It’s been a year since life as we knew it imploded, leaving us scrambling to keep up with the new rules and restrictions left in its wake. Let’s be honest; this is an anniversary none of us feel like celebrating. And even if we did, we still can’t throw a party anyway.
In the past, we’ve expended effort to nurture our relationships, willing them to blossom into something wonderful—something worth celebrating at least once a year. When it came to quarantine, we wanted to initiate a break-up the moment it arrived. And we wished it away over too many glasses of wine and bags of potato chips.
While the pandemic stole many of our liberties—like the ability to hug our loved ones, walk through a store unmasked, and enjoy dining in a restaurant with friends—it hasn’t been all bad.
Quarantine has forced us to slow down and appreciate things many of us didn’t have time to enjoy previously, like spending time with family, cooking healthy meals, and getting outside to exercise. See, it hasn’t been ALL bad!
As we celebrate our quarantine-iversary, let’s take a moment to look back and appreciate all the pros that have come from this difficult time. Here are five important positives that came out of a pretty bleak year:
We learned the importance of sticking to a fitness routine and continuing with important regimes of stretching to reduce tension and keep our joints moving well. Online classes and virtual classes offered by The Vital Stretch helped us stay limber.
Good weather forced us outside to breathe in fresh air (a.k.a. forest bathing) and escape the confines of our homes. This, in turn, enhanced our moods as well as our physical health, something which has been proven time and again, most recently in a study published in the Journal Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.
5 Easy Ways to be More Mindful
Wishing 2020 would take a hike? You’re not alone. This year has certainly presented us with a bunch of new challenges. From the coronavirus to social unrest to wildfires to a dramatic presidential race, there are plenty of things we wish would go away and never come back.
With so many struggles to face this year, it can be hard to find things to be thankful for. So much negativity can also make it tough to keep on top of healthy habits like getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising. We’ve found the key to combatting all this pessimism—mindfulness.
According to www.mindful.org, “mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”
In other words, being mindful means paying attention to the “now” of the moment and shutting out the stressful static surrounding your life. Here are five easy ways to become more mindful today:
According to the researchers, this simple task resulted in massive benefits including, reduced tension and anxiety, increased energy, and lower feelings of depression and hostility. No forest around? Don’t sweat it! Head to your nearest park or tree-lined street.
No matter what your strengths are, celebrate them, and spend more time finding those many other attributes you don’t often recognize. Researchers at Princeton University found the higher your self-confidence, the bigger your motivation to succeed in life.
5 Easy Ways to be More Mindful
Wishing 2020 would take a hike? You’re not alone. This year has certainly presented us with a bunch of new challenges. From the coronavirus to social unrest to wildfires to a dramatic presidential race, there are plenty of things we wish would go away and never come back.
With so many struggles to face this year, it can be hard to find things to be thankful for. So much negativity can also make it tough to keep on top of healthy habits like getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising. We’ve found the key to combatting all this pessimism—mindfulness.
According to www.mindful.org, “mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”
In other words, being mindful means paying attention to the “now” of the moment and shutting out the stressful static surrounding your life. Here are five easy ways to become more mindful today:
According to the researchers, this simple task resulted in massive benefits including, reduced tension and anxiety, increased energy, and lower feelings of depression and hostility. No forest around? Don’t sweat it! Head to your nearest park or tree-lined street.
No matter what your strengths are, celebrate them, and spend more time finding those many other attributes you don’t often recognize. Researchers at Princeton University found the higher your self-confidence, the bigger your motivation to succeed in life.
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