Just the other day I recorded an episode for STEMulating Podcast with Dr. Qualls, where I shared how stress and a lack of cultural fit caused me to walk away from a role that could have been perfect for me. In this “Team No Sleep,” “Outwork Your Competition,” dog eats dog world, stress has been and still is the number one killer of Americans. Research has shown that 71% of millennials wake up in the middle of the night thinking about stressors at least three times in a week. Millennials are more anxious than older Americans, and rightfully so with the world that they’re being handed.
During a conversation with my career coach, we unpacked things that could have led up to me walking away from my job. After going down the list one of the things that hit me the hardest was that I hadn’t allowed myself a chance to breathe. I’d been going non-stop. I went from my Masters straight to a Ph.D. and after completing my Ph.D. straight into a job without ever really taking the time out for myself. I can’t even remember the last time I went on a real vacation! I’d been so focused on meeting my goals and trying to reach others expectations that I hadn’t adequately allowed myself a chance to recharge and to release. I experienced burnout. My body could no longer keep up with the demands that I was placing on it. I was an emotional and mental wreck but still put on a smile every single day as I headed to work, because I didn’t want to be perceived as weak unable to handle the role. This compounded with the fact that I was the only African American in my position made the weight of perception even heavier.
Taking a break is important, but for many, it’s a luxury. Who has time to pause when they’re being pulled in multiple directions? There are deadlines to meet, meals to cook, errands to run, and other peoples issues to solve. I’ve come up with a few real ways, that don’t include macaroons and bubble baths, to step back from the life’s constant busy hum that I’ve been utilizing lately that have helped calm me when I begin to feel anxious or stressed.
- Go for a walk: Removing myself from the stressful environment and grabbing some fresh air goes a long way to help me clear my thoughts when I’m dealing with a lot. During my walks, I take the time to appreciate my surroundings which brings me a sense of peace.
- Get lost in a fictional book: While I love a good autobiography, fiction will always have my heart. It’s my escape from the craziness of the world. I enjoy being whisked away to faraway lands where Vampires and Dragons are the norm or solving a good mystery. Out of all the electronics that I own you’ll probably find my kindle in my hand more than you’ll find my phone.
- Volunteer: You might be thinking that volunteering just means more work, but hear me out. One of the best ways to relieve stress is to stop thinking about what bothers you and focus on doing good for someone else. After volunteering I find that I’m way more relaxed and I can look at what’s stressing me in a whole different light.
- Pamper yourself: Before you give me the side eye, pampering yourself is a great way to relieve stress. You don’t even have to go all out with the bubble baths surrounded by tea lights. Sometime’s I like to put on music and paint my nails, take a hot shower using some of my favorite expensive body scrubs, or even treat myself to a 10-minute facial using the Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask and the Charcoal Strips.
The Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask and Charcoal Strips are perfect to use in combination for quick spa treatments. Another great thing about them is that they don’t even break the bank with each costing under $6! I love how different the mask is from others on the market. It’s water activated so when they come in contact with each other it heats up. In one minute it draws up impurities, toxins, and dirt from the skin. Clean up is also easy as it rinses away without leaving behind a film or residue. Now the Charcoal strips have been my jam for a while. They’ve been around for over 20 years and are like magnets, lifting out deep-down grime, oil, and blackheads from even your most clogged pores. I like to use them weekly in combination with the face mask, especially since I have oily skin and I’m no stranger to blackheads or clogged pores.
You can pick up the Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask and Charcoal Strips at your local stores or add it on to your order when shopping on Amazon!
If you have any suggestions for taking a break or ways to destress defintely share them with us in the comments below so that others may benefit.
