Well-th and Wellbeing | Summer

June 21st marked the first day of summer, a season that reminds many of longer days, vacationing at the beach, barbecues, eating ice cream, and enjoying a little more of a laid-back feeling. Summer is also a good time to have a mid-year check-in on our mental and physical well-being. As mentioned in our launch article in April, we typically discuss “wealth” within a financial lens, but health, whether mental or physical, also adds to wealth by increasing overall well-being.There’s no better time than summer, when life tends to be a little less chaotic, to focus on health.

For those who enjoy swimming as a form of exercise, now is the time to take advantage of the warmer weather to swim laps outdoors. For those who relish reading, but fall behind on occasion, summer is a great time to pick back up and enjoy a relaxing read.  See below for a suggestion! 

For our wellness resource this quarter, an animal behavior scientist describes research that shows our pets increase happiness and help to reduce stress. In this Keeping the Well in Well-thy podcast episode with Annie Valuska, Ph.D., she outlines the short and long-term mental health benefits of owning dogs and cats. We know so many of you have pets and what a wonderful addition to one’s family. Not only are they cute, but adding a pet to your home can provide important health benefits. If you are a dog owner, take advantage of the additional hours of daylight and take your pup on an evening walk. You and your pet will benefit!

Listen now to Pets & People, Happier Together.

For our second wellness resource this quarter, we suggest challenging yourself to unplug for a week. If you are interested in seeing the impact that even a short period of less technology and more solitude can have on your mind and body, you may want to read the attached piece by Susan Reynolds. It presents a five-day challenge, which incorporates more mindfulness and less “plugging in”. It may be just what you need! Susan Reynolds has over 20 years of experience in digital well-being, youth leadership and mindfulness. In 2019 she co-founded LookUp.live to discover, empower, and mobilize youth leaders who are taking action to raise awareness, inspire, and design a healthier, more inclusive, and responsible digital world.

Some of us in the office are reading the book, “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know”, by Adam Grant, who reminds us of the importance of staying curious about the world around us. Curiosity has actually been found to be a trait of those who live a long life. Pick up a copy this summer and share your thoughts with us. 

If you missed the webinar that was hosted earlier this month, Reframing Midlife Transitions, you can watch the replay here: https://youtu.be/q2qzNqvUPLQ

If the resources spark questions, as always, we are available to discuss these topics.

Have a great summer!