From ‘Retrograde’ Mercury to city traffic

Mars company shares secrets from Millennials and Generation Z for overcoming stress

Micro-stresses are small stressful moments that happen every day and drain time, energy, and enthusiasm. Although they may seem small and insignificant at the moment, micro-stresses can harm us if they accumulate and are not managed over a long period. The summer season is slowly coming to an end, but it seems that daily nuisances and inconveniences are not easing up. The carefree life of a vacation turns into city crowds and endless to-do lists. Phones don’t stop ringing, and small arguments with colleagues or partners make everyday life quite unpleasant and stressful.

Aware of the amount of micro-stress in daily life, Mars and Orbit chewing gum conducted research* on the causes of micro-stresses. As a company that values “me-time” during a stressful day, Mars and Orbit have shared effective ways to help combat micro-stresses.

The research showed that 40% of respondents face micro-stresses daily. However, it’s not all bleak, as the most effective ways to combat them were found to be isolated from the source of stress (44%), walking in the park (42%), and talking about feelings with close people (38%). The research also revealed that creating “me-time” is very important for 47% of respondents, as it allows them to relax (67%), disconnect from daily life (53%), and focus on the things they love (62%).

Although micro-stresses are a daily occurrence throughout the year, those who believe in astrology say that the periods of “retrograde” Mercury, such as from April 1 to 24, the current one from August 4 to 27, or the upcoming one from November 25 to December 15, are times when we encounter more inconveniences. The return of ex-partners, technology breakdowns, accidents on the roads, and communication problems are just some of the consequences of Mercury’s “retrograde motion,” say astrology advocates.

The research revealed that 15% of respondents felt the negative impact of this astral nuisance, affecting Millennials (16%) and Generation Z (15%) almost equally. However, only 7% of Millennials reported being significantly affected by “retrograde Mercury,” while this number is much lower among Generation Z, at just 2%.

“We see great importance in combating micro-stresses in daily life and the need to carve out moments just for oneself. At Mars, we believe that taking moments for oneself during the day can help achieve calmness, and chewing gum can be the perfect companion in the fight against micro-stresses. We hope to see more people creating moments for themselves as we find new and creative ways to cope with micro-stresses,” said Katarina Lero, Regional Portfolio Manager for the chewing gum category at Mars.

Micro-stresses are an inevitable part of everyday life, but with the right tools and strategies, it’s possible to create moments of peace and calm. Mars and Orbit will continue to inspire people to better cope with daily challenges and create time for themselves, even during the next “retrograde” Mercury period at the end of the year.