Over the last few years everyone seems busier and more exhausted than ever before. Why is this? Is it because of our constant digital connectivity, or our continual need to improve? Are we choosing our desire to be wealthier, more productive, or more successful over our well being? I’m not sure what it is, but one thing I do know is there are a lot of people claiming to have the cure.
At Pure Placid we're all about helping you Claim Your Calm (we even have a fun hashtag so be sure to tag us #claimyourcalm). It's part of our mission to learn, educate, and live more mindfully. As a result, we dug deep into some of the most common self-care tips to find out what the experts think!
Journaling
I love journaling. It’s a great way to unload your brain. If my mind is racing in the middle of the night, I grab a notebook and start writing. Sometimes I write sentences, but mostly I write lists. I list everything; things I need to do, things I need from the store, random thoughts I can’t stop thinking about.
The science:
Psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin contend that regular journaling about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thus reducing the impact of these stressors on your physical health. They also found journaling can strengthen your immune cells and decrease the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
The verdict: This one’s a keeper!
A Hot Bath
Lucky for you, we have some resident bath experts at Pure Placid who swear this helps them.
The science:
Hydrotherapy has been used for centuries. Research shows that bathing can fight depression, burn calories, improve heart health, help you breathe easier, soothe joints, reduce pain and inflammation, improve gastrointestinal health, and balance your hormones.
The verdict: Get your soak on!
Healing Crystals
For years people have touted the positive effects of healing crystals. I also have a few friends who swear by them. I’m not sure if they're really “re-adjusting my chakra” or not, but I do know they're pretty.
The science:
The jury's out here. There aren’t too many studies on the subject, and those who have studied it link the power of crystals to the placebo effect. But hey, placebo effect or not – if it’s helping you relax, that’s a win in our book!
The verdict: It’s in the eye of the beholder. They can’t hurt…
Aromatherapy Soy Candles
We may be biased, but we wholeheartedly believe in the soothing powers of aromatherapy soy candles. Every moment is better when there's a candle around! Having a bad day? Don’t want to clean the house? Trust us, light a candle, and see what happens.
The science:
Surprisingly, it’s pretty hard to find empirical studies on scented candles. There are plenty of studies on the effects of different lighting on our mind and even more that tout the effectiveness of aromatherapy on mood, but not many specific to candles themselves. Perhaps we should study it ourselves – now taking applications for test subjects
The verdict: When we tie all of these studies together, as well as the fact that a number of therapists and psychologists use scented candles as a means to calm the mind, we're giving this two thumbs up.
Sunshine
Those of us who live through the long Adirondack winters know all too well the detrimental effects a Vitamin D deficiency can have on your health. It's so important to get outside every day, if not for exercise, then to soak up the sun (after applying SPF of course).
The science:
Sunlight cues specific areas of the brain which release serotonin, a depression-fighting hormone. Preliminary research studies have revealed daily sunlight exposure as a potential treatment for several other conditions. These include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroiditis, and more.
The verdict: Get out there and soak up the sun!
Meditate
There are plenty of apps out there such as headspace that can lead you through simple short mediation activities.
The science:
Mediation can help treat several ailments including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Numerous studies and medical reports have proved the effectiveness of meditation on the human brain. It’s unclear how meditation achieves such amazing feats, but some research suggests it changes the mind over time.
The verdict: We may not know how, but we do know it works, so time to get practicing.
