Holistic health-physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being-isn’t something that just happens to us. It’s something that we need to fight for and remain committed to for the rest of our lives. It’s understandable why people tend to let themselves go; healthy habits and practices don’t come naturally to us unless we build habits and allow ourselves to move from duty to delight. This is something that not a lot of people have embraced. The work may be painstaking and difficult, but the results are always worth it.If the second half of 2021 is the time you want to be healthier in all aspects, here are some activities you might want to explore.
Therapy or counseling
There is no denying that the past year and a half have been hard on people across the globe. The COVID-19 crisis was the great equalizer-everyone, regardless of status in life, was affected in one way or another. Some experts have even called what the world went through a “collective trauma,” which means that many of us, if not all of us, will have to reckon with the grief and losses we experienced the past year.
Why not consider going to therapy or counseling this year? This is extremely beneficial, especially if you were already going through so much emotional distress even before the pandemic hit. Trauma accumulates, and if you don’t deal with it now even if you feel like you’re all right, it will come back to haunt you in the future. Therapy or counseling need not be something thatyou shy away from; it’s just the process of meeting with a mental health professional to help you resolve problematic feelings, beliefs, behaviors, somatic responses, and relational issues.
Weight management
If weight loss was easy, everyone would be at their “ideal” weight. But the truth is that the journey toward having a “healthy” weight is so much more than just physical-it also involves mental, emotional, and sometimes spiritual work. If you’ve tried almost everything and feel like you’re still not reaching your goals, consider going through a weight loss programand seek help from professionals who can help youfind healthy and clinically proven ways to lose excess weight without feeling like you’re depriving yourself or that you’re going through so much torment just to shed the extra pounds. Consulting with a licensed nutritionist would also greatly benefit you since they can suggest healthy meals that are both nutritious and still delicious.
Being a pet owner or a plant parent
The public health crisis showed us that human beings are nurturing at the core. When we are forced to be in lockdown and stay home to protect ourselves and others from an infectious disease, we will find it in us to do productive things, such as learning how to make bread, taking care of plants, and even rescuing pets from the animal shelter.
This second half of the year, why not encourage this side of yourself by becoming a parent to a fur baby or some indoor plants? Some health benefits to owning a pet includedecreased blood pressure and feelings of loneliness as well as more opportunities to spend time outdoors and to exercise. On the other hand, taking care of indoor plants helps improve your home’s indoor air quality, reduce your stress levels, and recover from illnesses faster.
Spirituality
Another thing that might help boost your health for the rest of the year (and your life!) is some form of spirituality.A growing body of research found that having some form of spiritual practice or religion helps provide people with more feelings of connectedness, hope, and increased resiliency. If you’re not the praying type, why not try to explore a systematic set of beliefs that might speak to your soul this year? Go to church, visit a temple, meditate every day-whatever it is, allow yourself to open up and believe that there is something bigger than all of us.
Nature walks
Forest bathing is a concept that first took hold in Japan. It’s the belief thatimmersing ourselves in nature is good for us and that the natural world is crucial to the flourishing of human health. This summer, consider visiting a nature park or go on a leisurely hike through an easy trail.
If COVID-19 taught us anything, it’s that our health is all we really have. Take care of yourself by being intentional about nurturing every part of your being: your body, mind, heart, soul, and spirit. You can do it!
