During this time of COVID-19, there is a lot of emphasis on the importance of staying healthy and well.
For many of us, this means eating well, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep. And those are all necessary components for good health.
But there’s more to staying healthy than just those three elements. The body is a complex tapestry of many systems that embrace our mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. We are affected by forces both inside and outside of ourselves.
Holistic wellness takes all of these factors into consideration.
What Does Holistic Wellness Mean?
Rather than addressing just a symptom or a specific body part, a holistic approach includes looking at the entire body, mind, and soul and how they play off one another. It also includes one’s environment and how it impacts their quality of life.
The idea behind holistic thinking is that the whole is merely made up of many smaller parts that depend on one another. Thus, when one part is out of balance, it throws the whole system out of balance.
Even the working world is grasping the importance of holistic thinking. For example, the Head, Heart, and Briefcase approach (a.k.a. the HHB approach) encourages employers to understand every component of their employees. The Head is the basis for drives and behaviors, the Heart consists of values and culture, and the Briefcase is the knowledge, skills, and certifications. All of these impact an employee’s performance.
Even science is beginning to understand just how interconnected all of our body systems are. They share important relationships that strongly affect our health.
Learning the basics of holistic health may help you navigate your health and healing with mindfulness and inspiration to guide you on your quest. The following four wellness habits are a great place to start.
1. Focus on Proper Nutrition
As discussed above, it’s impossible to argue the importance of good nutrition when it comes to sustaining health. There is a holistic health modality known as nutritional medicine based on the Hippocratic quote, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Many different conditions, such as high cholesterol/blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, have at least some basis in nutritional choices. But then are other factors including genetics, climate, environment, and just one’s individual life rhythms. So nutritional medicine practitioners look at all of these elements to craft an eating plan explicitly suited to a patient.
But you don’t necessarily need to consult with a nutritional medicine practitioner. Developing good dietary habits starts at the store. As comforting as processed foods can be during this pandemic, it’s best to stick with whole foods, lean meats, nuts and legumes, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Interestingly enough, your gut health is directly connected with your brain health. That’s because certain neurotransmitters for the brain are produced in the gut. So be sure to get enough prebiotics and probiotics as well because a healthy gut makes for a healthy mind too.
2. Meditate
Now, if you have a home full of children and distractions right now, you may be quick to poo-poo the idea of meditating. The cool thing about meditating though, is that you don’t need to fly to the Himalayas and seek out a wise old master in a cave. It’s something you can do by yourself, in your own time, and, most importantly, wherever you see fit.
There are multiple forms and styles of meditation that hail from several cultures around the world. But when you’re just starting, you don’t need to get bogged down with all of that. You’ve got enough going on right now!
So start by simply sitting. Close your eyes, pay attention to your breath, and eventually, you’ll begin to touch upon a deep state of inner tranquility that will have a positive impact on your whole being.
There’s no prescribed amount of time you must sit to achieve this. In the beginning, you may only carve out five minutes each day. You can even find countless guided meditations on the internet that will talk you through the process if the silence is too much for you at first.
You can also check out local yoga studios, Zen Buddhist centers, or martial arts dojos, which may offer group meditation to get you more inspired. Many of them are offering these virtually or in parks with social distancing in place.
3. Confer With a Therapist
Whatever your take on talk therapy, you’re bound to find some value in it. A therapist can help you sort out where your thinking has gone awry (also known as “stinkin’ thinkin’”) and is getting in the way of your ability to move past old issues.
These patterns may also have you deeply steeped in future worries. And that makes sense during these times when so much is uncertain. Holding onto all of this stress in your body is not healthy, though.
Being able to discuss these with a fair and impartial person is of tremendous value. It allows you to release those issues from the areas in your body where you’re storing them, and they’re wreaking havoc with your life.
Aside from the healing power of talking, a therapist can also help you set goals, show you how to practice forgiveness, and teach you mental and emotional stress release techniques. They will give you the tools to help you to deepen the relationships in your life that provide you with kindness and compassion.
Most therapists are also offering online sessions to keep you safe during this time.
4. Practice Yoga
Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means “yoke or union.” It is a practice that originated over 3,000 years ago that strongly emphasizes the mind-body connection. It does this through intentional physical movement connected with the breath. Throughout the practice, the student is encouraged to maintain focused attention.
Aside from increased flexibility, other physical benefits of yoga include clearer breathing and better energy, maintaining a balanced metabolism, and even improved cardio and circulatory health.
If you’re new to the practice, find a studio that offers beginner or foundational classes. As with meditation and therapy, you can typically find virtual courses if you’re not venturing out of the home at this time.
Are You Open to Alternative Holistic Treatments?
Holistic wellness has so much to offer.
So while you’re working through these difficult times, start with any (or all) of the above holistic health solutions. You’re more than likely going to notice changes to your overall mental, physical, and emotional health.
And for more inspirational articles to keep you informed during COVID-19 and beyond, keep checking back with us!