How we unwind in New Orleans
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Huck takes a breather on the Algiers Point levee. The St. Louis Cathedral can be spotted in the background. Photo: Chelsea Brasted/Axios
This past week, we focused on finding peaceful or joyful moments at Axios New Orleans.
Why it matters: It was a difficult several days with reminders of our Hurricane Katrina trauma everywhere.
The big picture: Here are a few things that help ground us.
Carlie's chill spots
👋 Carlie here. I usually seek out water. The lakefront does that for me, especially at sunrise or sunset.
Zoom in: Being on, in or near water has a stress-relieving and creativity-boosting impact on the brain, my colleague Carly Mallenbaum writes.
- Less than two minutes of looking at water outdoors "is enough to activate the parasympathetic nervous system," and lower your blood pressure and heart rate, organizational psychologist Adam Grant writes, based on recent research.
Alternatively, a meandering walk helps me unwind on a stressful day. One of my chill destinations is the loop at City Park's Big Lake with a stop at the chime tree aka singing oak.
Zoom in: Walking outside and being in awe of nature can calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety and depression, and make you feel more connected to a greater purpose, Mallenbaum writes.
- Learn more about wandering versus walking.
Chelsea's moments of joy
👋 Chelsea here. Meet Huck! He's the very good boy at the top of this page, who my husband and I adopted from the LASPCA back in 2018.
- His once boundless energy has mellowed over the years, and now, when we go on longer walks, he likes to take a sit and cool his belly on the levee near the Algiers Point ferry landing.
- It's a nice reminder for me, too, to pause, take a deep breath and actually touch grass from time to time.
Alternatively, there's nothing that surges my love for New Orleans more than when the weather cools down enough to open the windows so I can hear the neighborhood school marching band practicing in the street.
- And when we get to see them on the route? Pure magic.
The bottom line: Be kind to yourself this week, y'all.