Unplug and unwind: Americans say these are the best ways to de-stress
Spending time in the great outdoors is the top way Americans are working to de-stress right now, according to new research.The survey of 2,000 Americans found 50% of respondents are getting out into nature as a way to benefit their mental health — but with various stay-at-home orders still in place, not everyone is able to get as much fresh air as they would like.Other respondents said getting enough sleep (44%) and eating healthy (42%) were ways in which they were actively something positive for their mental health.And 41% said they're spending time with family and friends — whether virtually or in person.Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Reef, the survey aimed to determine how Americans relax, unwind and de-stress from their daily lives.It revealed 39% choose to exercise as a way to clear their heads while a further 35% opt for meditation as a positive way to de-stress.Nearly a third (32%) unplug from all of their devices to gain some mental clarity and unwind from the day, while 41% choose to engage in physical activity in the hopes of decompressing from stress.But with getting out in nature as the top way Americans are de-stressing — it's perhaps no surprise that 44% go to the beach for mental clarity, while the same number would take a vacation.Overall, when it comes to unwinding, the beach emerged as the prime location for both relaxation and fun.Nearly three in four respondents revealed they would go to the beach to alleviate stress — and about four in five said a day at the beach turns their bad mood around.What makes the beach so uplifting?
Well, when asked which beach-specific activities help to de-stress, respondents' overall top choice was taking a leisurely walk along the shore, followed by listening to the sound of the waves and of course, sitting down with a nice book.When asked what makes up the "perfect beach day," the poll uncovered that a 79-degree day in July is the setup for a dream trip.With more than two-thirds of respondents revealing work causes them stress, it's no wonder that nearly half (48%) would happily call out "sick" to work to head to the beach if they lived near one.In fact, the beach is such a good mood-boost that more than half of people (54%) said they would give up coffee all summer if it meant being able to go to the beach."It's evident that the beach plays a big role in alleviating daily stressors from our lives," said Dr. Heidi Hanna, stress expert and REEF brand ambassador.
"These last few months have been a trying time for our nation, and many are looking for little ways to unwind.
Whether it's meditating and exercising or getting out into nature or going to the beach, it's important that we engage our body and mind in activities that naturally lift our mood."When heading to the beach, Americans have certain essentials they wouldn't dare leave the house without.
The number one beach essential is sunglasses (57%).A beach towel (57%), sunscreen (56%), sandals/flip-flops (49%) and food/snacks (44%) rounded out the top five.But 30% said their headphones are a must-have when at the beach, while 27% need to bring some type of ball when hitting the shore.And when choosing the best footwear for a beach trip, flip-flops came in as the top style pick with nearly half of the vote.That's not the only fashion situation people are concerned about at the beach though, in fact, nearly a quarter of respondents (26%) said they've dealt with a dreaded wardrobe malfunction while frolicking at the shore — and of those, 27% have had a broken flip-flop."For the REEF brand, the beach is a way of life, but through this survey, we wanted to uncover just how important it is for people around the country too," said Mike Jensen, President of REEF.
"Summer will certainly look differently this year, but it's still important to take stock not only of how being in nature affects our mood in a positive way, but also the importance of protecting this environment that we love so much, from the sand to the sea."
Spending time in the great outdoors is the top way Americans are working to de-stress right now, according to new research.The survey of 2,000 Americans found 50% of respondents are getting out into nature as a way to benefit their mental health — but with various stay-at-home orders still in place, not everyone is able to get as much fresh air as they would like.Other respondents said getting enough sleep (44%) and eating healthy (42%) were ways in which they were actively something positive for their mental health.And 41% said they're spending time with family and friends — whether virtually or in person.Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Reef, the survey aimed to determine how Americans relax, unwind and de-stress from their daily lives.It revealed 39% choose to exercise as a way to clear their heads while a further 35% opt for meditation as a positive way to de-stress.Nearly a third (32%) unplug from all of their devices to gain some mental clarity and unwind from the day, while 41% choose to engage in physical activity in the hopes of decompressing from stress.But with getting out in nature as the top way Americans are de-stressing — it's perhaps no surprise that 44% go to the beach for mental clarity, while the same number would take a vacation.Overall, when it comes to unwinding, the beach emerged as the prime location for both relaxation and fun.Nearly three in four respondents revealed they would go to the beach to alleviate stress — and about four in five said a day at the beach turns their bad mood around.What makes the beach so uplifting?
Well, when asked which beach-specific activities help to de-stress, respondents' overall top choice was taking a leisurely walk along the shore, followed by listening to the sound of the waves and of course, sitting down with a nice book.When asked what makes up the "perfect beach day," the poll uncovered that a 79-degree day in July is the setup for a dream trip.With more than two-thirds of respondents revealing work causes them stress, it's no wonder that nearly half (48%) would happily call out "sick" to work to head to the beach if they lived near one.In fact, the beach is such a good mood-boost that more than half of people (54%) said they would give up coffee all summer if it meant being able to go to the beach."It's evident that the beach plays a big role in alleviating daily stressors from our lives," said Dr. Heidi Hanna, stress expert and REEF brand ambassador.
"These last few months have been a trying time for our nation, and many are looking for little ways to unwind.
Whether it's meditating and exercising or getting out into nature or going to the beach, it's important that we engage our body and mind in activities that naturally lift our mood."When heading to the beach, Americans have certain essentials they wouldn't dare leave the house without.
The number one beach essential is sunglasses (57%).A beach towel (57%), sunscreen (56%), sandals/flip-flops (49%) and food/snacks (44%) rounded out the top five.But 30% said their headphones are a must-have when at the beach, while 27% need to bring some type of ball when hitting the shore.And when choosing the best footwear for a beach trip, flip-flops came in as the top style pick with nearly half of the vote.That's not the only fashion situation people are concerned about at the beach though, in fact, nearly a quarter of respondents (26%) said they've dealt with a dreaded wardrobe malfunction while frolicking at the shore — and of those, 27% have had a broken flip-flop."For the REEF brand, the beach is a way of life, but through this survey, we wanted to uncover just how important it is for people around the country too," said Mike Jensen, President of REEF.
"Summer will certainly look differently this year, but it's still important to take stock not only of how being in nature affects our mood in a positive way, but also the importance of protecting this environment that we love so much, from the sand to the sea."
