Exercise, but not too much

Exercise can either increase or decrease cortisol levels, depending on its intensity. Cortisol is up immediately after intense exercise, but it will drop a few hours later.

This quick increase helps in coordinating the body's growth to meet the challenge. Additionally, regular exercising reduces the amount of cortisol response. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of regular exercise in enhancing sleep, reducing stress, and enhancing overall health, all of which can eventually lead to a reduction in cortisol levels. It's interesting to note that regular exercise has also been linked to improved resilience to acute stress and may lessen the harmful health impacts of stress, such as increased cortisol. However, going a bit overboard can have the opposite consequence. As a result, set a goal of 150 to 200 minutes of mostly low- to moderate-intensity exercise per week, and give yourself time to recover in between workouts.