When younger and older connect, writes Marc Freedman, the intergenerational relationships built are a route to success in early life and a key to happiness and well-being in our later years. Congregations are the perfect incubators for meaningful cross-gen relationships. Read more about the health, well-being, and financial benefits here. (Photo: Tim Pierce, Creative Commons)
Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice that combines physical poses, controlled breathing, and meditation or relaxation. This article from the Mayo Clinic says that yoga may help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and lower your heart rate. Moreover, it helps improve flexibility in muscles and joints and can reduce risk for many chronic ailments. And […]
It’s not only a good idea to take a full day off from work and enter into sacred time, it’s also a commandment — one of God’s Top Ten! Yet one survey showed only 10 percent of pastors keep it. Guideposts magazine offers these five suggestions for keeping the Sabbath! (Photo: redwinegums, Creative Commons)
Living in the glory of God’s creation within or near woodlands may actually be better for your brain and help you cope better with stress, according to a recent German study. Previous research has linked access to green space to longer lives, lower levels of aggression, and kids’ cognitive development. If you can’t live in the woods, at least […]
Too many church professionals burn out. Achieving a healthy work-life balance eventually comes down to personal responsibility and discipline. We must make the right choices, and our choices must be influenced by our attitudes and values. Behaviors that flow from our deeply held beliefs help us counter external pressures that keep us from taking care […]
“Depression lies to me. It is relentless. It tells me I will always feel this way, that I’m not deserving of help, that I am a burden, a waste — that my life is thoroughly hopeless,” Pastor Jason Chestnut writes in Sojourners. Ministry is hard, and the stresses clergy face can lead may people to […]
There’s a fine line between being tired and actually burning out. The challenge is, once you cross the line, it’s so difficult to get back. Eleven years ago, I entered into the darkest period of my life. People had always warned me I would burn out. I thought I could prove them wrong. And usually I did. I […]
What time is it? One answer is “now.” The present moment is always now, but how many of us are stuck in the past (through regret, grief or longing) or the future (through worry, over-planning or working too hard)? It is a gift to live in the present, writes ELCA wellness manager Tammy Devine. How […]
Did you know that moving throughout the day is just as important as a regular exercise regimen? Research shows that by moving regularly, you can improve your cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, improve metabolism, as well as lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. You can also reduce the risk of diabetes and certain cancers.That’s right, folks! It’s time to […]
When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, we often focus on getting a better body but ignore our mental health. This article from Time magazine lists some ideas for emotional and mental fitness, drawing on the work of psychologist Guy Winch, who says, ” “If our dental hygiene were as poor as our emotional hygiene, […]
