Perhaps one of the most iconic songs from the Disney movie "The Lion King," "Hakuna Matata" told viewers everywhere to sit back, relax, and enjoy life as time passes on. Stress levels have increased by about 30 percent since 1983 on a national scale, and the prevalence of social media pushing "Instagram-worthy" habits as a definition of success helped nobody. Perhaps humans were never meant to have the "problem free" lifestyle this song praises, however, chronic stress is an unhealthy mental burden. How do we balance leading a "zen" lifestyle with the daily pressures of society and social media?
The key to living a more relaxed life resides in the idea of acceptance. As in, accepting the fact that people will always want to achieve more in whatever field the set their minds to, therefore bringing more worry and anxiety upon themselves. A short burst of that flight-or-fight response in a life-threatening situation can help a great amount, but humans derive high levels of stress over trivial aspects of their lives, such as in traffic jams or before job interviews. Constantly dealing with those nuisances actually lead to increased high-blood pressure and risk of heart attacks, and may even attribute to psychological issues such as addiction and depression. The first step to solving a problem of constant high stress levels includes acknowledging that you may need to take a step back, relax and reevaluate your issues and grievances.
Throughout the movie and in the song "Hakuna Matata," Timon and Pumba suggest several ways to counteract the nuisances in everyday life. Here are a few options from both science and our connoisseurs of recreation.
Focusing on other things: As Timon so eloquently states, "bad things happen, and you can't do anything about it." Maybe that was a little crass, but sometimes life hydroplanes and it is not your fault. Don't blame yourself for every little aspect that becomes slightly chipped or broken. Focus instead on improving positive qualities you possess such as empathy, love and kindness. Even doing something as simple as honing and differentiating your breathing will help to reduce anxiety.
Circle of life -- I mean, friends: Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa all support one another, no matter what secret each one of the group is hiding and no matter how hard the road ahead may seem. The amount of Facebook friends or Twitter/Instagram followers you have cannot compare to the genuine people that you feel connected with. Your friends and family provide a support system and having that actually may increase lifespans. Research states that people who enjoy close relationships with family and friends receive emotional assistance that indirectly sustains them at times of need or crisis.
Balancing diet and exercise: Our favorite warthog and meerkat combo recommended bugs as a good choice of cuisine, and even though you may cringe at that though, they had a point. Eating meals with healthier ingredients than whatever is in ramen and working to get those 10,000 steps in your FitBit really do contribute to how good you feel at the end of each day. Getting in a balanced diet or even one meal with vegetables, fruits, and lean meats a day can work wonders on both the body and the mind. Exercise both deepens breathing and helps relieve muscle tension, two actions that can quickly counterbalance high degrees of distress. Yoga and tai chi workouts can combine fluid movements with deep breathing and mental focus, all of which boost endorphins and relax the body.
We may never reach the status of having absolutely "no worries," but that is just a part of possessing ambitions and needs as a human being. However, when life gets a little hectic, think back and remember that comfort and happiness go along with focusing on mental health and lowering stress levels.
Who is to say you can't have a little relief while stumbling and fumbling through life?
