By Paige Leigh Reist┃Posted: January 04, 2019
Welcome to 2019!
During the first stretch of the New Year, we are filled with ambition and purpose, and our goals seem easy, within reach, and exciting and pleasurable to work towards. But how can you maintain that mindset for the rest of the year?
This week’s Wellness Roundup, the first of the year, focuses on keeping that great transformative energy flowing, while also being reasonable and honest with yourself. Real change takes time, and gentle, persistent effort!
If You’re Going to Make One Change in 2019, Make it This
Gretchen Lidicker for mindbodygreen
You’ve probably got a whole laundry list of health goals for 2019, but one surprising element of your self-care routine could have a bigger impact than any other habit: your sleep schedule. In this article, Gretchen Lidicker outlines why going to bed no later than 10 pm is a is a radically healthy choice for your body and mind:
- It’s our natural biological inclination to fall asleep no later than three hours after sunset
- It prevents the late-night release of the stress hormone, cortisol
- It grounds you and reconnects you to your natural rhythms, soothing symptoms of anxiety and depression
Drop the Past and Move Forward into the New Year Afresh: Accept Challenges, Share Comforts, Spread Knowledge and Love
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for Art of Living
Spiritual master and Art of Living founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar shares his wisdom to help you live the most fulfilling year of your life. In this article, he writes on:
- How to expand your comfort zone
- How to remain young in spirit
- How to take responsibility for your life
- How to share your gifts to make the world a better place
Is Loneliness Making You Sick?
F. Diane Barth, L.C.S.W., for Psychology Today
The connection between our emotions and our health is a strong one. As F. Diane Barth explains, “Recent research confirms that loneliness increases the risk of poor health – and even premature death.The reasons for this connection are not always clear, although some studies have found evidence that loneliness is linked to a decrease in some of the chemicals in our bodies that help protect us from injury and illness.” This article lays out some steps we can all take to feel less lonely and find true and authentic connection.
We are Contented with Little, but the World Tells Us We Need More
Imi Lo for Rebelle Society
In this moving essay, Imi Lo reminds us that our true nature is what lays underneath and separate from the “acceptable” lives we have crafted for ourselves. “Our wild hearts are contented with little — nature, the arts and simple pleasures — but the world tells us we need more. So we drive ourselves into the city, climb a big ladder, pile on commitments.” She goes on to remind us to honor our true self and our authentic needs, something that we think is a soul-nourishing thing to remember as we head into the New Year.
This week, practice being both gentle and resilient, ambitious and content. Balance is the key!
Paige Leigh Reist is a writer, editor, blogger, and writing instructor.
