It seems the world is a little more angry, anxious, and stressful. Because of this, self-care is now marketed like a hobby. It’s a little sad, but also good, because no matter the state of the world, it always pays to pay a little attention to our mental health. It has become so key, self-care has become a vast $450 billion market, spanning several. categories. Here are some easy self-care activities you can do anywhere.
Self-care can mean a million different things. As long as it makes you feel good and it’s a relatively healthy behavior, then it’s probably self-care. That extends to working out, staying in touch with your family and friends, and making time to tend to your needs, even when you don’t feel like it. But what many of us need most are quick self-care activities that we can do at a moment’s notice, when we find ourselves stressed out about traffic or that person who made us angry earlier that day.
A breathing exercise
Photo by Le Minh Phuong via Unsplash
If you’ve ever Googled how to destress or take care of yourself, you’ve stumbled upon breathing exercises. It feels repetitive to say it again, but it’s very true, so it must be highlighted. Breathing exercises are the most efficient way of centering you to the present, helping you get rid of the stress you’re experiencing right now. It’s also something that anyone can do, putting a timer in their phones if they want to be extra diligent, and sticking to a breathing pattern for a couple of minutes.
Going for walks can help you take some distance from whatever problem you’re having, whether it’s an argument or simply feeling stuck at work. A walk can help you put things into perspective, get your mind off of the problem, and change settings. It’s a good approach for facing a variety of problems.
Stretching
Photo by Jonathan Borba via Pexels
Going for a run or to the gym can, at times, feel too cumbersome, which is why a short stretch can help you feel active, burn a few calories, and feel good about your body. A stretch session can also help you obtain a more active lifestyle, providing plenty of occasions for relaxation and deep breaths, which, as we’ve said, are always good.
If you need something positive really fast, listening to positive music or music you love can help you get there. If you’re the type of person who enjoys making lists, something fun and helpful you could try to make an emergency self-care playlist, something filled with music you love that will put you in a good mood quickly.
Reading some pages of a book
Photo by Thought Catalog from Pexels
Reading demands some attention, asking yourself to separate from whatever problem you’re facing in order to know what’s going on in the story. While it can take you a few tries, the more you do it, the easier it’ll become to let go of something that’s stressing you. A good idea is to get a book of short stories and to read them when you have the time, using it as something calming and rewarding for your day.
Summer is the time to head outdoors and have fun. Whether swimming, pickle ball, sports, gardening or maintaining your walk/run schedule…the weather is bright, the days are long and you aren’t bundled up in heavy coat. But sometimes the heat can make it daunting…and with more heat waves, you have to take some precautions. Here are teh best tips for outdoor exercise in the heat.
Common sense says be careful and avoid the hottest part of the day. Usually around 4 pm is when the heat peaks, so between 1-5 is the worst time. You shouldn’t exercise with the same intensity and take frequent breaks, which is perfect if you are playing a sport or gardening. Water is essential, so drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration is a key factor in heat illness. Fluids helps your body sweat and cool down by staying well-hydrated with water. In fact, sweating can release endorphins in the brain which make people feel good.
Photo by Tamara Bellis via Unsplash
Manage your day, do activities in the early morning or late afternoon/evening. According a study, during hot days, the best option is to run in the early morning. This is especially true in urban locations which have concrete buildings soak up the sun throughout the day and may make late in the day runs hotter than expected.
In order to acclimatize to the weather successfully, the process must be gradual. Head out for your run earlier than usual, with your water bottle, and complete your a shorter and gentler version of your workout. Check your heart rate and your level of heat and continue to do this until you feel like you’re feeling back to normal.
Photo by Jad Limcaco via Unsplash
In order to acclimatize to the weather successfully, the workout process should be gradual. Start your activities earlier than usual, with your water bottle, and complete your a shorter and gentler version of your sports/workout/ tournament. Consider a “warm up period” where you aren’t keeping score.
An icy drink beforehand, like a slushie or a smoothie, might make your outdoor exercise more pleasant. According to researchers, you should aim to drink 16 ounces of cold fluid 20 minutes before you go out for your run or an activities sport. Avoid alcohol until you are ready to cool down.
Photo by 95839 via Pixabay
While it doesn’t keep you from overheating, wearing sunscreen can help you prevent feeling the heat when you are done. You also want to dress in layers and nothing to tight to give your body a chance to breath.
If you are starting to feel nausea, dizziness or cramps, you could be overheating. Check your heart rate and your level of heat and continue until you feel like you’re feeling back to normal. If you have symptoms, stop the workout and seek shade and some tap water. If possible, work out with a partner.
Like wine with dinner or a beer in the backyard, marijuana is becoming very common.
With almost 60% of adults drinking alcohol, it has been a staple of family events. Relatives including grandparents, cousins, adult grandkids and more have sat at a table and toasted with beer, wine or booze….and now cannabis may be in the mix. As legalization has grown, cannabis is being embraced by more people and is popping at all sorts of family gatherings. And, it seems, marijuana can bond grandparents to family.
In a third party survey sponsored by Sanctuary Wellness, some interesting data has given hope about intergenerational bonding. There are all sorts of concerns about boomers and Gen Z not relating, but marijuana like music is showing a positive trend. Nearly one in three have tried cannabis, far less than alcohol, but still a significant number. In the survey, Millennials use the most followed closely by Gen X then Gen Z and finally Baby Boomers. And while a whopping 86% of Gen Z and Millennials support the legaization of weed…a full 71% of Baby Boomers do also.
Gen Z is slowly turning away from alcohol and feel they have way more stress than their grandparents. Due to the embrace from the medical community, Boomers are starting to see cannabis as aid in dealing with chronic pain and sleep issues. The plant can be very effective without as many harsh side effects.
Once interesting factor in the survey is the use of gummies. Microdosing has become huge and Gen Z sees it as a way to manage anxiety. With gummies, you see 76% use of Baby Boomers and 72% with Gen Z….far higher than Millennials and Gen X.
For many Europeans, alcohol is a part of their culture and viewed as a social activity. In Italy for example, children are eased into drinking with a bit of wine at dinner. They’re taught from an early age that alcohol is something to drink casually and in moderation. Alcohol abuse is less coming in Italy and France due to the generation training. Maybe marijuana, which has clear medical benefits, could be another thing which generations share to make for a better life.
While in school, summer was the dream. Weeks of days open to adventure, sleeping in, exploring and hanging with friends. It held a magical quality and there usually always seemed something new to try. It turns out people carry the feeling into adulthood, in fact, a majority of adults see the summer as a chance for a bit of adventure.
Not everything is crazy like a cross country road trip, but maybe having different foods, camping or learning to grill. Data says summer is the times to try different things. One survey was clear 59% of people want to try something new this summer. Among the desires include 17% cited a desire to go to see a new state or city, while more than a third (39%) said seeing friends and family is a must for their summer vacation. Going bungee jumping, paragliding, trying marijuana and making your ice cream are also things people want to explore.
Photo by Cassie Gallegos via Unsplash
Some people have already made or have completed some of their summer wish list. Among the actives include waterskiing (44%), wakeboarding (43%), surfing (41%). Other want to learn something new like how to make water balloons, bowling and gardening. Others want to attend outdoor concerts, travel and most of explore.
And, some want to experiment with craft cocktails, summer drinks, and marijuana.
Studies have previously discovered teenagers and college students were more likely to try alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana for the first time during summer months, but a study published in the Journal for General Internist Medicine, focused its attention on age groups including adults. In addition, the researchers were interested in the time of initiation for cocaine and hallucinogenic drugs for various demographics.
Palamar, an associate professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU School of Medicine, and other researchers suggested an explanation for why people were more likely to experiment with drugs in the summer. The emergence of music festivals and outdoor concerts along with more free time in the summer.