HOW DO YOU MANAGE SLEEP, STRESS, AND ENERGY? WE ASKED TEAM GNC
If you’re on the hunt for the best supplements for mental health, you’re not alone. Lack of sleep, mounting stress, zapped energy levels – we all feel these from time to time and look for ways to take the edge off. With thousands of products, ingredients, workouts, and TikTok tips overwhelming your feed, sometimes the best route for guidance is to reach out to your inner circle. So, that’s what I set out to do. The good news is my inner circle at GNC is an incredible group of experts with backgrounds in health, nutrition, fitness, supplements – and all things wellness.
I chatted with an awesome group of coworkers to get their take on how they keep their mental well-being in check, from supplements to lifestyle factors. We are all associates at GNC’s corporate office and our roles are diverse…Here’s a little intro!
- Tyler McGlasson, MK, ISSN – Senior Manager of Product Design
- Jack Ciampi – Associate Brand Manager
- Lauren Waksmunski – Associate Category Merchant
- Rachel Kreider, MPH, RD – Sr Director Technical Product & Content Design
- Rachel Namery, MS – Manager of Product Design
- Rebecca Yonek – Associate Manager of Product Design
And me! I’m a Senior Manager on the Nutrition Content team and a Registered Dietitian (and also a new mom to twin boys, so I’m definitely familiar with exhaustion).Let’s dive into the minds of Team GNC to learn what they do to combat the daily stressors of everyday life and keep their minds in tip-top shape.
TEAM GNC’S TAKE ON MENTAL WELL-BEING SUPPLEMENTS
When it comes to mental well-being supplements, there were two types that rose to the top – Sleep and Energy Products. This makes sense since the two go hand-in-hand. Most of us wake up in the morning and reach for caffeine, either in the form of coffee or an energy drink. Not only does the caffeine give an energy boost, many of us like it for the nootropic support (hello mental focus!). Tyler says he “prefers the fruity taste of an energy drink instead of the bitter taste of coffee in the morning”. However, we try to avoid caffeine a few hours before bedtime. Instead, we opt for the occasional sleep supplement 30-60 minutes before hitting the hay.
WHAT WE LIKE AND WHAT WE AVOID
Caffeine reigns supreme in the energy category. When it comes to energy drinks, the sweet spot seems to be in the 150-200mg range. Whereas ingredients like yohimbe did not get stellar reviews for the way it makes you feel. Some of the energy drinks we reach for are Cellucor® C4® SmartEnergy and G FUEL® Energy Drink. Outside of drinks, Jack likes to take a pre-workout for an energy boost before exercise, either Beyond Raw® Concept X or Beyond Raw® LIT™.
When it comes to sleep supplements, it’s no surprise that melatonin rose to the top (with the exception of one person who doesn’t like it). Melatonin doses ranged from 1-5mg (nobody was a fan of anything over 5mg) and gummies are the group’s favorite. Rachel Kreider likes to incorporate BodyDynamix® Slim PM™ Metabolism Support into her routine, which has added benefits to boost metabolism (who doesn’t like to burn extra calories while they sleep?). I personally take GNC Melatonin Quick-Dissolving Lozenges. I like these because they quickly dissolve in your mouth, which helps to facilitate absorption. I also like the peppermint flavor (which is great when I forget to take it before I brush my teeth with minty toothpaste!).
Some of the other products and ingredients we take for overall health include: ashwagandha and theanine for stress support, multivitamins, B vitamins, vitamin D, protein bars, amino acids, meal replacements, and probiotics. As you can see, we keep our medicine cabinets and pantries fully stocked.
Across the board, we pay attention to the ingredients in the products we choose. We care about what’s in the product and (sometimes more importantly) what’s NOT in the product. Tons of added sugar, excipients, soy, and dairy are on our “not-so-fave” list.
Our lifestyle habits for mental well-being
Without a doubt, the number one habit Team GNC recommends is exercise, exercise, exercise. However, where we differ is our exercise of choice. Some of us prefer to walk in the morning while others do things like jiu jitsu, Cross Fit, soccer, and swimming.
To help with stress and sleep, there are lots of other lifestyle tools we use, such as:
- Any time of day
- Meditation
- Talking to a trusted friend or healthcare professional
- Getting plenty of natural sunlight
- Using blue light glasses when looking at screens
- Only checking your phone at certain times
- Finding moments in your day just for yourself (even if it’s just a quick shower)
- Before bed
- Dimming the lights
- Turning off electronics
- Reading a book
- Using a sound machine
If you struggle with lack of energy, lack of sleep, or elevated stress levels, here are a few tips from Team GNC:
- Take baby steps
- Develop a routine that you can stick to, continual commitment is imperative to progress.
- Try different things – It can be a bit of trial and error to find what works for you. Rachel Kreider said it best – “I see myself as my own personal health advocate, and I really try not to be passive when it comes to wellness. If something doesn’t feel right, no one is going to be able to fix it but me! I ask questions, I read, I try, I adjust, and try again until I feel great!!”
- Give supplements a try! The GNC Learning Center is a great resource to learn more and do research.
We hope the minds at GNC helped you on your mental wellness journey. Don’t give up…you’ve got this!
