Sometimes we just have to be the ones to admit it -- life is stressful. It doesn't matter whether you're dealing with a project that's due in two days, have exams that you haven't quite gotten the time to study for or are spending countless hours practising for that big game this season. Life comes with a lot of weight. Learning how to handle it is a key factor towards living a better, happier and less stressful life.

I personally have a number of ways of maintaining my sanity and peace of mind. You might find some of them a bit cheezy but trust me -- they work! If you're ever feeling on edge about something, you may as well try some of these tips.

1. Go for a Walk

As simple as it may sound, going for a walk actually does a lot more than you think. Taking a short saunter exposes you to the world around you. It shows you that there is so much more than what goes on in your head. Plus, a little exercise never did anyone any harm.

2. Dance to your Favourite Jam

Yes, get up, toss your hands in the air like you just don't care and jump! jump! jump! Have some fun. Act like no one's watching (and if someone is, ask them to join in; the more the merrier). It isn't your favourite jam for no reason.

3. Try Some Yoga

Nothing beats stretching all your muscles. Yoga leaves you feeling fresh and an active yoga session gives you enough energy to conquer your day. The great thing about yoga is that you can do it literally anywhere: in your living room, at work or even at the gym.

4.Unplug for a Day

The real world is generally a busy place but the technological world is extremely hectic. You cannot survive living in both worlds for your entire life. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to unplug. This way, you actually get time to focus on the people around you and build intimate relationships with others.

5. Read a Good Book/Re-read Your Favourite Book

Have you ever lost yourself in the realm of fantasy while reading a really good book? I know I have. Not every book is going to be amazing or have this effect but when you do find a book that's worth reading why not just read it to the end?

6. Talk About It

If something seems to be too much to handle it always helps to talk about it with someone who you trust. This way you don't have to do it alone -- you have a helping hand.

7. Draw or Write Something

This is probably the easiest. You don't have to write a Harry Potter novel or recreate the Mona Lisa. You can write some funny jokes, maybe a letter to a friend or scribble some cartoons - whatever floats your boat.

I truly hope that this list was helpful. I know that these things always raise my spirits and I thought 'why not share them?' Feel free to pin any of the quotes in this blog post and share with your friend and family. Have a great day/afternoon/evening/night (you get it).

The world around us is full of mystery and so many unanswered questions. Every step that we take is an adventure waiting to happen. You never know what could be coming your way. There is so much uncertainty but yet we somehow always seem to find the beauty in it all. This, I cannot explain. As mysterious as it may seem, it's as though each and every event in life exists as per serendipity. 

Experience is the best teacher, they say. But, what is 'experience?' Experience isn't just another word in the dictionary; it's something that we feel; it's something that we live; it's something that we cherish. Experience is what makes us human. Experience is but an aspect of reality, is it not? Each and every moment that we experience moulds us into who we become. 

Every so often, we remind ourselves of the people we love and appreciate. As humans, we are able to create bonds. Bonds are what keep us together; they are what strengthen us. And yet very rarely do we express our gratitude for each moment that we have together. We are all so perfectly imperfect but yet we are all so lovable. 

Love and passion are necessary in every aspect of human nature. We require passion to journey the deepest parts of ourselves. We require it so strongly to determine who we are. And love we need love to appreciate whoever it is that we find; whoever it is that we learn that we are. 

Very often we find it scary to grow up. But yet growing up is a necessary part of life. It is inevitable. Then why be scared? It's normal, isn't it? There is so much uncertainty of what the future may hold. As we fight in the present for a better tomorrow, we can never truly know what is to come. All in all, it's okay to be scared. It makes sense why anyone would be scared. 

I remember when I turned thirteen. It was a major step in my life. For some reason, I felt like I had accomplished something great. I was finally a teenager! And I was proud of it. I had neither an idea of what battles I was going to face nor what characters I was going to meet but I had faith; faith in myself and in the unknown. But what really made becoming a teenager special was the people around me. I had people to lean on people ready to listen people who were willing to answer all my burning questions. There were so many amazing people. This was and still is what makes being a teenager awesome. 

Being alive is one thing. Living is yet another. Living and being grateful -- this is the greatest thing that one could possibly do (at least that's what I believe). Looking back, I see all these experiences that made me who I am today. I may not have been grateful then but I am now. Tell me this: Are you just alive? Are you living life? Or are you living and being grateful? 

Live to tell your story. Smile. Be amazing and change the world. 

YOURS TRULY, 

BRIAN. 

PEACE OUT ✌🏾

If you are lucky enough to have been born into the technological world of the 21st century, you'll probably be able to relate with what you are about to read. You do not necessarily have to agree with me as everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The motion to be discussed today has raised a few hairs for quite a number of years now.

It has been said, more than once, that Social Media, despite its look of harmlessness, is but a danger to society. Some may disagree and very often we tend to let it slide without having given it a second thought. But really, how bad can it really be?

How about we go back -- way back! For hundreds, and even thousands of centuries, man has used communication as a way of passing information. Naturally, human beings are social creatures. Even when we cannot speak to another person face to face, we have always found a way to adapt communication to suit our needs.

Postal Services can be dated back to 550 BC. Yeah, letters are pretty old. Somewhere along the line, in 1792, the telegraph was invented. I know what you're thinking, how does this have anything to do with the app on my phone? Well we're almost there.

Some time in 1890 we saw the introduction of the telephone and a year later the birth of the radio.

In 1960 we saw the rise of the Internet and in 1997 the first recognizable form of Social Media (Six Degrees) was born. The 21st century gave birth to the Social apps that we now know and use today -- MySpace and LinkedIn (2003), YouTube (2005) and Facebook and Twitter (Made available worldwide in 2006).

The question left is 'HOW is Social Media dangerous?' To be honest, Social Media has and still continues to serve it's original purpose, it brings people together. But there is a limit to how together it can possibly bring us. 

If you are reading this, what are the odds of you actually using another app at the same time? Are you listening to a playlist on Spotify, scrolling through your Twitter feed and yet are somehow still here? Well, my point is: we are never fully anywhere. We are torn apart between two [or more] worlds. I could be talking to you on WhatsApp, DMing yet another friend on Instagram and simultaneously watching a video of I don't know -- fainting goats.

Simply put, Social Media isn't really harmful. The way we use it; that's what's harmful. The solution, believe it or not, is just being H-E-R-E. Be in the now. Be MINDFUL.

Images courtesy of Pexels.