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In the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle of stress, to-do lists, and constant distractions. We often find ourselves in reactive mode, jumping from one task to another without taking a moment to breathe. In this never-ending state of “doing,” joy can feel like a fleeting visitor, a brief moment of happiness we’re too busy to notice.

When life gets to be too much, it’s natural to search for a quick and easy reset button. We live in a world constantly searching for the latest product or “hack” to ease the anxiety of having to take action and make deep change, but when it comes to mental health, there are no shortcuts.

Rural living is undeniably special. The fresh air, open spaces, and untouched scenery offer literal and figurative breathing room. Rolling hills, quiet mornings, and the space to spread out bring peace and freedom rarely found in urban settings. However, while space can be a luxury, it also comes with its own set of challenges—especially when it comes to building community.

Is your job dropping new tasks on you that you didn’t even have capacity to do in the first place? Is your partner driving you nuts by leaving that cup in the sink without washing it? Woke up today and no one Venmo’d you a million dollars? Sounds like a good enough reason to crash out to me!

When Bad Bunny went live for his concert “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí”, millions around the world tuned in. But something else surprising happened that night: Pornhub traffic dropped by 13.4% globally, and in Puerto Rico, it dropped by more than 20%. For one night, millions of people chose music, energy, and connection over scrolling through content alone.

You may have heard advice from friends, family and/or mental health professionals to try things like taking a walk, exercising, deep breathing, taking a bath, meditating, or drinking herbal tea. Each of these can be super helpful in a moment, and as an on-going self-care habit. I’d like to also highlight another stress-reducing, life-affirming, joyful practice that sometimes gets overlooked as an option. Laughing.