Frustrated by dodgy, at-home haircuts? Fed up with endless Zoom quizzes? Pining after the cancelled festivals and celebrations? You need a release and Iceland is the perfect antidote.
With 49% of Americans feeling increasingly stressed, frustrated and tense due to the recent coronavirus-induced lockdown, Inspired by Iceland has launched Let It Out, a bespoke website that invites everyone to record their screams of frustration and have them released into Iceland’s beautiful, wide-open spaces.
For the next two weeks, people worldwide can visit https://lookslikeyouneediceland.com. to let it all out and, with Iceland’s uniquely spacious surroundings and seemingly endless landscapes, the only noises you’ll have to compete with are a nearby waterfall and the crashing waves of the ocean.
Inspired by the practice of ‘scream therapy’ and the fact that 42% of Americans say COVID restrictions make them want to scream, Let It Out will capture screams, yells and shouts from anyone, anywhere in the world and release them through speakers located in seven stunning and remote locations across the island.
From the peak of Festarfjall in Reykjanes Peninsula, the tranquil shores of Djúpivogur in East Iceland to the roaring Skógarfoss waterfall in the south, participants can choose from seven locations in Iceland where their scream is released before seeing and hearing it in real time via a live stream of screams.
Psychotherapist & Mental Health Specialist Zoe Aston comments “The events of this year mean most of us have experienced increased feelings of frustrations, fear, loneliness, anger or guilt, and we have all coped in different ways. Left with a backlog of emotion, we need to find healthy and effective ways of creating a release in order for us to move forward into our new normal. Using a scream as a way to release pent up emotion allows you to reconnect with yourself, hear your own voice and reclaim the power that is inside you. Releasing pent up emotion is not an invitation to attack, influence or express aggression; it is a way to become aware of your feelings and take a step towards being kind to yourself.”
Global research commissioned by Inspired by Iceland shows that lockdown has caused people a lot of frustration, leaving people across the world feeling bored (45%), more stressed than usual (40%) and reporting negative impact on their mental health (37%). While missing friends and family has been the main frustrations, others include missing our favourite bars and restaurants (36%), travelling abroad (27%) and exploring new places (17%).
Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir, Head of Visit Iceland stated “Across the world, people have been through a lot in the last few months. We empathise and want to do what we can to help people relieve their frustrations. In Iceland, we are lucky enough to have vast open spaces and beautiful nature that is the perfect place to let out frustrations. We feel this is just what the world needs. And when people are ready to resume traveling, they can come and experience it for themselves”
Iceland’s aim is to give the world a moment to Let It Out and release all the frustrations of lockdown as life begins to resume more normally. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. With some countries starting to welcome back visitors, almost a quarter will look to travel abroad this year – when safe to do so – with areas of beautiful, natural scenery top of the list (28%). With the biggest wilderness in Europe, Iceland offers all the space you need to feel renewed, without the crowds.
Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Iceland’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation, comments “Whether you’re virtually visiting the country to scream into the vast, expansive landscapes or coming to see us in person, I am very excited to welcome the world to experience Iceland in this way. We all need a release after the last few months and I truly believe Iceland has everything you need to feel refreshed and reinvigorated.”
Iceland has achieved success against the COVID-19 pandemic through the use of targeted measures. This includes early and high-volume testing, effective tracing efforts, quarantining of at-risk individuals and isolation of confirmed cases.
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