Do you know one of the most important aspects of human health? One that alters everything? One that actually speaks to the very core of our humanness…
I don’t mean sleep, meditation, taking your supplements, cutting out sugar, fasting, sauna, exercise, chiropractic adjustments, or journaling (all of these are excellent, do consider this a list of things to do to take excellent care of yourself during the holidays, and always).
I’m talking about human contact. As human beings, we have a natural, physiological need for human connection, contact, and support.
For instance, did you know hugs strengthen your immune system! Hugs can support your heart health. They can increase your self esteem. Hugs can even boost your mood.
Actually, hugs are so important that family therapist Virginia Satir says “we need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”
Human connection is just as important. It was found that loneliness actually leads to poor sleep quality, makes us more vulnerable to stressors, diminishes willpower, and creates greater feelings of helplessness.
It gets worse, loneliness also leads to depressive symptoms, potential substance abuse, and a decline in cognitive performance. I know that sounds very depressing, but think about what that means when you do get human connection!
So make sure to spend time with loved ones however you can.
Make sure to give lots of hugs and enjoy each other’s company. Use this time to get into nature. Give gratitude for everything you can.
My family’s favorite way of being together is playing board games, going cross country skiing, and sitting down together for meals.
Of course there is lots of baking, and we have adapted our recipes to being grain free and sugar free (that was a process!). And by now, we actually all do the heart brain harmony together before bed. What are your favorite ways of connecting with family and loved ones?
