Meditation - Meditation is one of the best ways to calm your mind , and nowadays , there are more ways than you can count to try out different styles and find out what works for you . From in-person classes to apps like Insight Timer and Headspace to online videos , chances are you ’ ll find something you like . Even though I ’ ve been meditating for about two decades now , I still love guided meditations because they help me get out of my head quickly . Other people find them weird or too challenging , so deep breathing and gentle music may be more aligned for them . Meditating regularly for a few minutes each day provides stress relief and its cascade of health benefits mentioned earlier .
Spirit - Last , but not least , is the level of the spirit . You can think of your spirit as your joie de vivre , your purpose , and connection to something greater than yourself . It ’ s why you are here and why you want to stay here , but also a knowing that we are more than just our incarnation into this body .
Community / Connection - Tending our spirit level means examining how connected we feel to others . Feeling like we are a part of a community , whether friends , family , or neighbors , is critical for our health and wellbeing . As we get older , we are more likely to isolate and less likely to engage with others in our community . The U . S . Surgeon General recently released a report ( 2023 ) on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation in our country . He writes , “[ Loneliness ] is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease , dementia , stroke , depression , anxiety and premature death . The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day , and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity .” If you are not currently active in your community , find ways to connect ( preferably in-person ), whether it ’ s through events , interest groups , places of worship , or fitness .
Spirituality - Feeling a connection to something greater than yourself helps most people feel a sense of purpose and connection . While some people choose to practice organized religion , it does not have to be limited to that . It can be just as healing for someone to feel connected to the rest of humanity and want to help make a difference , whether they believe in an after-life or not . Whatever spirituality looks like for you , take time to regularly connect to that feeling ; this can be through prayer , meditation , gratitude , or being out in nature .
Purpose - When you care about others and the world around you , you feel a need to do your part to help humanity and the earth . The thing is , it doesn ’ t have to be in a grandiose way like many are led to believe . You don ’ t have to be Greta Thunberg or Mahatma Gandhi . Being a caring mother or father to your child , teaching the next generations , inventing something that makes life easier , or rescuing animals in need … they ’ re all great purposes , even if they don ’ t make the front-page news . Our purpose can also change over time . What is most important is that we do what lights us up , as frequently as we can . If you ’ re not currently making time in your life for what truly brings you happiness , start carving out just a small pocket of time each day or week to fit it in .
Volunteering - Volunteering to help those in need can contribute to your feeling of purpose and wellbeing . What are you most passionate about ? Find a non-profit or organization that is doing work in that area and volunteer your time , talents , or services . Is it important to you that everyone has a warm meal ? Volunteer in a soup kitchen to feed the homeless or lend a hand at a community garden . Do you care about litter ? Clean up the road sides with a local business or club . Have you always admired a certain business ? See if they could use your professional skills to help further their mission . Help others and help yourself at the same time . It ’ s a win-win .
There are so many ways to tend yourself and improve your health . While it can feel overwhelming , start with just one thing and do it consistently . As you feel comfortable , add in another , and repeat . Soon small changes will lead to big shifts for your body , mind , and spirit .
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References Bryant , E . & Reynolds , S . ( 2021 ). Good sleep for good health : Get the rest you need . NIH News In Health , 1-2 .
Mayo Clinic Staff . ( 2021 , July 8 ). Chronic stress puts your health at risk . Mayo Clinic . https :// www . mayoclinic . org / healthy-lifestyle / stressmanagement / in-depth / stress / art- 20046037
Murthy , V . ( 2023 , May 3 ). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation : The U . S . Surgeon General ’ s advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community . U . S . Department of Health & Human Services . https :// www . hhs . gov / sites / default / files / surgeon-generalsocial-connection-advisory . pdf
18 LakeTalk August 2023