The Global De-Stress Challenge
Stress is a natural part of life, but too much of course can have negative efforts on a person’s health. We can’t change the patterns or expectations of the culture in which we live, but we can test out ways to manage stress within our confines!
The middle of the semester can be challenging to get through. The Global De-Stress Challenge challenges you to pick one of the below de-stressing customs used abroad and implement it for at least 10 consecutive days in March. Participate and tell us about the experience, and you’ll invited to join a Tasty Treats get-together in April. Tell us about the experience by writing a few sentences about how it went for you, and either emailing internationalplan@oie.gatech.edu or by commenting on the Global De-Stress Challenge Facebook event on the IP's Facebook page (@GTinternationalplan). Submissions must be received by April 1st.
Challenge Options
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Country |
Tradition |
Try it |
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Many Countries around the World |
Boundaries between work and personal time. Many countries around the world have a culture of setting clear boundaries between work time and personal time. For example, shops may close in the middle of the day for lunch for employees to have a relaxed meal or promptly at 5 p.m. so their employees can go home. Sometimes, employees may take multi-week vacations during which they do not check email at all. |
Designate a specific block of time to be true “off” time from school/work. It should be a time that you do not normally designate as “no work” time. It could be once a week, like “Fridays after 2 p.m.” or more regularly, like 6 - 8 p.m. in on weekday evenings. If you choose a time block that is only once a week, be sure to test this out for at least two consecutive weeks. Otherwise, try it for 10 days. |
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Denmark |
Hygge (pronounced hyoo-guh) is a Danish word and concept that refers to a cozy or content feeling, either alone or with friends/family. While there is no direct translation in English, the general idea is to slow down and appreciate warm, cozy moments - i.e. simple pleasures - in life. |
Every day for at least 10 days, make a special effort to notice when you are especially comfortable or cozy, such as when hanging out with your roommate or reading something you enjoy in a comfortable place. When you notice hygge, pause and take a deep breath to mentally slow down and enjoy the moment. If you don’t find examples of hygge in your life within a couple of days of looking out for it, make an effort to create that sense for a few minutes each day. |
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India |
Meditation. Long before it became trendy for its wellness and psychological benefits, meditation was a traditional practice in several countries around the world and a part of multiple religions’ practices (including, but not only, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Sufism, and Taoism). While "meditate" can be defined in multiple ways, dictionary definitions include, “to engage in contemplation or reflection” and “to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.” India is one well-known example of a country with a tradition of meditation. Note that there are many different types of meditation even within a single country. |
Select a meditation to practice daily for at least 10 days. Give it at least 10 minutes of your day each day. There are seemingly endless resources on meditation available these days to help get started. The IP does not endorse any particular resource over another; however, to emphasize the focus on the selected country, India, students may want to search specifically for “Indian Meditation” or "Types of Indian Meditation." (Alternatively, students are welcome to hone in on another country with a culture of mediation). Choose a resource that has clear instructions. It may feel odd to implement because it's different than your typical daily practices, but you should understand what you are supposed to do. |
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Japan |
Take Baths. Many countries around the world have traditions of regularly taking baths or visiting bath houses. Here we feature some of the bath traditions in Japan. Taking baths for relaxation is common in Japan, and many people take a hot bath every night to unwind. Bathing in public bath houses and natural hot springs are also common. Soaking in a warm bath/spring while overlooking a pretty landscape or at least a picture of a natural landscape is also common as it is thought to enhance one's relaxation. |
If you have a bathtub: try taking a hot bath at least every other night for at least 10 days. No bathtub: get a wide plastic bin and use it to soak your feet in hot water every night for 10 days. If possible, look at a picture of a nature scene while you soak. You can do your own experiment to see if looking at a nature picture makes a difference or not. |
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Sweden |
Fika – the Swedish Coffee Break (pronounced FEE-ka). We all know the term “coffee break,” but fika goes beyond stopping just long enough to refill your mug. It is a true break from work during which you pause and slow down. Savoring a cup of hot coffee, or perhaps tea, and a baked good is traditional. Traditionally, fika is time for social connection, but you can fika alone, too. Workplaces in Sweden often build in a fika twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. |
Make a point to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea twice a day for 10 days. A fika break can be as short as 10 minutes. Try not to spend your fika mindlessly scrolling on your phone. Take the 10+ minutes to talk to a friend/family member (in person or remotely), or just give your eyes a break from screens and textbooks. |