How to Flourish During Stressful Times
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Introduction
Many people I know, myself included, have been experiencing increasing amounts of stress this year, much of which is emanating from chaotic political events. It seems that it’s almost impossible not to speak with someone or attend an event without the conversation centering around the rapidly changing political scene.
There’s an increasing amount of stress from external events and politics.
The introduction of multiple, rapid fire policy changes is what has been called a “shock doctrine” approach by author Naomi Klein in her 2007 book of the same name. The shock doctrine involves a strategy of using chaos and crisis to push through radical changes when people are too disoriented and overwhelmed to effectively resist. At some point, when we become overwhelmed, we disengage. Furthermore, in the face of so much change, proper analysis and oversight of public policy becomes difficult, fragmented and less effective, thus making radical changes more easily accomplished. Hence, if you are feeling stressed out about current events, it is because that was likely the plan from the beginning. What to do about it? Here I offer up four simple strategies that can help you navigate the coming months, and make progress toward your goals, while maintaining your health.
One: Pick Your Battles
There are many to choose from but perhaps only pick two or three battles. For example, if your chief concern is the preservation of the national parks system, focus your attention on what is happening there, and what you can do to resist attempts at their exploitation. Subscribe to websites and blogs and learn from experts on what is happening so you can remain informed and act accordingly. This strategy also requires that you spend less time and energy on other policy and program changes with which you may disagree. In other words, don’t become overwhelmed.
Try to get outside for at least 20 minutes per day. Japanese Gardens, Portland, OR. Photo: S. Peck
Two: Spring is Here So Spend Time Outside
There are a thousand things to deal with in day-to-day life, until your health fails you, then there is only one. And the maintenance of your health is closely linked to the amount of time spent in nature, be it taking in the magic of rooftop farms, visiting a national, regional or local park, walking along a greenway or exploring a ravine. Aim to spend 30 minutes outside per day. Try it. It sounds easier than it is. Time spent safely in nature is extremely good at lowering your blood pressure, reducing stress and allowing your mind to refresh and reset among other things. See “Ten Tips to Help You Take Advantage of the Healing Power of Living Architecture and Nature”. Our Sustainable Futures Podcast for this issue of the LAM also features an interview with the lead farmer August Stubler who runs a one-acre rooftop farm in Houston, Texas. August talks about the importance of having 24-hour public accessibility on the farm and its positive impact on the community and the farm workers.
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Taking time to grow fruits and vegetables can help you to reduce stress, while increasing your agency in food production.
Three: Take Up Gardening
This is the perfect time for our urban agriculture issue of the LAM. Why? Of all the activities we can engage in, gardening is perhaps the most beneficial. Gardening is a common activity shared by people worldwide who live in so called ‘blue zones’. Blue zones are regions in the world where people live exceptionally long lives in tight knit communities, close to the land. Urban agriculture can facilitate your gardening, whether through programs on rooftop farms (See Ines, LAM 2025) or land-based community gardens or even potted plants on balconies. There is also the potential of guerrilla gardening, whereby you grow plants for food or flowers in places where you do not have a legal right to, often in underutilized public or private, abandoned spaces.
According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, gardening is great exercise, can provide you with opportunities to strengthen social connections, reduce your stress, and provide you with fresh fruits and vegetables to improve your diet.
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People living in these blue zone areas share gardening in common. Source: dreamstime.com
Four: Be the Change You Wish to See in the World
Most people experience some degree of conflict between their values and beliefs, and their actions. This is called incongruent behavior – a mismatch between our inner world and our outer actions. It creates psychological discomfort psychologists call cognitive dissonance. Narrowing that bridge between beliefs and deeds can be very comforting, resulting in less stress, better interpersonal communications and a greater level of trust people put in you. You become someone more respected. Someone who ‘walks their talk’!
Making a small bit of progress individually, in an area where you feel the government is failing, can also bring an additional degree of satisfaction. We’ve changed some things in our household recently to better align our concerns about the climate crisis with our actions. We buy local food from the farmers market, supporting regional small-scale farmers. Recently we purchased a heat exchanger to cool and heat our home, greatly reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. We love to travel and now purchase carbon offsets (which should be standard policy for all airlines, in my opinion) to reduce the greenhouse gas burden associated with flying. Last year, I moved my retirement savings into mutual funds that do not invest in fossil fuel companies or those that manufacture weapons. This is referred to as an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) philosophy of investing, that enables you to leverage your personal investments in support of companies that reflect your values. When millions of people do this, it becomes a very powerful catalyst for change.
Push harder for positive changes in your professional lives. Decarbonize your landscape designs, integrate living architecture into your buildings and make it accessible. Aligning your values with your work is a wonderful gift to yourself and it is well worth striving for. These and a myriad of other actions can help you address any cognitive dissonance you may be experiencing and allow you and your work to become a bigger part of the solution.
Conclusion
The times ahead promise to be challenging for many, so it is important that we all employ actions that take care of ourselves and each other while also continuing to work towards a healthier, more sustainable and equitable world. Happy Spring!
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Steven W. Peck, GRP, GRIMP, Hon. ASLA is grateful for the privilege of working to develop the green roof and wall industry in North America and around the world for the past twenty-five years.
References
Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/dig-into-the-benefits-of-gardening. (Accessed March 17, 2025).
ESG Investing Information. https://www.cfainstitute.org/insights/articles/what-is-esg-investing. Accessed March 17, 2025).
‘Ten Tips to Help You Take Advantage of the Healing Power of Living Architecture and Nature’ Article: (https://livingarchitecturemonitor.com/articles/tips-to-help-you-take-advantage-of-the-healing-powers-living-architecture-fa24). LAM Fall 2024.
Ines Lacarne, Toronto Metropolitan University. “Cultivating Knowledge and Connection : Urban Agriculture and Ecological Literacy” LAM Spring 2025 (https://livingarchitecturemonitor.com/articles/https://livingarchitecturemonitor.com/articles/cultivating-knowledge-and-connection-urban-agriculture-and-ecological-literacy-sp25) LAM Spring 2025.
August Stubler Lead Farmer, Skyfarm, Blackwood, Houston. Sustainable Futures Podcast. https://livingarchitecturemonitor.com/articles/bringing-up-the-crops-with-august-stubler-sp25
