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Seasons and Moods, Part 2
In Part 1 of this article (See
Seasons & Moods, Part 1
online now from the first issue,
Vol. 1, Issue 1) we
reviewed basic steps to improve your regimen of exercise,
eating, and sleeping. Now, let’s focus on waking up your
mind, your activities as a whole person, and yourself as
member of your community.
Mind
Do something to jump-start your mind. Read
that book you skimmed in high school—or take an interest in
the book your child is reading now. Raid the local used
book store or library. Look for free classes offered in
your community or take an Adult Education class. Attend an
art class or learn a new skill you could use.
Activity
Inoculate yourself from winter isolation and
blues by getting out and getting active now. Go to your
local library or coffee shop and review their activity
board. If you are in a rut with your hobbies and
activities, you are not alone—we are all creatures of habit
and trying new activities can be like pulling teeth.
Loosen these habits with this simple exercise: Pick up a
local newspaper, especially on the day of the week that they
list their social and entertainment schedules (often on
Thursdays). Find a pen or marker. Muzzle your inner critic
and turn that censor off! Skim through the activities
pages, freely circling ANY activity that is even a bit
interesting to you. If you only circled one or two items,
you did not turn off that inner critic—go back and try
again!
When you have reached the back page, go back
through and cross off activities you absolutely cannot get
to because of scheduling or cost. Look at what is left.
Any surprises? Pick one or two activities and write them on
your calendar immediately (be especially proud of yourself
if you identified activities that are very out of the
ordinary for you). Commit to attending one or two of them
this week. Repeat next week.
Community
Humans are social animals and we thrive in groups.
Re-connect with social activities that are meaningful to
you, whether they are social groups, friends and family, or
strangers and potential new friends. Attend church or some
worship service that meets your spiritual needs. Go to a
talk in the community or join a book club. Whatever your
interests, someone else will have that interest too—go find
them. Join a dog-walkers group. Host a pot luck.
Volunteer. Do it THIS week. If you have anxiety about
being with others—that’s okay, take it with you (you won’t
be alone with that either).
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