National Geographic Urges You To ‘Take Your Time’ This Mental Health Awareness Month

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 14, 2024) Today, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, National Geographic announced the launch of its TAKE YOUR TIME campaign, encouraging audiences to slow down and find time for themselves this month. Spanning Nat Geo’s extensive portfolio of platforms, including its magazine, digital and widely popular social media accounts, the campaign is anchored by National Geographic’s June magazine cover story on the dramatic rise of chronic stress, which explores its often-acute physical, mental and emotional impacts.

Across nationalgeographic.com, audiences can quiz themselves to discover how stressed they really are (e.g., Is my stress acute or chronic? When should I contact a doctor?), learn more about the science of urgency culture and burnout, and what happens to one’s organs as a result. In addition, readers will be able to access stress-reducing productivity tips from bestselling “Slow Productivity” author Cal Newport, discover how meditation — or maybe even “forest bathing” — can help, try sound therapy, deep dive into ASMR, and test their “brain on nature.”

As the most-followed brand on social media, National Geographic is committed to utilizing its social platforms to de-stress and educate audiences this Mental Health Awareness Month. Starting May 15, National Geographic’s social audiences will also have the opportunity to download soothing phone wallpaper by visiting @NatGeo’s Instagram. Curated from National Geographic’s famed photo collection, the digital backgrounds provide a tangible reminder to “slow down,” “take your time” and even “breathe in, breathe out,” etched upon phone lock/clock screens.

“In our ‘always-on’ world, people are more stressed than ever, and the science is clear that chronic stress has a negative impact on our health,” said Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief of National Geographic. “We aim to help people better understand the effects of stress and encourage them to slow down and take the time to prioritize their mental health. Hopefully, these resources will encourage and facilitate that behavior.”

Audiences can also tap further into the world of calm with Nat Geo’s digital series EARTH MOODS. The meditative mega-episodes feature stunning archival footage from National Geographic’s treasure trove of award-winning natural history series, including INCREDIBLE ANIMAL JOURNEYS and AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS. The series includes four episodes that employ the popular ASMR method of relaxing and focusing, featuring only audio of natural sounds. The episodes drop biweekly through May 28 and are available on National Geographic’s YouTube channel.

Link to stress content: natgeo.com/magazine.
Link to phone backgrounds here.
Link to EARTH MOODS meditative YouTube videos here.
Link to Spotify playlist here.

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ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and exploration. Inspiring a deeper connection to the world, the content studio reaches 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Emmy® Award-winning franchise Genius, series Life Below Zero and Secrets of the Whales, and Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo. In 2022, National Geographic Content was awarded eight News and Documentary Emmys, in addition to Life Below Zero’s Emmy win for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program, its sixth Emmy overall. For more information, follow @natgeo, @NatGeoTV, @NatGeoWILD, and @natgeotravel on Instagram; @NatGeo on Threads; National Geographic, Nat Geo TV, and National Geographic Travel on Facebook; National Geographic on YouTube, and NatGeo on YouTube.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Anna Kukelhaus, anna.kukelhaus@natgeo.com, 202.258.8020
Caitlin Holbrook, caitlin.holbrook@natgeo.com, 716.225.0502