Tag: stress reduction

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12.22.22 | Arts & Culture

The Benefits Of Reading A Book

There’s no better time to snuggle up next to a fireplace and pick up a favorite book or one that’s been on your radar for a while than winter. For many, reading a book is one of life’s greatest comforts, but it can also be an escape from the turbulence of everyday life. From loneliness and stress to relationship issues, today we’re exploring how reading impacts our mental health and well-being. 

A 2013 study conducted by the Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy journal found that patients with mild depression saw improvements in mood, behavior and other depressive symptoms after reading. Another study published by The New School for Social Research discovered that those who read a fiction book experienced an improved Theory of Mind, which is our ability to empathize and understand others’ views and beliefs. 

Because of the wealth of benefits that comes with reading, bibliotherapy – a therapeutic approach using books and other forms of literature – is becoming progressively utilized. Dr. Paula Byrne, an author and founder of ReLit, is one of many running workshops in schools, prisons and halfway houses. 

Byrne states that bibliotherapy isn’t meant to replace medicine; instead, it’s used to complement it. Literature has the power to transport the reader to different places. It can relax, calm, excite or humor them. And while self-help books, relatable non-fiction and mood-boosting fiction books all make for amazing options, Byrnes finds that poetry does wonders for entering a different headspace. 

The bottom line is that reading contributes to a vibrant life. And the best part about it is that there’s a book for everyone. Explore our book recommendations and essential Chicago book list, or visit your local library or bookstore to discover something new today!

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06.16.22 | Community & Lifestyle

Simple Ways You Can Expel Stress This Summer

As one of the pillars for our model of 9 Ways of Vibrant Living at Sage Collective, we believe stress reduction is crucial to living a vibrant life. And while stress is a normal component of life, our focus isn’t to eliminate it but rather to learn how to manage, control and minimize it. Today, we’re spotlighting four tools everyone can utilize this summer and throughout the year to reduce stress:

Get Outside

Spending time outdoors is one of the easiest ways to relieve stress throughout the summer. While sunshine is accessible year-round, summertime is when you can benefit the most from the vitamin D it supplies! Vitamin gain leads to stronger and healthier bones and boosts immune systems. Research has even found that exposing yourself to fresh air and natural light for as little as 15 minutes a day helps to decrease emotional distress. 

Spend Time With Friends and Family

Time outdoors isn’t the only thing you should be adding to your daily routine in the summer. Another way to assure less stress and anxiety is by spending more time with your friends and family. As the proverb goes, “it takes a village.” Community and safe spaces are extremely significant to our wellbeing, especially when going through a stressful time. So, setting aside time to spend with family and friends is a sure way to help you stay stress-free! 

Reflect on Your Day

Whether it’s prayer, meditation, or simply practicing gratitude, taking time to reflect on your day is another way you can expel stress. As little as ten minutes of any of those activities can leave a profound impact on how you view your days, even when you may be facing stress. Along with reflecting on your own, taking opportunities to practice acts of service is another powerful way to relieve stress while engaging with your community and building relationships!

Take a Nap

Naps aren’t reserved for just little kids and are much better for our health than many people realize. Along with being a great way to break up your day and provide a much-needed break, naps have been found to lower the risk of heart disease, increase the body’s energy and lower stress! Naps don’t have to be long either; studies show that the most beneficial nap length for our bodies is only 10 to 15 minutes.

Living with stress isn’t enjoyable for anyone, but once we utilize the correct techniques and tools, controlling and minimizing stress is much easier than it sounds.

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05.19.22 | Community & Lifestyle

The Best Houseplants to Bring Life to Your Living Space

At Sage Collective, we recognize the vast health benefits that come with getting your hands dirty and gardening. Whether it’s a community garden, a personal herb garden, or simply adopting a few plants for your home, surrounding yourself with greenery helps improve everything from the air to your mood. We’ve previously shared our tips for caring for houseplants, but today, we’re exploring which plants would make the best fit for your home. Whether you’re a gardening expert or new to the plant world, here’s our guide on the best houseplants to bring life to your living space. 

Snake Plant

Snake Plants are one of the most popular houseplants for a reason – actually, many reasons! Not only do they adapt to any space they are put in, large or small, but they are one of the easiest plants to take care of. Whether you have an abundance of natural light in your home or are lacking the sun’s rays, your Snake Plant will find a way to thrive in any corner. And, even though they range from one to four feet tall, they still make the perfect plant for small spaces, considering the little width they take up. 

Boston Fern

A fern is an essential element of any person’s indoor plant collection, and what better option than the Boston Fern? Don’t let the fern aspect of the plant scare you. While it loves humanity and bright, indirect light – making it the perfect porch plant – it’s pretty easy to care for. Not only will they supply your living environment with lush greenery, but ferns are also known for their ability to clean the air they live in. Another benefit of the Boston Fern is that it is pet safe for dogs and cats! 

Monstera

What is often presented as just the trendy plant is actually one of the best plants to invite life to your indoor space. Because they exude tropical, lush energy, Monsteras can quickly transform the feel of any environment. They are easy to care for, considering they do best in bright, indirect sunlight, aren’t strict with watering, and usually alert you with visual cues when they need some extra attention. 

Anthurium

You can’t have an indoor garden without having at least one blooming beauty. While there are many options to choose from, we believe Anthuriums are the best all-around flowering plant for your indoors. Surprisingly easy to care for, Anthurium plants are a great beginner plant for those who are scared they might not have the green thumb for a blooming plant. They love water and humid environments and, when completely satisfied, will bloom the most vibrant red flowers. 

Whether you’re looking to decrease stress and anxiety, hope to improve your air quality and mood, or simply want to brighten up your living environment with some greenery, adopting a houseplant – or a few – is sure to benefit you more than one way. So, what are you waiting for; Find your local plant store and discover the perfect plant to bring a little extra life into your living space.

 

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12.03.20 | Health & Wellness

Vibrant Living Breakdown: Stress Reduction

At Sage Collective, we have adopted, and vigorously promote, 9 Ways of Vibrant Living, as a model that champions high-quality living, and is the backbone of our philosophy. Today, we’re unpacking the third of our nine components: stress reduction. We believe that stress is a natural component of life for all of us, and our focus is not to totally eliminate stress, but rather learn to manage, to control and to minimize it.

The famous serenity prayer goes: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” In that vein, Mayo Clinic provides 4 A’s that should be a part of every person’s stress management toolkit: Avoid, Alter, Accept and Adapt. 

Oftentimes, the majority of stressors in our lives are things we can simply Avoid. Avoidance requires us to first acknowledge what triggers stress for us: is it traffic on the way to running errands, or a rude neighbor? Taking the time to plan strategically to avoid these stressors is well worth the effort. Stress also comes from feeling overextended in our responsibilities. Time management and prioritizing what is most important to you is one way to treat this, and even includes saying no to favors you aren’t in a position to take on.

For those things you can’t avoid: Alter. Perhaps you’d like to begin rectifying your relationship with that rude neighbor. Communicating your feelings and, when necessary, setting important boundaries goes a long way when treating your own stress. 

For those things you cannot change or alter? It’s time to Accept. Holding onto anger, frustration or regret not only adds to your stress, but it’s also exhausting. Try talking with a loved one or trained professional to express your feelings through a healthy outlet. Strike a balance between productive venting and then practicing forgiveness, of both yourself and others.

And when all else fails, it’s time to Adapt. We can’t always change the things that cause us stress, but we have the ability to change how we respond. Rather than becoming overwhelmed with negative feelings, take some time to talk yourself down and recenter. Once you’re feeling calm and collected, try reframing the issue and looking for the bright side: is there something to be learned? Is it an opportunity to grow?

Dealing with stress is never fun, but when we develop the right techniques, successful stress reduction is another step towards a life lived more vibrantly. 

Two older adults stand in a balance form during yoga
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