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Reduce Tension: 5 Ways to Instantly Feel Better

From a sanity-preserving stroll to a quick and easy head massage, here are five ways to calm your anxiety while weathering this election cycle….

It’s no exaggeration: This is the most important election of our lifetime. And as the results remain uncertain, many of us are feeling excruciating stress and tension in our minds and bodies alike. What to do in a state of nerves amid a chorus of “too close to calls” and President Donald Trump’s mind-numbing tweets? From a sanity-preserving stroll to a quick and easy head massage, here are five ways to calm your anxiety and reduce tension while weathering the final stretch of the election.

Go for a Sanity Walk

In lockdown, sanity walks became a lifeline for many, offering fresh air, an excuse to get moving, and most importantly, a break from internal chaos. During this tumultuous time, do not underestimate the benefits a quick stroll outside can offer, including improving mental clarity, boosting your mood, and helping release tension—particularity if you have proximity to nature. According to a recent study, walking in nature was found to reduce ruminating over negative experiences.

Do a Breathwork Exercise

Of course, at a time like this, being told to “just breathe” can feel insultingly simple. But to gather your thoughts and cleanse your mind, breathwork, an active meditation that involves guided breath, pulled in and out of the mouth for extended intervals, has been shown to reduce levels of stress hormones and soothe the nervous system. According to Los Angeles–based meditation coach Light Watkins, if you’re anxious or overwhelmed, sitting down and taking 10 deep breaths over a period of two to three minutes will create a noticeable shift in your state of consciousness.

Get Up and Stretch

Whether it’s a special yoga sequence or a mode of dynamic stretching such as foam rolling, elongating muscles in a slow, controlled manner is a robust way to reduce tension in the body. “When muscles stay contracted, fascia can lose its elasticity, leaving you feeling tight, stiff, and tired,” says Maya Jocelyn, founder of Brooklyn-based holistic health and arts center Studio Maya, adding that myofascial release increases blood flow to the muscles and gives a gentle stretch to connective tissue, which can “help you feel more open, free, and energized.”

Give Yourself a Head Massage

The best salve for a dizzying amount of push notifications? A restorative head massage. “It helps release tension that we often store in our scalp,” explains Tomoko Shima, the founder of New York City head spa Tomoko Shima Salon. “It can often be seen when people raise their eyebrows or bring their eyebrows together—this reflects the tension that we are hoping to release.” Whether it’s just with your fingertips, or with help from a scalp brush, gently kneading the scalp, temples, and neck for a few minutes can help melt away stress and tension in minutes.

Reach for a Calming Scent

Scent is highly individual, so reaching for your go-to, mood-boosting fragrance, essential oil, or scented candle is a fail-proof way to stay more calm and grounded. But if you want a science-backed strategy, look to scents with known calming properties, such as lemon and lavender, to help you get through the mounting anticipation.

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Nike Zoom Hyperflight “Safari” Official Images Reveal Bold Print Ahead of Holiday Release

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The Nike Zoom Hyperflight is getting a bold new look, with the “Safari” colorway coming soon. We have official photos of the unique design for a closer look. The sneaker sports bright orange accents and a translucent outsold, and is expected to arrive during the holiday season at a retail price of $190.

The new version is inspired by the Safari print that is familiar from the Air Safari. That pattern covers most of the Hyperflight’s soft, molded upper, giving the basketball shoe a unique look compared with some of the model’s other recent colorways. Together, the unusual texture and pattern make the silhouette feel especially suited to the adventurous design.

The primary contrast across the shoe is orange, used in the trim and other details. The bright color pops against the speckled base without being overwhelming. Black is also present in the design, on the glossy support structure around the midfoot and the soft leather collar. The look is topped off with a see-through outsole that adds another visual element to the overall color scheme.

The sneaker will drop with style code IZ2573-010 and is expected in men’s sizing. With a retail price tag of $190, Nike, Foot Locker, and Sheikh are among the expected retailers. As for when you can expect it, it’s likely to be the holiday season, though we don’t have a solid release date.

The “Safari” colorway comes amid a busy period for the Zoom Hyperflight. This year, Nike has revived the model in several colors, bringing a new wave of attention to the silhouette through a series of releases. Another forthcoming option is the vibrant “Green Apple” pair, also scheduled for a holiday season release.

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The Hyperflight’s history also provides context for the latest return. Jason Williams wore the model in the early 2000s, linking it to a memorable era for the sneaker. That association also helps explain why new colorways can generate excitement beyond the shoe’s look, especially for those who remember it from its previous run.

The Safari design is a definitive statement that does not change the characteristic shape of the Hyperflight. Instead, it uses the familiar silhouette as a canvas for a pattern that has already become recognizable through another Nike model. The orange accents provide a bright contrast, while the black midfoot structure and collar balance it out.

Now that official images have surfaced, sneaker fans have a clearer idea of what to expect from the holiday release. The $190 price, style code, and expected retail partners have also been identified, but a specific launch date has not been confirmed.

For Nike, the “Safari” is another way to bring attention back to the Zoom Hyperflight. One of its more distinctive new looks is this returning model, featuring speckled print, orange trim, black support details, and an icy-looking translucent outsole.

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Lil Yachty Previews Another Nike Air Force 1 Mid, This Time With Blue and Orange Stitching

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Lil Yachty has added another eye-catching design to his ever-growing collection of Nike US Force 1 Mids, this time going for a cleaner white look accented by blue and orange stitching. The rapper’s latest take on the shoe keeps the familiar silhouette. Still, it uses contrasting details to give the shoe its own identity, something the artist is known for, showing off a steady run of variations on the silhouette.

 

Dubbed the “White Contrast Stitch,” the pair features white leather across most of the upper. Rather than altering the classic Air Force 1 Mid profile or incorporating a strange material, the design uses stitching to separate the design visually. Blue stitching embellishes the leather panels, and each side of the shoe’s Swoosh is lined with orange.

 

The combo adds a subtle but noticeable splash of color to the mostly white sneaker. It’s a more muted take than some of the more adventurous pairs Yachty has shown recently, so this version feels like the more no-nonsense option in his growing collection.

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The new design adds to the long list of Air Force 1 Mid looks associated with the rapper this year. Earlier previews have featured a stars-and-stripes pair, an orange version with black stars, and a yellow colorway tied to ComplexCon. Each has put a different spin on the familiar silhouette, helping make Yachty’s run of designs a continuing talking point among sneaker watchers.

 

Earlier this year, another pair of the shoes, this time with blue and red detailing and thick white stitching, was also teased. That version is expected to launch around the holidays, but the details provided don’t confirm whether it will launch alongside the recently unveiled white one.

 

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Some questions remain unanswered about the “White Contrast Stitch” design. Nike has not confirmed any price, style code, or even whether the sneaker will be released to the public. The design has drawn attention through its online appearance and Yachty’s preview, but neither sets a launch date nor guarantees consumers can buy it.

 

That anticipation makes the latest reveal more of a first look than a proper release announcement. The white leather upper and blue-and-orange stitching are on display, but key retail details remain unknown. For now, there is no confirmed timeline for when the pair might hit stores, or if it will be offered beyond the preview.

 

Still, the design adds another variation to a collection that has featured a wide variety of colors and details. The white base makes this one more subtle, while the contrast stitching keeps it from being a straight-up all-white release.

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Yachty’s latest preview continues his ongoing relationship with the silhouette, with several other Air Force 1 Mid designs already shown this year. It’s not clear if the “White Contrast Stitch” pair will ever make it to the light of day, but it’s definitely added another distinct look to his growing collection.

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