Stream Your Stress Away
July is Stress Down Month
Statistically our screen time increases in the cooler and wetter months, particularly winter. So too our time spent in other sedentary activities increases. There is a natural-ness to some of this behaviour. This month we set out to explore different ways of thinking about winter, screens, activity, and how we de-stress.
SCREENS
What if we could spin our streaming in a different direction?
Have you ever thought about what the predictive model of you - the little faceless data and click based version of you - that is essentially created by your social channels and streaming providers, is telling you to watch?
Authentic YOU is not your predictive model at all, and you always have an independent search bar…
So, if you are doing more streaming anyway over these winter days, how about considering a little lifestyle shift and turn your search and attention to content that may enrich your day and really help you de-stress. Thinking about the words you use to search and then your actions.
But first, a WARNING, some of these might make you so content and relaxed you fall into a deep restorative sleep…
Netflix
Headspace has created a collection of TV shows around different topics that screen on Netflix. You can explore the fascinating realms of: sleep; meditation and unwinding your mind. Most episodes are only 15 – 20 minutes long, the ideas are presented in a way that are easy to digest and help you feel more informed, and many of them include an active (even interactive) strategy you can try for yourself to see if it will be useful to add to your personal tool kit to combat stress.
Click on the theme to explore more about:
And how to…Unwind Your Mind
Photo by Kayla Farmer on Unsplash
Stan
Stan may be not quite as easy as Netflix to search usefully under your usual ‘go to’ phrases like ‘stress’ or ‘relaxation’…but they are licenced to distribute incredible documentaries. Documentaries can work their magic with our motivations. They usually have the undercurrent of a driving force to do better and be better. The epic scenery can also induce a feeling of natural calm.
The following links below may steer your preferences on Stan on a fascinating path:
Chip away at the taboos around our mental health being tackled through football: https://play.stan.com.au/programs/3323007.
Get closer to incredible Australian nature from your couch:
https://play.stan.com.au/programs/74482/seasons/1.
Ever masterful David Attenborough may take you delving deep with him on: https://play.stan.com.au/programs/23690.
Binge
When we are speaking the language of binge…what better focus to have than food? Quite literally - what are we feeding our beautiful brains every day?
These three binge worthy options give us an opportunity to be inspired enough to change a few of our ways in the heart of our homes – the kitchen.
Jaime Oliver has some sweet thoughts: https://play.stan.com.au/programs/23690.
Loveable Aussie Chef, Paul West, goes back to where it all begins at River Cottage. He may even have you pickling or fermenting before the series ends:
https://binge.com.au/shows/show-river cottage-australia!4470
Ans our very close, friendly, and shop savvy neighbours in New Zealand, Ganesh and Mike, show us clearly how to eat well for less on: https://binge.com.au/shows/show-eat-well-for-less-nz!12850.
Photo by Jason O'Neill on Unsplash
At the beginning and end of the day, ultimately, we all have the gift of choice. You don’t have to feel the pressure of choosing wisely, perhaps start by feeling the inspiration to choose just something different.
It’s reassuring to remember that screens are not ‘all bad’ – it is about what we are doing on them, how we are consuming the content, along with the conversations and actions that do not involve a screen after viewing that can make all the difference in the danger zone of excess time.
Should these tips have you thinking more about screen time and the brain health of your Family, The Perth Brain Centre is available to help. You can watch, read, call or email, to find out more today.
About the author - Ms. Emily Goss (Occupational Therapist, Senior Clinician, The Perth Brain Centre).
