The COVID-19 pandemic has likely brought many changes to how you live your life and with it… fear, anxiety, and stress. bWell Builds invites you to join the Stamp Out Stress Challenge and take time to pursue activities that help you manage stress for your overall well-being.
Stress is a natural feeling of not being able to cope with specific demands and events. However, stress can become a chronic condition if a person does not take steps to manage it. How you respond affects your health, and it is crucial to understand how to handle these stressful events productively and positively.
Why do we need less stress?
Stress can overwhelm your emotional balance, as well as your physical health. The goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun—and the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head-on. However, stress management is not one-size-fits-all. That's why you might want to experiment and find out what works best for you. Now is the time to try some stress-busting activities, earn rewards, and feel better.
Here’s the challenge blueprint:
- Every builder who completes three stress-reducing activities for 90-minutes each (that’s 270 minutes of stress-busting) between July 6–31 and logs their activity on mybmcwellness.com will earn 450 bWell points. You will earn 150 points for each activity, so if you don't complete three, you can still earn partial points.
- Participating in the Stamp Out Stress Challenge and beating your challenge goal gets you 450 bWell points closer to the Master Builder level. When you reach the Master Builder level with 8,000 points, you are eligible to win awesome prizes!
Find the best stress relief for you.
The past couple of months have been rough in so many ways. You can’t control what’s happening, but you can take some simple steps to relax and feel better. We're unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Whatever it is that makes you happy and relaxed, stick with it. Try a few of these activities to stamp out your stress:
- Listen to music. Whether you're listening to meditation music to soothe your body, or using some upbeat music to create energy to get through a stressed day, music can be an excellent secret weapon. Listen to “Weightless” by British band Marconi Union. Time Magazine named it the world’s most relaxing song.
- Get physical. Physical exercise won't make your stress disappear, but it will reduce some of the emotional intensity you're feeling, clearing your thoughts and letting you deal with your problems calmly.
- Get calm. Taking some time to meditate or even do some deep breathing can help manage stress and bring on feelings of calm. You can meditate anywhere—your home office, bedroom, living room—and for as long as you'd like. This quiet practice involves focusing your attention, eliminating outside thoughts and distractions, and slowing down your breathing. Need help? Try the Headspace app for free or use the Guided Meditation provided at mybmcwellness.com.
- Help others. Our generosity is hard-wired to the reward centers in our brains. When we give our time, energy, and kindness to others, it not only helps them, it's great for our well-being too. Consider shopping for the elderly and vulnerable, sharing supplies, making masks, and donating time and other resources to those in need.
- Get creative. Turn your attention to a hobby you enjoy, such as gardening, sewing, sketching—anything that requires you to focus on what you're doing rather than what you think you should be doing. You might also find calm in clicking small, interlocking bricks together. If so, pull out those Legos and play.
- Do things you enjoy. Set aside time for things you enjoy. Try to do something every day that makes you feel good, and it will help relieve your stress. Watching a movie, doing puzzles, or playing cards and board games.
- Try a stress app. These stress apps will help you to learn stress management techniques and work them into your daily routine.
- Manage guilt. If you feel guilty when you do something enjoyable for yourself, chances are you will stop doing it. Take control of your guilt-producing thoughts. Focus on the benefits to you and your family when you are a more relaxed and energized person.
Helpful hint. Make a list of your favorite stress-reduction activities and tape it where you often see it, such as on the fridge, on a mirror, or your computer screen. When you feel overstressed, pick one off the list, and do it.
Feel Better and Win!
Every builder who completes three stress-busting activities for 90 minutes each between July 6 –31 and logs their activity on mybmcwellness.com will earn 450 bWell points. Participating in the Stamp Out Stress Challenge and beating your challenge goal gets you 450 bWell points closer to Master Builder level. When you reach the Master Builder level with 8,000 points, you are eligible to win awesome prizes!
Happy stress-busting, builders!