Stress Relief During and After the Winter Holidays
Written by Zhifan Ye
Edited by Dominique Cao
Cover Image by Leyao Xiao
“I have so many things due next week. I don’t even have time for sports anymore!” “Exactly! I feel really overwhelmed by the amount of homework I’m getting.” If you are at Havergal, then it is likely you have heard things similar to the ones above. While time management is important, it is even more crucial to take care of your mental health for the sake of better performance. In fact, we all function like an elastic band. When we put too much strain on ourselves, we are more likely to break apart than if we were to cycle through periods of stretching and relaxing, which would result in greater potential.
During the much-desired winter holidays, Havergal students have employed numerous strategies to relieve stress. To begin with, many of us went on vacation to beautiful places such as California and Barbados. It is obvious that travelling is a wonderful way to leave all the stressors behind and search for new inspiration. The classic, “out of sight, out of mind” method is also worth a try after the winter break ends. Although there will not be enough time to cross national or provincial borders, it is always a cool idea to explore Toronto. For instance, the Toronto Botanical Gardens have a large number of events going on year-round. There is the Riverdale Tour which highlights mesmerizing private gardens in the Riverdale neighbourhood, Floral Design Programs that allow you to learn a new skill, as well as Watercolour Paint Nights that provide a chance for you to escape reality and focus on your imagination (Toronto Botanical Garden, 2023). Other popular places include shopping malls, movie theatres, and cultural streets, all of which are wonderful places to visit.
Another helpful tool students have used to reduce stress is baking or cooking. They not only provide a physical stress outlet but also encourage healthy eating. A study done by the University of Toronto found that people who baked regularly “felt less stressed, had more patience, and were more creative than those who didn’t bake” (Fairbank, 2022). Furthermore, the aftermath of food-making allows further control over one’s stress levels, thanks to the healthy nature of the homemade products. Indeed, store-bought foods usually contain chemicals and additives that stay in your body for decades. However, homemade goods would never contain substances that one cannot pronounce, and one has total control over how much sugar or salt they would like in their food. The real ingredients used provide many macronutrients and micronutrients such as fibre, vitamins, and minerals that are hard to find in highly processed foods. Thus, it is definitely a good idea to try out a few recipes that you enjoy.
Finally, we have sports, the most powerful of all activities. WebMD Editorial Contributors state that physical exercise increases the amount of endorphins the body releases, relieving pain and stress as a result (2021). Moreover, this activity also reduces levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This study also shows that people generally feel calmer after exercising for 20 to 30 minutes. This soothing effect would continue for several hours after exercise (WebMD, 2021). In the Canadian winter, skating, skiing, snowboarding, and playing hockey are some of the most popular sports to try.
Of course, travelling, baking, cooking, and playing sports are only a few of the myriad activities one could try to relieve stress. While there is not a universal solution to stress, people usually benefit from a combination of several activities that they love doing. All in all, while achieving satisfying results is something to strive for, it is more important to take care of yourself first.
References
Fairbank, M. (2022, February 27). Experts say baking reduces stress and anxiety. Teeo Creations. https://www.teeocreations.com/blog/the-benefits-of-baking-experts-say-baking-reduces-stress-and-anxiety/
Toronto Botanical Garden. (2023). Toronto Botanical Garden: Home Page. https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/
WebMD Editorial Contributors. (2021, March 25). Benefits of Sports for Mental Health. WebMD.https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/benefits-of-sports-for-mental-health