1. Exercise
Over time, chronic stress contributes to neuronal death and slows down neurogenesis. In contrast, studies show that aerobic physical exercise helps build up new neurons and connections. Exercise is a great tool to counteract the effects of stress on the brain. This has been shown in a study looking at middle-age and older adults. The 2012 study reported that people who did not exercise much exhibited greater stress-related atrophy of the hippocampus compared to people who exercised more.