Lifestyle

How Workplace Stress Could Be Affecting You and What to Do About It

Published

5 years ago

July 28, 2020

The increase in the amount of workplace stress in recent years has turned this into one of the most worrying issues in modern times. This is a complex issue that can affect you in many different ways.

While some people have issues serious enough to need expert medical attention, in many other cases a change of lifestyle can be enough to make a positive impact.

Poor Sleeping Patterns – Get a More Relaxing Bed-Time Routine

The time to go to sleep is when one of the most noticeable effects of stress can be seen. Levels of insomnia have been rising together with stress levels in the last few years, and it seems clear that the two issues are often linked. Especially in kids according to snoozzzy.

One possible solution is to establish a more relaxed and consistent bed-time routine. This means not eating a heavy meal or drinking anything with caffeine in it when it gets late. You can then look to create a relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom.

Essential oils may be a major part of this, as they can help you relax if you add a few drops to the atmosphere. Getting a more relaxing environment with the use of relaxing colours in a tidy, uncluttered bedroom can also produce good results.

Headaches – Try Meditating

If you have noticed an increasing number of headaches affecting you, this could be down to the amount of stress that you are under each day. Stress has been linked to migraines, although you may find that other factors such as a poor diet or lack of sleep add to the problem.

Given the effect that this can have on your life, it is worth trying everything that you can to solve the problem. Trying to slow down a hectic lifestyle while adding in more time to eat and sleep well is certainly a step in the right direction for many of us.

Meditation is another tactic that has been proven to help people who are suffering from stress-related headaches. It is an ancient technique that puts you in touch with your spiritual side and may let you find the inner peace that you crave.

Increased Irritability – Get Out for More Exercise

As we have seen, stress at work can affect your life in several different ways. Some people find that they become increasingly irritable, which is unpleasant for them and also for the people around them.

Finding a suitable new hobby is one of the most enjoyable and sustainable ways of feeling better by lowering your stress. It should be something that genuinely interests you and that gives you a strong reason to look forward to leaving work each day.

In fact, this is the perfect opportunity to add some exercise to your lifestyle, as increased physical activity is another improvement that can lower your stress levels. An example of how this could work is with a sport like kayaking, which gets you on the water for an invigorating type of exercise that also relaxes your mind.

Depression or Sadness – Listen to Music or Paint

One of the most worrying effects of too much stress is when you feel depressed or sad for no apparent reason. In the US, studies suggest that close to 7% of adults have at least one period of depression each year.

But someone who lives with constant stress may find that this is a more frequent concern. For some people, finding new ways of relaxing and taking their mind off their issues at work can help greatly.

For instance, you may decide to listen to more music, which is recommended as being one of the best ways of lifting your mood. Painting is another hobby that is widely recommended for anyone who is looking to remove feelings of sadness.

Stress can affect us all in different ways, and the effectiveness of the solutions also vary by person. This means that it makes sense to try a few different approaches until you find the perfect one for your needs.

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

5 days ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.