Stress is natural – but if it’s not acknowledged or managed, it can be debilitating to one’s everyday life.
Unfortunately, there is much to be stressed about, at present – nearly eight out of every 10 adults (77%) told the American Psychological Association that the current political climate is a significant source of displeasure in their lives. Their research also showed that 81% of stressed study participants experienced physical and mental side effects, ranging from fatigue to depression.
We’ve rounded up six ways to manage it all, along with examples of women-owned companies that are offering new methods to restore well-being and calmness in these fraught times.
1. Take care of your physical health.
It may seem like a no-brainer, but one of the best ways to keep stress at bay is by exercising. This can mean anything from walking and jogging, to gardening – anything that gets you active, really. “Virtually any form of physical activity can act as a stress reliever,” says the Mayo Clinic, adding that exercise pumps up your endorphins and other natural, neural feel-good chemicals. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains also helps.
Women-owned companies in the well-space abound, including Tone It Up, founded by Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott, which provides fitness programs, nutritional supplements (its protein powders are sold at Target) and a space to connect with other women to keep you motivated. And for better eating habits, there are services like Sunbasket. Co-founded by San Francisco chef Justine Kelly, Sunbasket is a meal kit delivery service with recipes and supplies for healthy, home-made meals. The company also says it watches its carbon footprint.
2. Attend therapy or counseling sessions regularly.
Therapy can be beneficial for anyone, even those who don’t have a mental health disorder. Though Covid lockdowns have long past, many therapy services still offer virtual services, making it easier than ever to attend regular sessions by phone or via video calls.
E-Therapy Cafe, founded by Dr. Jude Black, aims to make therapy more accessible and available when it’s needed most. After working with military officers and families through a former company called Cope Today, Black developed her own company to offer virtual services for various counseling needs.
3. Practice meditation.
Meditation is another common way to manage stress, as it focuses on relaxing the mind. It’s been practiced for thousands of years, but of course there are new ways to find your zen.
Earlier this year, tennis star Naomi Osaka partnered with wellness brand OLLY on a campaign to encourage women to center their minds as well as their bodies. And Women’s Meditation Network, founded by podcaster Katie Krimitsos, is another free, online source for guided meditations. There are eight podcasts for different meditation focuses, and a YouTube channel with more. The company strives to create meditations that “speak to the woman’s soul.”
4. Keep a journal.
There are many ways to journal that can benefit your mental health and relieve stress — daily affirmations, venting, writing out gratitude, manifestation and more. For those new to journaling and don’t know where to begin, there are many guided journals or mental health workbooks to get started.
“The No Worries Workbook,” written by author and social media strategist Molly Burford, offers 124 lists, activities and prompts to “get out of your head and get on with your life.” There is also “Zen as F*ck,” written by Monica Sweeney in her bid to “turn toxic positivity on its head” by providing “cathartic” methods of venting and gratitude journaling. And “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron will also help you engage with your inner artist in a thoughtful fashion.
5. Maintain a routine.
Maintaining a schedule or planning your day out in the mornings can also help prevent stressors. Writing in a physical planner — not your online Google Calendar — can help you remember all of the things you need to do that day, week, month or year, and it allows you to take a break from your screens, even just for 10 minutes. Plus, many planners have different focuses, including self-care, mindfulness and physical activity.
Simple Self, founded by entrepreneur Marylyn Davis, offers planners for more than just writing out your schedule. Davis said she was looking for a daily planner that allowed her to make goals for self-care, gratitude and mental wellness, so she created Simple Self to do just that. Similarly, Free Period Press, a self-care stationery and blogging company founded by Lora DiFranco, sells planners with self-care focuses, workbooks and habit trackers. It also has adult coloring books, for the days when you just need to get off your phone.
6. Surround yourself with as much “good” news as you can.
The news has been be ugly, to say the least. Constantly reading or hearing about the worst things happening in the world can seriously be detrimental to one’s mental health. But there are positive things happening in the world, too.
Wondermind, a mental fitness platform started by Selena Gomez in partnership with her mother, has an email newsletter that brings articles on mental wellness to your inbox. The content includes interviews with celebrities and influential people on anxiety, self-love, healing from trauma, meditation practices and more. The Newsette, founded by Daniella Pearson, sends a daily newsletter to your inbox with “engaging and digestible content” – a mixture of beauty and style tips with relevant news for women intended to “make women across the globe feel more powerful every single day.”
This post, originally published May 1, 2023, has been updated for 2026.
