delaneyzizmer-blog

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Photo by Kelle Zizmer 

   Welcome to Ways to escape stress! This blog will cover four different strategies on how to relieve stress and live a happier life.

   My name is Delaney Zizmer, and I am a junior at the University of Florida studying Advertising. As a college student, it is easy to get overwhelmed and lose sight of the bigger picture. This is why it is so important to have an escape for both your mind and body.

   I chose this topic because stress has always affected my college career. That being said, I have also figured out helpful ways to alleviate this pressure, thus allowing me to live a healthier and happier life. I hope that this post will encourage you to not only try out some of my tips but also find mechanisms suitable to your lifestyle.

   It is of the utmost importance to find an outlet for the pressures of daily life. Stress is the result of almost any physical or emotional stimulus, which ultimately causes negative short and long term effects on one's health. These include fatigue, changes in one's appetite, disease, a suppressed immune system, and much more.

   However, specific coping mechanisms can diminish these negative outcomes. The four that I will be covering throughout this blog are exercise, unplugging from technology, music, and spending time with loved ones.

   I found these strategies to be the most beneficial through personal experience; however, they are also scientifically proven to improve one's level of stress. Therefore, using one of these strategies could benefit your life.

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Get on the move in order to be at rest

   Studies have shown that exercise is one of the most effective strategies to manage stress. In my personal experience exercise regardless of the level of exertion has acted as one of the most significant outlets for stress.

   One of the reasons exercise is so helpful is that it enhances the production of endorphins. These are chemicals that make you feel good, for lack of better words, thus relieving many of the negative symptoms caused by stress. Studies have shown the higher-level endorphins you have at the time, the less stressed you typically are.

https://www.fastcompany.com/3025957/what-happens-to-our-brains-when-we-exercise-and-how-it-makes-us-happier

   Research has proven the direct impact of exercise on depression, stress, and anxiety. Exercise allows the mind to focus on breathing; instead, whatever is causing your mind unease. That being said, while exercising, your mind is at rest and can escape the negative thoughts.

   Another benefit of exercise is that it isn’t limited to a single activity; there are so many different exercises that produce and release endorphins. Some of these exercises include biking, walking, running, dancing, swimming and yoga. It doesn’t take much time to exercise, despite what most people think; studies have shown it only takes 20 minutes of physical activity to release endorphins.  

   Studies have shown that stress impacts the body physically by causing muscle tension. Exercises such as yoga can ease this tension by loosening muscles, which in return takes the pressure off the body, relieving stress.

   Exercise is one of the most beneficial ways of letting your mind escape from your body. It allows you to focus on your breathing and get away from daily stressors. Your mind is in desperate need of rest sometimes, and exercise is a perfect way to do just that.

Sources:

https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/stress/physical-activity-reduces-s

https://www.healthline.com/health/endorphins#benefits

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax

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Recharge by unplugging from technology

    Technology can become dangerous when it is overused. I have a habit of continuously picking up my phone throughout the day to check social media. However, unplugging from all devices is proven to reduce stress significantly.

  Everyone is in need of a break from technology; some people, however, need to unplug more than others. If you can't sit through dinner without checking your phone, you most likely need to take a break more than someone else does. Research has found that technology is no longer an accessory: it has become an addiction.

  Despite the commonly held perception that technology strengthens communication, it has a negative impact on the way people connect with others and the environment around them. It is necessary to disconnect from technology to reconnect with reality. Not only is technology becoming an addiction, but the virtual connection that it brings is also becoming an addiction.

   One of the problems of technology is social media because it is a place where people tend to show an edited, superficial side of life. The comparisons that people make on both themselves and others, thanks to social media, only increase unwanted pressure. Studies have shown that comparisons due to social media have led to higher levels of stress.

  In the current state of our society, unplugging may seem like a difficult, if not an impossible task.

   However, companies like Apple have made it easier through the creation of screen time software. This technology allows people to manage their screen time through setting time limits on apps and sending notifications when the allotted amount of time has been used up. This creates personal accountability in limiting time spent on technology.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/09/why-apple-screen-time-mostly-makes-things-worse/597397/  

     Unplugging from technology allows you to connect with people in the real world rather than virtually, which is how it is supposed to be. It is beneficial to have someone or something keep you accountable for how much time you use on screens to manage your own stress.

Sources:

https://www.goalcast.com/2017/02/13/technology-makes-stressed/https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2013/10/technology_was_supposed_to_connect_us_but_were_more_disconnected_than_ever_rogette_harris.html

https://mellowed.com/unplugging-relieve-stress/

https://www.adventisthealth.org/blog/2019/march/the-benefits-of-unplugging-from-electronics/

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/01/15/psychological-stress-and-social-media-use-2/

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Music can act as medicine

   Music is a form of personal expression. Most people listen to different genres of music depending on what mood they are in at a specific moment; it’s a way of expressing your feelings without actually vocalizing them.

   Music also acts as a form of relaxation. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between stress and music. It was found that subjects listening to music had shorter stress responses than those who were not.

   According to research, music has a direct impact on the parasympathetic nervous system, which is in charge of prepping the body for sleep through the relaxation of muscles and slowing of the heart rate. Music is proven to slow down the mind, which keeps it from wandering. Therefore, music not only can help you fall asleep, but it can also relax your body in times of stress.

https://www.taylorsstrength.co.uk/the-effect-of-music-on-sports-performance/

   Studies have shown the correlation between music and stress to be so high that surgeons have started using music as a meditation tool on their patients before surgeries to ease their nerves. It is scientifically proven that these patients’ pain levels are lower than those who don’t listen to music.

   An advantage of music acting as meditation to relieve stress is that it doesn’t take much effort to listen to music. All you need is a device to listen to music on and possibly a pair of headphones depending on where you are.

  In my opinion, country music is the most relaxing. However, the genre of music you choose to listen to is entirely up to you. Music is a powerful way to relax your body and mind.

Sources:

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/plosable/does-playing-music-reduce-stress

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/can-music-help-you-calm-down-and-sleep-better

https://blog.peacerevolution.net/4-ways-spending-time-immediate-family-benefits/

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music

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Stress no more by socializing

  Spending time with the people who know you best is proven to relieve stress. While, yes, there are times it seems you may be too busy to be social, shutting yourself off from communication can be harmful.

  People, by nature, are not meant to be alone; we are a social species. I find that when I have a stressful workload, taking a break to socialize motivates me to accomplish whatever I need to. Surrounding yourself with people you love significantly improves your state of mind.

  Research has found a scientific explanation for this: when you are around loved ones, your body releases a chemical called oxytocin, which makes you, in turn, feel more comforted and loved.  This hormone lowers stress and anxiety levels and allows people to cope better.

  A support system also allows you to release many of the burdens you feel are holding you down. It is scientifically proven that not talking about your problems can create your stress levels to increase. It is important to be vulnerable with the people you trust.

  There is a difference in communicating with the people you love and someone you may not necessarily know. Surrounding yourself with loved ones allows you to be your true self, as well as reveal sensitive subjects. Your support system can even be comprised of a single person; you can't solely rely on yourself to cope with your stress.

  Studies have shown that it is better to have one person that you are close to then five surface level friends. Quality is better than quantity when using socialization to reduce stress. You need to be able to discern who to put your time and energy into to be able to manage your stress better.

https://awesomestuff365.com/best-friend-shirts/

  It is crucial to have people in your life that understand you and love you for who you are. We aren't meant to take on this life alone, and that is why we need a support system. Try to find a few extra minutes this week to spend time with the people you love the most.

Sources:

https://blog.peacerevolution.net/4-ways-spending-time-immediate-family-benefits/

https://www.mentalhelp.net/stress/socialization-and-altruistic-acts-as-stress-relief/

[delaneyzizmer-blog]

This is the large selection of beautiful pumpkins at Southwest United Methodist Church on a Monday afternoon right as it opened at 3 p.m. Southwest United Methodist Church holds its 4th annual pumpkin patch from October 15 to October 31. This cute pumpkin patch is located at 2400 S.W. Williston Road, Gainesville, FL. You can come to enjoy looking at these pumpkins or fun activities such as inflatable slides and more with all proceeds going towards church mission work.

Grace Owens chooses to purchase a pumpkin and she makes sure not to hold it by its stem due to the sign. Volunteer salesperson Milou Harrison is very knowledgeable about the pumpkin patch. Harrison said: “We try to make sure that the pumpkins are not picked up by their stem so that they can stay in good condition for the entire event.”

This a closeup of one of the pumpkins being sold next to a sign. Harrison said: “This Instagram sign reminds people to take pictures at the pumpkin patch and to post them on their social media."

This picture was taken on one of the last days of the events where the pumpkin patch still contains so many pumpkins. “We either throw away or donate the leftover pumpkins when the event is done,” Harrison said.