With days feeling shorter and weather getting colder, we tend to spend most of our time indoors by ourselves after the holidays. This can take a toll on mental, spiritual and physical well-being, which can lead to irritability, low energy and difficulty completing everyday tasks. At Solstice, we want to kick those winter blues away and make sure every aspect of our residents’ well-being is cared for. 

Today is International Mind-Body Wellness Day, which celebrates the correlation between a healthy mind, body and spirit. This concept has been around for thousands of years, and emphasizes how your physical, mental and spiritual health affect one another and overall wellness.  

Our Path to Wellness program focuses on enhancing the wellness of each resident’s mind, body and spirit through activities that interest them. Residents may choose to participate in individual or group wellness programming, including on-site physical therapy services, to stay fit, happy and healthy.  

Here are some of our top recommendations to stay healthy during the winter months:  

Mind – one challenge at a time  
Just as muscles need strengthening, the more you exercise your brain, the stronger it will become. It’s just as important to your overall health to have daily mental exercises. Exercising and engaging the brain can reduce stress, boost mood and self-confidence, increase vitality and energy, strengthen brain functioning, and even lead to a stronger immune system.  

You can practice mindfulness in several different ways, including meditation and yoga. At Solstice, residents can complete daily challenges, including word puzzles, reading, trivia contests and more, to enhance their mental health.  

Body – one step at a time  
Physical fitness is vital to making sure your body stays healthy during winter months. Starting with International Mind-Body Wellness Day, you can create a routine for the rest of the year that periodically gives your body the exercise it needs. This can help increase metabolism, build muscle mass, reduce the impact of chronic illness and disease, and enhance mobility, flexibility and balance.  

Exercising the body also has benefits for your mind and spirit by improving the connections among brain cells and increasing serotonin for better mood and mind state. Starting a regular routine of exercising can seem intimidating, but don’t be discouraged! Starting out with short exercises can make a huge difference and makes it easier to work up to longer ones. 

At Solstice, we provide our residents with step trackers, walking paths in and around our communities, certificates of achievement, and a variety of individual and group exercise options to assist residents in achieving their goals. From walking groups to group exercise classes and fitness challenges, we are here to support you every step of the way.  

Spirit – one reflection at a time  
Caring for our spiritual health can help prevent feelings of loneliness and depression, inspire hope and positivity, and help with concentration and clear thinking. The well-being of your spirit can also connect to your physical health by boosting immunity, lowering blood pressure and reducing anxiety. 

Every individual holds their own beliefs. You can strengthen your spiritual well-being in a multitude of ways, such as through prayer, meditation, relationships, affirmations, poetry, music, nature, yoga or breathing exercises. At Solstice, we believe making time each day for reflection is good for the soul. Just as mind and body, spiritual health is connected to the other two, and plays an important role in your overall well-being.  

Sometimes it’s not the steps we take, but the energy we put into our wellness that keeps us on our path. At Solstice, there are no limits to how far residents can go. Interested in learning more about how to take the first step toward your Path to Wellness at Solstice? Click here to learn more.