April is Stress Awareness Month and let’s be real — the last year and a half has been the definition of stressful. While we always try to remain positive, there is no denying that the pandemic caused an immense amount of newfound anxiety and stress amongst most people. Thankfully, it’s looking like we’re reaching the light at the end of the tunnel (hallelujah), but it’s still crucial to prioritize, manage, and care for your mental health. Developing go-to stress relieving outlets can help minimize stress-related symptoms, make stress more manageable, and build a healthier mindset. If you’re looking for some more inner-peace, check out some of our favorite stress-busting tips below!

Exercise.

While it may not be the suggestion we want to hear, it’s certainly one that’s going to help. Chemically, exercise reduces the body’s stress hormones, while stimulating the production of endorphins, (the body’s natural mood-elevators). Additionally, the more you exercise, the more likely you are to feel good about yourself, improve your energy levels, and increase your overall strength and clarity.

Meditation.

Meditation is a hard one because many people don’t know where to start. If you think clearing your mind of any and all thoughts seems nearly impossible, you’re right! When people think of meditation, they often think of an empty brain with no thoughts, no triggers, and no stressors, but that is far from the case. Meditation is learning to manage those thoughts by letting them in, acknowledging them, and having the self-awareness to realize when you are completely lost in negative and overwhelming thoughts. It’s challenging to achieve, which is why it takes lots of patience, practice, and determination. Once implemented, meditation is a game-changer for managing stress. It helps people become less reactive and offers stillness in a world that is undoubtedly filled with chaos and stress. If you’re interested in learning more about meditation, click here.

Finding a happy medium.

Here’s something we can get on board with, (and we think you will too)! Part of managing stress is allowing yourself to enjoy what you enjoy - without shame, punishment, or overthinking. For example, you want to spend all day Sunday binging Netflix but you know there’s a ton of chores that need to be done? Sometimes part of managing stress is getting done what needs to get done and sometimes, it means leaving the pile of unfolded laundry in the basket and enjoying old episodes of The Office instead. Both can provide mental clarity for different reasons, and being able to balance the two yields the best results. Setting boundaries can help with this - set an hour or two in the morning to prioritize some work, and anything that didn’t get finished can wait until a new day. Netflix is calling!

Another happy medium? Ice cream!

While sitting on the couch all day with cartons on cartons of ice cream in hand isn’t exactly doctor’s orders, sometimes satisfying your sweet tooth is the mental-clarity reset you need. Our ice cream is made with 100% whole ingredients, is low in carbs, and big on flavor - so you don’t have to sacrifice health OR taste. Talk about a happy medium! We’ve also added three new flavors (strawberry, butter pecan, and butter coffee). You can order our keto ice cream or find the closest Mammoth Creameries in stores on our website.