Stress in the city
Updated: Jan 30, 2021
By Navya Jain
Living in the city, where everyone is hustling, where someone is always up to something or the other and life is so fast paced, it can get quite stressful. The competition to keep up is pretty intense and it's almost as if the minute you stop to take a breather, you lose the race. Getting even the smallest amount of peace and quiet can take a lot. As someone living in the heart of my city, I often get anxious and stressed. Sometimes all I wish for is for everyone to just leave me alone.
I won't lie, the city has made it easier for me to access things and gives me a huge amount of exposure which has certainly taught me the fight-or-flight response but, the obsession to keep up with the city's speed affects our mental health in ways we hadn't even thought of - PTSD, anger management issues, anxiety, OCD and many more.
It also makes one reluctant to talk about their mental health, due to stigmas and "social image" which is a huge thing when living in the city.
Now you may be wondering, "I live in the city, how do I avoid these things?" One way to do so is by following the 3 step rule- Care, Connect and Engage.
Care for your body. Exercise daily or do yoga. You don't have to join an expensive class, pay for the gym membership or hire an instructor. You can easily find workout videos all over the internet and it'll take just 10-20 minutes of you time. It's a win-win situation.
Connect with nature. As vague as that sounds, all you have to do for this step is to go out for a walk. Get some fresh air, appreciate the creations of mother nature, maybe even listen to some music!
Engage with your friends and family. It can be hard to get spare time when living in the city. But try to take out a few minutes of your time and talk it out with whoever you feel safe with. Talk about your feelings, your mental health, anything and everything. You can also get professional help if you choose to do so.
And that's it! It can be exciting and thrilling to live in the city but everything has its ups and downs. Make sure to take out time for yourself. Trust me, taking care of your mental and physical health in the city can make a huge difference not to mention make living there even more enjoyable.