Good morning! By now, you’ve probably noticed that cortisol has become the wellness obsession of 2025. Whether it’s high cortisol levels, cortisol deficiency, or the endless array of foods, supplements, and habits promising to “balance” this steroid hormone, everyone seems to be talking about it. We’ve grown just as fixated on lowering cortisol as we are on preserving collagen.

That’s how it goes—trends and health conversations come in cycles. Right now, with our demanding, fast-paced lifestyles, reducing cortisol is top of mind. Especially if you live in a big city, rush out the door, and cram into a packed subway car: it’s almost inevitable that you arrive at work stressed, fatigued, and with cortisol levels through the roof. But cortisol isn’t all bad—it’s essential for functioning day to day. As psychologist Brenda de la Peña explains to Vogue: “Every morning when we wake up, our body produces a natural spike in cortisol that helps us get going. The challenge is keeping it steady and sufficient throughout the day, without allowing it to surge unnecessarily or remain elevated nonstop.”

So, the goal is to keep cortisol levels steady and balanced—without feeling guilty about experiencing stress. As de la Peña explains, “it’s really about becoming aware of our tendency to switch into autopilot mode, which we do to conserve mental energy. We move through our days on default, draining ourselves and reacting automatically to whatever comes our way. But in many cases, we can simply choose to let those moments pass. Our energy is finite, and constant stress doesn’t exactly work in our favor.”

As soon as you wake up: Resist reaching for your phone

Chances are, you found yourself here after some late-night Googling and scrolling, looking for ways to lower high cortisol levels. So this first suggestion might feel a bit ironic—but hear us out.

It’s incredibly hard to break the habit of grabbing your phone the moment you open your eyes. Yet, as De la Peña explains, this is often exactly what triggers that initial cortisol surge. Rather than gradually easing into the day and the flood of information around us, we bombard ourselves all at once—instantly inviting stress.

“Every little notification sets off a chain reaction of neurotransmitters, including cortisol, preparing us to fight an emotional battle before we’ve even left bed. That drains our energy reserves and keeps us from having our best day,” she says.

Try using a simple clock alarm instead of your phone, avoid checking emails or messages while you’re still under the covers, and hold off on screen time for as long as you can.