Improved Mental Health and Longevity – Loving relationships provide emotional security, reducing the risk of depression and anxiety. Studies also suggest that people in strong romantic relationships tend to live longer. Study Example: A Harvard study spanning 80+ years (the Grant & Glueck Study) found that strong relationships were the most significant predictor of happiness and longevity.
mental health
Healthy Tips: Stop Scrolling: Set Down Your Phone
Too much screen time can negatively impact your wellness, whether you’re on social media or not. Scrolling on your phone (no matter what you’re doing) can negatively impact your everyday life — especially at night. Mobile phones emit a blue light that causes problems by affecting your sleep and potentially your eyesight with constant exposure. Source
Note: You ever ride by a school bus pickup stop and see the kids waiting for the bus? What are they doing? Are they talking with one another? From my experience, if there are 10 kids waiting for the bus they’re not engaged with each other. They are all staring at their phones and they are strangers to the people standing next to them. How do we learn to engage in meaningful conversations if we don’t participate in meaningful conversations? How do learn to understand one another if we are not in personal communication? Meaningful conversations is important to our mental health.
Practicing Gratitude in the Midst of Loss: A Thanksgiving Reflection
In this episode, we explore the power of gratitude, especially during difficult times like grief and loss. We’ll discuss practical tips for cultivating gratitude and share a poignant poem by William H. Merwin.
Episode 142: The Journey of Grief – Awakening to Healing Through Poetry
In Episode 142, we explore the inevitability of suffering and grief, a universal experience that touches us all. For those who have experienced the pain of loss, suffering becomes a deep, shared journey. Understanding grief can be transformative, awakening in us empathy, resilience, and the desire to heal.
This episode reflects on the poetry of Patience Strong, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Mary Oliver to guide us through the emotional tug of war between light and darkness. These poets illuminate the difficult but profound path from grief to joy, helping us navigate the struggles that arise when we feel torn between holding on to pain and reaching for healing. Their words offer hope that moments of joy will return, signaling the resurrection of life within us.
Tune in to hear insights on grief, healing, and the soul’s awakening, along with reflections on the beautiful power of poetry to comfort and guide us through life’s most challenging moments.
Keywords: Grief, Healing, Suffering, Awakening, Poetry, Patience Strong, Rainer Maria Rilke, Mary Oliver, Joy, Episode 142, Path to Healing
Health Facts: It’s Time to Exercise
Here are two lesser-known but important health facts about daily vigorous exercise:
- Improved Gut Health: Vigorous exercise has been shown to positively impact gut health by increasing the diversity of gut bacteria. A diverse microbiome is associated with better digestion, enhanced immune function, and even improved mood and mental health. Regular intense physical activity can help promote a more balanced and varied gut microbiome, which in turn supports overall health.
- Increased Lifespan of Immune Cells: Engaging in daily vigorous exercise can extend the lifespan of certain immune cells, particularly T-cells, which play a crucial role in defending the body against infections. This means that regular intense exercise can potentially enhance your immune system’s ability to fight off pathogens more effectively, contributing to better long-term health and resilience against illnesses.
Health Facts: Movement Means Mobility
Two little-known but important health facts about sedentary behavior are:
1. Increased Risk of Mental Health Issues:
Prolonged sedentary behavior is not only linked to physical health problems but also to mental health issues. Extended periods of inactivity can lead to increased feelings of anxiety and depression. This is partly due to reduced levels of physical activity, which is known to boost endorphin levels and improve mood. Additionally, sedentary behavior can result in social isolation, which further exacerbates mental health problems.
2. Impact on Bone Health:
While the adverse effects of sedentary behavior on cardiovascular health and weight are well-known, its impact on bone health is often overlooked. Extended periods of inactivity can lead to decreased bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Weight-bearing activities and regular movement are crucial for maintaining bone strength and density, and a sedentary lifestyle can significantly undermine these benefits.
Regular physical activity and minimizing sedentary behavior can contribute significantly to overall health and well-being.
Source: ChatGPT
Health Tip of the Day ~ Is Cleaning the House Related to Good Mental Health?
Cleaning the House Promotes Good Mental Health
Cleaning results in good mental health through several mechanisms. The absence of clutter can reduce the overstimulation produced by too many visual stimuli, enabling increased focus and the ability to concentrate. In addition, cleaning can enhance mood, particularly when engaged in mindful activity whilst doing the cleaning activity – moreover, the active cleaning itself can result in environmental certainty and controllability, thereby reducing anxiety. . . . When spaces are cleared . . . cleaning can indirectly affect mental health through a reduced pressure to multi-task.
Health Tip of the Day ~ The Importance of Maintaining Good Health
Staying healthy is an important part of life. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are all key components to maintaining good health. Additionally, avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, and engaging in recreational drug use are all important steps to take in order to stay healthy. Taking daily vitamins and supplements can also help to ensure that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and strong. Finally, monitoring your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Taking time to relax and de-stress, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that make you feel good are important aspects of mental well-being.
Today’s Health Tip ~ Undergoing a Major Life Change?
5 Ways to Cope with Major Life Changes
Major life changes shift you off balance. Painful events, like a job loss, death in the family, or the end of a relationship, create deep feelings of loss. They also cause fear and uncertainty because your brain doesn’t like any changes – good or bad. That’s why joyful events like bringing home a new baby, starting a job, or getting married can also make life feel different and unfamiliar. To help your brain adapt, it helps to check in with your mental health. Here are 5 ways to find balance during major life changes:
- Give yourself time to accept the change – Life changes, both good and bad, take time to process, and that’s okay. Time is necessary. Your brain needs a chance to ease out of protective mode, learn, and adapt to your new circumstances.
- Acknowledge the change and your feelings – Whether it was unexpected or you knew it was coming, it is essential to acknowledge the change and your feelings. It helps to talk with someone you trust or seek professional care.
- Give yourself regular mental health checkups – Checking in with your feelings helps you assess your mental health. Ask yourself the kinds of questions you’d ask a loved one if you saw them struggling.
- Carve out a path forward – Planning, lists, action items, and goals help you – and your brain – feel more in control and adapt to significant life changes.
- Take a break from processing significant changes – Using creative outlets to process your feelings gives your brain a much-needed break.
Today’s Health Tip ~ Want to Improve Your Mental Health?
Get Moving
You might not want to sit down for this. “Physical exercise is very important in preventing or reducing mental health problems,” Klitzman says, which include depression. “When we exercise, our body releases endorphins – natural opiates that improve our mood and make us feel good. Exercise can also help cognitive functioning – how well we think.”
