These resources will help you learn about mental health and de-stress when you’re feeling overwhelmed
Stress is in the spotlight these days. The news is full of headlines about workplace burnout, new COVID-19 variants are on the rise, climate change and extreme weather are causing widespread anxiety (not to mention real, physical destruction)—there’s no shortage of reasons to be stressed out. So what’s a sane person to do?
First, take a breath. Stress has always been a normal part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in a perpetual state of uneasiness. Prioritizing your mental and emotional health isn’t a luxury; it’s essential to your wellbeing. If you’re feeling stressed (who isn’t?), the websites and apps below will help you manage your feelings and decompress, so you can recharge and be ready to face life’s ups and downs.
A 2022 Webby Winner, You Good? is a Los Angeles-based community coalition that promotes mental health awareness, but you don’t have to live in L.A. to reap the benefits of their work. The group has an online quiz to help you assess your mental state, and its website is full of helpful resources for learning about emotional health, self care, and more.
Did you know that the sounds of nature can have a demonstrable positive affect on your wellbeing? While you can’t teleport to a forest when you’re stressed, Earth.fm is the next best thing: You can tune into natural soundscapes from wild places for a quick nature fix when you need it. Better yet, Earth.fm is also working with partners to support wildland restoration projects all over the globe.
Games are a great way to unwind, especially if they’re as engaging and well-made as Unpacking. Described as a “non-action game,” this delightfully retro experience turns the chore of unpacking boxes into a meditative puzzle—with a little home decor thrown in, too. In the process of removing and arranging items, you’ll also get subtle hints about a character who never appears on-screen; you’ll have to use your imagination to fill in the blanks.
Sometimes the best remedy for a stressful day is a cup of tea. To really elevate your tea game and make it into a true wellness ritual, get Steeped, a handy app that offers step-by-step instructions for a wide range of brewing methods and tea types.
Job hunting is tough, but this helpful resource will streamline one critical part of the process: Creating your resume. Download the template and use Notion (available with a free account) to create a clean, minimalist CV that’ll let your skills and experience shine.