Hunting for relaxation music and want to get really clinical about it? Marconi Union’s “Weightless” is literally the most calming song in the world– at least according to neuroscientists. Allow me to explain further. In 2011, British ambient band Marconi Union worked with sound therapists and researchers from Mindlab International to specifically design an 8-minute […]
stress relief
4 Mental Health Bath Recipes (aka Hydrotherapy!) To Improve Wellbeing
Baths are an ancient healing practice in almost every culture around the world, from the hot houses of Scandanavia and banyas of Russia to mud baths in Ecuador, hot springs in New Zealand, and ancient Indigenous parajes of the American Southwest. The therapeutic use of water to soothe mental and physical ailments (also known as […]
The 6 Best Free Meditation Apps of 2021
Whether you meditate for stress, sleep, or anxiety, these excellent free meditation apps offer a wide variety of soothing recordings to keep you calm, centered, and focused. A good meditation sets the tone for everything from a productive, inspired workday to a restorative night’s sleep. It also increases feelings of social connectedness and increases grey […]
12 Things That Are Better Predictors of Happiness Than Money, “Success”, or Accolades
If happiness is all that matters at the end of the day, then why obsess over money & success when everything you need to be happy is already within your control? This is the premise of what I call the “Dirty Dozen” of Happiness: 12 key attributes, circumstances, and personal qualities that are better predictors […]
Why Citrus Fruits Induce a Feeling of Calm
Citrus fruits are nature’s little bundles of zen, providing ideal aromatherapy for anxiety, for a number of reasons. Research from the U.S. National Library of Medicine shows that lemon and sweet orange oil, among other citrus scents, have a positive effect on physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. This is partially because the smell of citrus […]
Spiraling Thoughts? Try This Genius Hack
Spiraling thoughts are easily identifiable as any obsessive, repeat, or circuitous thoughts that grip your attention in a negative way. You become obsessed, and can’t stop thinking about that thing. This is a thought spiral, and they usually weigh you down. Spiraling thoughts make it so that it’s hard to focus on anything else, and […]
The 9 Best Free Guided Meditation Videos for Stress
In need of a good guided meditation? It’s hard to find quality apps and videos that aren’t locked behind a paywall. Fortunately, however, these free guided meditation videos on YouTube come from trusted sources who can effectively lead experienced meditators (and anxious newcomers) to experience calmness and relaxation through meditation. Below, after watching hundreds of […]
The Incredible Science of Stress Granules (and How To Counteract Them)
Stress has been something of a human paradox since the dawn of human existence. On the one hand, we humans need stress to identify danger in the environment around us. But on the other hand, if left unchecked, this unbridled stress response can lead to a host of inflammatory diseases that can cause poor health […]
25 Helpful Gifts for Stressed Out People
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that people really only want gifts that will make their lives easier. That’s why I put together this collection of gifts for stressed-out people– a collection of beautiful, functional stress relief gifts that promote mental health and wellbeing. We live at a moment in history when divisive […]
The 12 Stages of Burnout, and How You Can Recover From It
So many young people suffer from low-grade burnout– a feeling of being totally overwhelmed with a To-Do list or work obligations that never seem to end. Often, this feeling is accompanied by a sense that you will never escape this feeling. This is because anxiety, stress, and burnout are all related– fix your anxiety, and […]