Stress Awareness Month: Lightening the Load (With a Dash of Humor)
It’s April—stress knows no season, but we’re here to remind you that it’s indeed Stress Awareness Month. A national effort to shut the lights on our everyday tension and shine a spotlight on how to stop the panic marathon without losing your breath.
Ask the Experts (Because Who Else Would ?)
- Clinical Psychologist – “Talk it out. Therapy can be like a mental spa, and you deserve a bubble bath of insight.”
- Pastor – “Pray and chew on that scripture—let faith be the wind that lifts your worries.”
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker – “Build your support circle. When you’re surrounded by empathy, stress drops like bad Wi‑Fi.”
- Poet – “Write. Paint. Converse with words. It’s the best way to invent your own anti‑stress potion.”
- Retired Teacher – “Teach yourself a new skill; learning is the key that keeps anxiety’s snooze button from ever turning on.”
- Dysfunctional Relationships Expert – “Pour out those grievances. If you’ve not listed them, just give them a free space. It’s therapy for your soul.”
- Child Development Specialist – “Inject play into your day. Even adults benefit from the simple joy of a spontaneous game.”
Walk the Talk: The Story of Janet Ruth Heller
Meet Janet Ruth Heller—a poet, a storyteller, and a walking therapist who knows how to turn a stroll into a stress reduction session. She isn’t just going on a walk‑and‑write routine; she’s turning her daily wander into a personal mantra and a virtual therapy session.
“When I step out for a quick hike around my neighborhood or a park, I pause. I take a breath. I let my eyes absorb the little wonders—kids running, squirrels doing their own little terror, trees celebrating a blossom, and a symphony of birdsong—plus random geezers strumming apparently perfect guitars, flutes, and even oboes. Those sounds? Mojo soothing. After getting that natural playlist swirling inside me, I head to my notebook and let these feelings flop onto the paper. The result? Reduced anxiety, more control, better self‑understanding. It’s like a stress detox: one side product is no longer tensing up; the other is gaining a calm, stable You.”
In short, the secret sauce? Step outside. Savor the little things. Let music, even if it’s from an amateur guitarist in the park, seep into your pocket of peace. Then, channel that calm into written form—a catharsis that takes the heavy heart in a less lifted bullwark.
What you can do right now
- Take a Mini Walk right after your morning coffee. Feel the earth under your feet.
- Listen to the surrounding sounds. Guess those instruments… or just laugh.
- Write down what you feel. Even a single line can be a balm.
- Repeat. Try it 3 times a week.
That’s all for now—your mission to keep calm are simple. Get out there, breathe, write, and give stress a polite goodbye. If you’re still sat inside the office chair after that, consider a quick stretch or a short lunch walk. Go make yourself a cup of tea and test your internal zen glass. Good luck, and be kind to yourself—you’ve earned that laugh‑off. Happy Stress Awareness Month!
