MIX Blog

If you’re a woman in your late 20s or 30s who has kids and makes less than $50,000 a year I’ve got some bad news: according to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, you fit the profile for the most stressed out person in the United States. Unfortunately, this profile encompasses a HUGE section of women today. It makes sense though. Ladies in this group are trying to balance career goals with being a successful parent, while simultaneously trying to keep finances in check. It’s no wonder that stress levels are high.

We’ve all heard about some common ways to beat stress, but try using some of these unconventional tips to kick anxiety to the curb:

• Exercising with a friend: It’s no secret that getting your sweat on is great for fighting stress, but socializing with a pal is equally helpful for reducing anxiety. If you’re “meh” about going to the gym but are craving some social interaction with friends, combine the two together. You’ll find that you enjoy your workouts more.
• Keeping a journal: I’m not talking the “Dear Diary, I have a crush on a boy” variety from 6th grade. This grown up version is actually a great stress buster. Write about anything that’s on your mind, from money woes to work concerns or family issues. Even writing for five minutes a day allows you to get your thoughts out. Allow yourself to be completely unfiltered. You should be writing things you may not even allow yourself to say to your spouse or best friend. Research shows that this kind of journaling is highly therapeutic, especially when you do it using an old-fashioned pen and paper, not a computer.
• Building a “Happiness Jar” in your home: I recently created a “Happiness Jar” in my apartment (read about it here). I got an inexpensive yet pretty vase and put it in the hallway in my apartment, with some small pieces of paper nearby. Whenever a particularly happy, exciting, or fun moment happens, I jot it down on a piece of paper. Then when I’m feeling sort of blah, I can unwrap a few of the pieces of paper and think back to these moments. It helps me to feel more appreciative, and cures a bad mood quickly.

And if all else fails, eating chocolate and snuggling up with a furry friend are also known stress busters!

— Lauren the web girl

I love to stay up late working on my computer, and while I end up getting a lot done, sometimes I have a hard time going right to sleep once I shut down for the night. There’s been a lot of research released recently about how the bright lights from electronics can interrupt your ability to fall asleep quickly, so this makes sense.

When I heard about a program called f.lux that works to counteract these issues, I was interested to try it. The program trains your computer to adjust its brightness levels based on the time of day, making it easier for you to fall asleep. For instance, when I’m working at 11 a.m. when it’s sunny outside, my computer screen is at full brightness. However, when I decide to work late at night, the computer takes on a more reddish or yellowish glow, instead of the blue hues that can keep your brain awake. Surprisingly, the change in color doesn’t make it harder to see when you’re trying to burn the midnight oil. It’s actually easier on the eyes than staring at an ultra-bright screen when it’s pitch black outside.

I’ve only been using the program for a few days, but I’m truly impressed with it. I wanted to share with other night owls like myself!

— Lauren the web girl

Let’s face it: being a person is tough sometimes. It’s easy to be hard on yourself or to doubt yourself. So when I watched this video of 6-year-old Max as he tries to beat his own personal best speed as he rides his skateboard, I couldn’t help but smile. As he goes through each lap, trying to go faster every time, you can hear him giving himself a little pep talk thanks to the GoPro camera he’s wearing. I think the world would be a little better if we were all a little bit more positive and encouraging toward ourselves like this. P.S. How cute are his facial expressions?

If you watched the Super Bowl last night, you know that there were plenty of “!!!” moments, many of which actually had nothing to do with the game itself. If we’re being honest here, I tuned in more for the commercials and the halftime show than the game this year, and I wasn’t disappointed. A few of the most memorable moments from this year’s Super Bowl included:

• Katy Perry’s halftime show: As soon as I heard that Katy Perry would be taking the stage during halftime, I knew we
  

  (image via Richard Mackson–USA Today Sports)

  were in for a treat. She certainly didn’t disappoint, with her smiling sharks, dancing beachballs, and that robot lion. Special guests Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliot made the show even better. It was definitely one of my favorite halftime performances.

• Nationwide’s total buzzkill: While they won big time with their adorable spot featuring my beloved Mindy Kaling, Nationwide quickly delivered a huge buzzkill with this spot about dead children. Nothing causes a hush to fall over a Super Bowl party quite like a commercial about kids dying in accidents….thanks, guys. Let’s keep our day happy by rewatching Mindy in her charming, cheerful ad.

• T-Mobile’s funny ads: From Kim Kardashian poking fun at herself to Chelsea Handler and Sarah Silverman playing “frenemies” trying to one-up each other, these commercials were some of my favorites.

• The shoving match that occurred at the end: There were mere seconds left in the game. And a fight broke out. Childish? Definitely. Amusing? Also, yes.

What were some of your most memorable moments from this year’s Super Bowl? Share them with me!

— Lauren the web girl

I can’t get enough of Bruno Mars, and I especially love his song “Uptown Funk.” It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve heard it, when it comes on, I’m dancing. Turns out I’m not the only one. In this video, Scot Pankey, a teacher at A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School in Texas, and his students put together a highly choreographed video to the song.

Even more amazing than the color-coordinated routine is the fact that Pankey says the video was shot all in one take. Check it out below