giving up. The images below are some of the beautiful visualization scenery photos in the app.
Build meditation into your daily schedule. Don’t wait until you are stressed. I’ve found that if I don’t take 10-20 to meditate after getting ready for work, then I will usually skip it altogether. Even when I feel exhausted and rushed in the morning, I take my 10 minutes. When I finish I feel like I just woke from a really good 2-hour nap and am ready to tackle my day!

Here Are 10 Things I Learned From 30 Days Of Meditation That Improved My Stress Level and Hormones

Even 10 minutes in the morning, before I’ve had a chance to get stressed or tired, is enough to make a difference.
I took breathing for granted. Deep, focused breathing is the bomb! A nice, full, deep breath clears toxic thoughts, stress, and negativity and fills you with clean oxygen so that your blood can send energy to your cells.
Even after a night of fewer than 3 hours of sleep, a felt rested and centered for the day after a 20-minute meditation.
I have more focus throughout the day.
My energy level is higher in the afternoon.
I am sleeping longer and more soundly at night.
My productivity has improved.
I have virtually stopped emotionally eating, and haven’t binged since I started meditating.
I don’t forget why I went into another room or the name of “that” actor as frequently.
The benefits have been so noticeable. This daily task is here to stay!

Concentrate on your breath. Take long slow deep breaths, building up to an 8 count, hold for 4 count, then release another 8 count. Counting in your head and repeating this breathing sequence for at least 4 breaths is a great way to get started. Counting will keep you concentrating on the present and prevent your mind from drifting elsewhere.
Use a meditation app. There are dozens of apps available for download. My favorite is Breethe. There are meditations that start at just 7 minutes and others that go for much longer. They also have topics to meditate upon, sleep aids, and hypnosis tracks. The free version has a few of these features, specifically a Beginner’s Plan. I highly suggest upgrading to their paid model because it opens up hundreds of guided meditations depending on your needs. Whether you use Breethe or another app, give it a few tries before giving up. The images below are some of the beautiful visualization scenery photos in the app.
Build meditation into your daily schedule. Don’t wait until you are stressed. I’ve found that if I don’t take 10-20 to meditate after getting ready for work, then I will usually skip it altogether. Even when I feel exhausted and rushed in the morning, I take my 10 minutes. When I finish I feel like I just woke from a really good 2-hour nap and am ready to tackle my day!