Stressed Out: Managing Stress in a Healthy Way
We don’t need to rehash the dumpster fire of this past year. We all know that the levels of anxiety and chaos have felt fairly out of control for much of the time. Pair that with more time spent at home and alone, and you’ve got a recipe for unprecedented levels of stress. If we don’t take the time to properly manage our stress in a healthy way, it can lead to too many negative effects on our lives. Things like low productivity, headaches, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and high blood pressure are just a few of the possible side effects. And to be completely honest, none of us really need any more negativity in our lives at the moment, right? That’s why, this Stress Awareness Month, we’ve put together a list of our favorite (and homebound friendly) ways to manage stress in a healthy way.
Meditation
Meditating for even just a few minutes per day can do wonders for your stress level and calm the mind. Anyone can practice meditation and it can be done practically anywhere. It’s easy, affordable, and doesn’t require you to invest in any fancy equipment. When meditating, the goal is to focus and untangle any of the thoughts that may be crowding up your mind. Meditating can bring you peace and balance that follows you throughout the rest of your day and can benefit your overall well being.
If you’re interested in elevating your meditation practice, it may be helpful to look into apps like Headspace, that cater to both beginners and long-time practicers.
Yoga
If you’re looking for something a bit more physical, hitting the yoga mat may be the key to destressing. Yoga is both a body and mind practice that uses physical poses, controlled breathing, and relaxation or meditation. There are many different types of yoga, but Hatha yoga is often recommended for stress management. If you’re a beginner, you may enjoy Hatha’s slower pace and easier poses.
Not quite ready to jump into a yoga studio? No problem. There are plenty of free yoga classes that can be found online through sites like YouTube and one of our favorite channels is Yoga With Adriene.
Virtual Therapy
Talking to a therapist about stress, or whatever may be causing you stress, could be the key to a happier and healthier life. Therapy can also help you work through current or past life experiences that may be causing anxiety or depression. There is no shame in talking about your feelings and we believe in taking control of your mental health.
Luckily, there are now more ways than ever to connect with a therapist. If you’re looking for an affordable way to get help and like the added bonus of not having to leave your house, virtual therapy may be the right choice for you! Sites like Better Help and Talkspace are a great place to start.
Turning Off Your Phone
This one is tough. We know. But, hear us out...turn off your phone. Being constantly connected never gives us a chance to turn our brains off and we miss out on quality time with the people around us because we can’t look away from our phones. As lovers of social media ourselves, we know that going cold turkey isn’t an option. But turning off your phone for even an hour a day, maybe right before you go to bed, can help you disconnect, unwind, and even get a better night’s sleep.
Journaling
Journaling for stress management provides the best results when done consistently. Taking a few minutes each day to write down your thoughts, feelings, ideas, or goals is a great way to check-in with yourself and keep a log of how you’re doing. Journaling helps you find clarity in your thoughts and gain valuable insight into your overall mental health. It may seem like an intimidating task to take on, especially if you aren’t keen on writing. But even creating a short, bulleted list of your thoughts and stressors at the start of the day can really help you get a clear head and manage your stress.
Outdoor Exercise
Everyone tells us that exercise is good for stress management. But, why exactly? Exercising produces endorphins which are your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. It also can increase self-confidence, clear your mind, help you relax, and elevate your mood. It can even improve your sleep and help you feel in control of your body. Take it up a notch by exercising outdoors with a long walk through a scenic neighborhood, a swim in the pool (thank you Sunshine City), or a rollerblade session through downtown to breathe in the fresh air.
Here at Hype, we take work-life balance and living a healthy, happy lifestyle seriously. It’s the key to feeling our best and doing our most creative work. Burnout isn’t doing anyone any good. This month (and honestly, for all the months to come) we encourage you to take care of yourself. Take some deep breaths, call a friend, read that book that’s been sitting on your nightstand since the beginning of quarantine, or take a bike ride by the water. It may not be easy to put stress management at the top of your priority list, but it’s so crucial to your wellbeing. You deserve to take your mental health seriously and we hope you’ll try implementing some of these simple activities into your weekly routine.