April is National Stress Awareness Month—but let’s be real, we don’t need a monthlong holiday to realize any day can be a little stressy (raise your hand if you’re stressed right now).
Stress is, of course, inevitable, whether it relates to your job, personal life, relationships or just general mental health. Some handle it better than others—but there are some simple tactics forwarding off the anxiety. With our high-stress, deadline-driven occupations, our team has a toolbox of tips for overcoming stress (naturally, getting outside and/or exercising rank high for their mental health benefits—and we love us some sunshine!). Here, some of our best advice for beating the scaries.
“Exercise endorphins are real—and a good walk sorts the stress.” —Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“Go for a run/workout.” —Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol
“Take a long walk outdoors (preferably with a friend + by the water!).” —Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“A 5- to 8-mile walk outside—preferably on a daily basis!” —Debby Serena, Account Executive
“My mom always told me when I was stressed or overwhelmed as a kid to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. I know it sounds simple, but I still do it all the time—literally whether it be a really hard test or a really bad hangover.” —Carson Sellers, Editorial Intern
“My go-to stress relief tip is simple: Get outside! Every time I feel overwhelmed by my to-do list or am THIS close to losing it on my kids, I go for a walk or run. Breathing in fresh air always calms and reinvigorates me, while moving my body makes me feel strong and accomplished so that I’m ready to deal with anything life throws at me.” —Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“My go-to stress relief tip is walking my endlessly energetic cavapoo George. I leave my phone at home and consider it a walking meditation! I’m also a big fan of Yoga With Kassandra’s 10-minute morning and evening YouTube yoga videos! I always feel better after doing one.” —Ellie Davis, Contributing Writer
“Taking a long hot shower and then a face mask! Helps if you read a good book too.” —Carlee Nilphai, Contributing Writer
“My best stress-relief tip is to scream at the top of my lungs into a pillow. Great way to get your emotions out and focus!” —Heidi Reid, Contributing Writer, @heidi.laurel
“Stream of consciousness journaling for five minutes!” —Susannah Richardson, Contributing Writer
“Thirty minutes of stretching while listening to a podcast” —Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
“When I’m feeling anxious or stressed out, I like to go for a nice long walk outside for at least an hour if I have the time. It helps break up any mental loops I’m ruminating on and resets my brain. When that doesn’t work, a nice cold martini please!” —Forrest Mason, Contributing Photographer, @fmasonmedia
Dewitt Carolinas announces new Life Time tower at The Exchange.
Just when you thought The Exchange Raleigh couldn’t get any cooler, the upcoming Midtown development recently announced plans for a premier Life Time athletic country club and Life Time Living residences for Phase Two. The project includes an 80,000-square-foot, three-level luxury Life Time—including a 35,000-square- foot rooftop beach club (!)—along with a Life Time Living tower featuring luxury multifamily apartments, plus work-from-home and lounge spaces, outdoor amenities, and a golf simulator room.
Life Time members will have access to classes like Barre, cycling, HIIT, Pilates, strength training and yoga, as well as a coworking lounge, full-service LifeCafe and more.
“Rising at the east end of The Exchange’s park, Life Time Living embodies everything we’re working for at The Exchange, with wellness-focused luxury amenities designed to elevate and enhance the lives of community members and residents,” says Dewitt Carolinas Executive VP Steven Beattie. Both projects are slated to break ground later this year, with a projected early 2027 debut. theexchangeraleigh.com
This new local swimwear collection is all the buzz.
If honeybees are the busybodies of nature, consider yourself the busybody of the beach (and pool) this spring + summer via Raleigh-based Voglia Swimwear’s recently launched Oh, Honey collection. Yes, queen! … In collab with local Wood Underwear, the couple’s line (the men’s pieces dubbed Wet Wood) honors the yellow- and black-striped flying insects as part of the swimwear brand’s sustainable MO of serving and taking care of the planet, with proceeds from each suit benefiting local beekeepers. “I always say, ‘We own nothing,’” says Voglia founder Ashley-Victoria Smith. “‘Everything we have we are simply borrowing from Mama Earth, and it’s our duty and responsibility to take care of her as she’s taken care of us.’” Adding to the buzz, all of Voglia’s garments are made from regenerated nylon, eco-friendly inks and biodegradable packaging—and never any one-time-use plastics. “Ooh, honey, got me hooked on you…” vogliaswim.com
There’s an app for that. Wake County Public Schools is deploying the Rave Panic Button and alarm system app at 28 schools this spring, which will allow teachers and other school personnel to communicate during a threat.
Six Forks 🤝 six lanes. City Council unanimously approved the Six Forks Road Improvement Project, which will widen six median-divided lanes between Rowan and Millbrook with multimodal 8-foot sidewalks.
Move, get out the way (!). In response to congestion-causing protests, NC lawmakers proposed the Safe and Open Streets Act to penalize those who intentionally block roads and major highways and cause delays.
Bye-bye TikTok? A bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the social media app due to national security concerns has passed the House and is heading to the Senate.*
Snow was a no show this winter season, with 2024 marking the first time in recorded history (read: since 1887) no snow was reported at RDU.
Artificially sweetened drinks are being thrown under the bus again. According to a new study, consuming over 2 liters of diet soda a week could lead to an increased risk of irregular heartbeat. Talk about a buzzkill.
Apparently, rice isn’t so nice when it comes to iPhones. Instead of placing your wet phone in a bag of the dry grain, Apple now advises tapping your phone against your hand to let the liquid drip out, then leaving it in a dry area. Yes, seriously.
When it comes to caffeinated beverages, chai lattes have a chokehold on me (think like Lorelai and Rory Gilmore’s coffee addiction a la Gilmore Girls). Like many, a cup of joe was my go-to wake-me-up bev for years, but after making the switch a couple of years ago, I’ve never looked back—barring a fun seasonal latte here and there to scratch an itch. Now, as a bona fide chai latte stan, I give you my fave versions around town, ideal for a hot or iced moment that delivers a more subtle buzz than caffeine-heavy java. Sip and savor away!
