The Importance of Being at Peace

“Don’t worry, be happy.” If only it were that easy, right? Seems like stressful situations are all around us, lurking around corners waiting to pounce just when we think we’ve got it all under control. That’s how it feels -- like we have no control. While that may be true in some instances, we can control how we manage stress.

De-stressing is another huge factor in being holistically healthy. Not only does stress affect us mentally, it affects us physically. It has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including mood, sleep, appetite problems, and even heart disease. Contributing to those health issues are the choices people often make when they are under stress, such as eating unhealthy food, lacking the energy or time to exercise, smoking, and/or drinking too much alcohol.

The good news is that we can make other, better choices with how we handle stress. We’ve put together some ideas and tips for managing your stress… instead of letting your stress manage you.

Golden Milk Glimmer Wellness Blend

This traditional Ayurvedic beverage is blended with ingredients meant to calm and soothe away the day’s stresses. The star of the Golden Milk Glimmer show is turmeric, which is not just for curry anymore! Turmeric contains curcumin, a chemical that is responsible for turmeric’s golden color and is also a great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Rounding out Golden Milk’s calming ingredients:

• Ginger. This adaptogen is a mind-body-soul BFF. It has been valued for centuries for its health benefits, most notably its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to help you get over that stomach ache or nausea.
• Coconut Pieces. Coconut’s secret weapon is manganese, a mineral that helps your body maintain a healthy brain, nervous system, and immune function.
• Black Pepper. So, check this out: that seasoning you take for granted, just salt’s sidekick? Turns out it’s got magic powers, too. While it also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it becomes even more powerful when you combine it with turmeric. Why? Because the active ingredient in black pepper, piperine, helps your body better absorb curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. When you put the two together, you get more bang for your turmeric buck. Science is so cool.
• Chicory Root. Chicory root is rich in a type of fiber called inulin. Inulin is a probiotic, which supports gut health. It also contains small amounts of Vitamin B and manganese.

Other Ways to Get Chill

There are lots of techniques and practices you can employ when life starts to stress you out. 

• LOL! There may be some truth to “laughter is the best medicine.” Not only does laughter just make you feel better mentally, it actually has some physical benefit:

• Stimulates organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A good belly laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, leaving you feeling calm and relaxed.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
• Laughter can also have some long-term benefits, such as improving your immune system (positive thoughts release neuropeptides that help fight stress), relieve pain, increase personal satisfaction, and improve your mood long-term.

Whether it’s firing up your favorite tv or movie comedy, watching a comedian do stand-up, a series of silly cat videos, or someone trying to work the remote after you took the batteries out (oops!), find your “Stay Calm and Laugh On” go-to.

• Meditate. Many studies have been done on the benefits of meditation, and there are many. If you’re looking for a way to quiet “monkey mind” and achieve a state of calm, meditation is the perfect way to do that. It doesn’t cost anything to do it, and you can meditate anywhere.

There are many, many types of meditation; explore your options, talk to friends, see what feels right for you. No matter what type you try, you can’t get better advice on how to meditate than from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who said:

“Generally speaking, our mind is predominantly directed towards external objects. Our attention follows after the sense experiences. It remains at a predominantly sensory and conceptual level. In other words, normally our awareness is directed towards physical sensory experiences and mental concepts. But in this exercise, what you should do is to withdraw your mind inward; don’t let it chase after or pay attention to sensory objects. At the same time, don’t allow it to be so totally withdrawn that there is a kind of dullness or lack of mindfulness. You should maintain a very full state of alertness and mindfulness, and then try to see the natural state of your consciousness—a state in which your consciousness is not afflicted by thoughts of the past, the things that have happened, your memories and remembrances; nor is it afflicted by thoughts of the future, like your future plans, anticipations, fears, and hopes. But rather, try to remain in a natural and neutral state.”

Benefits of meditation include:

• Reduces stress
• Controls anxiety
• Promotes emotional health
• Enhances self-awareness
• Lengthens attention span
• Can help improve memory
• Increases feelings of positivity
• Improves sleep
• Helps control pain
• Can decrease blood pressure
• Check our Resource section below for some meditation apps to help you get started.

• Exercise. We all know the benefits of exercise: it’s not only good for our bodies and a key to staying healthy, it does wonders for our mental state. Whether you’re a runner, a walker, a biker, a swimmer, a dancer, play a sport, do aerobics or are a yogi (see our tips for yoga and tea!), you will generate endorphins and feel better about life after you exercise. It’s just a fact.
• Unplug. With a 24-hour news cycle, bad news all over the world and in our own communities and updates constantly sent to our phones, we all need to get away. Even if you can’t physically go to another location with no tv or internet, take time during your day to unplug and just breathe. Skip the news for a day (they’ll make more tomorrow). Avoid social media. Have a tech-free lunch break.

• Enjoy a Cuppa. The ritual of making a pot or cup of tea can be very calming, as can carving out quiet time to enjoy it in your favorite spot. It’s a wonderful excuse to take a break and make time for yourself. You can find teas with all kinds of calming ingredients in our  Wellness collection. For some stress-free decaf enjoyment, enjoy one of our  herbal or  decaf teas.

• De-Stress Your Way. What’s your favorite way to get stress to take a hike? Here are a few that came to mind for us:
• CBD. Our THD products allow you to employ CBD in whatever fashion you wish-- teas, sparkling elixirs, tinctures, lotion, salve, or bath ball-- to help you find your calm.
• Take a warm bath. Add a CBD bath ball for extra relax factor.
• Read a book. Or two.
• Do a puzzle.
• Color or paint.
• Use essential oils and a diffuser to create a soothing atmosphere.
• Take a walk or run in the park.
• Do kickboxing! Get that stress out!
• Snuggle with your favorite furry friend.
• Listen to soothing music. Or hip hop if that makes you happy.
• Find time to be outside and just watch nature. It’s amazing.

Golden Milk Latte

Indulge in this before bed rather than an unhealthy snack or sugary dessert. Make it hot or cold, it’s up to you.

1. Set a small saucepan over low heat. Add your milk of choice, 1 tbsp of Glimmer per cup of milk. Optional add-ins can be spices like a cinnamon stick or black pepper. Whisk until combined.
2. Bring to steaming, just below a simmer. Do not let it come to a boil. Keep just below a simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat. Remove the cinnamon stick if you added it. If you added other spices that need to be strained out, strain using a fine-mesh strainer then return to the pan. If you like your lattés on the sweeter side, add your sweetener of choice, or you can add a dash of vanilla.
4. Use a  frother to froth the tea, if desired. Pour into a mug and spoon the froth over the top. Serve.

Print Golden Milk Latte Recipe Card Here

Resources and Other Ideas

Podcasts. If there’s a good reason to plug in, it’s to listen to a podcast that helps you de-stress. We found these and thought we’d share them with you.

Apps. Calm is the #1 app for meditation and sleep. And Waking Up is “a guide for understanding the mind, for the purpose of living a more balanced and fulfilling life.” Sounds good to us!

Books. Here are a few books we found to help you find your happy place.

• Project You: More Than 50 Ways to Calm Down, De-Stress and Feel Great
• CBD and Hemp Remedies: A Quick and Easy Guide to Help You Destress, Relax and Relieve Pain Using Cannabis Products
• Good Days Start with Gratitude: A 52-Week Guide to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
• Squirrel Coloring Book: A Coloring Book for Adults

Caravan. Saving the best for last... do you know about Caravan? Caravan is a wellness site that is bursting with all kinds of transformational resources to help you live your best life, including tension relief, meditation and breathwork. If you’re not already signed up, we’ve got a sweet deal for Harney tea fans. You can sign up for a free seven-day trial and 50% off your Caravan subscription for up to six months. Learn more and redeem this Harney-only offer at our partnership site.

To live your best calm life, remember to breathe in, breathe out, and Harney on!