Like most of the country, it seems, I take a moment at the beginning of the year to reset—my diet, my attitude and gratitude, my alcohol consumption, my physical activity, my time in nature and anything else that needs tuned up. I’m not a big fan of resolutions and goals, in general, but I do like to review and reinforce my intentions, which revolve around being able to be present for others by being as mentally and physically flexible and healthy myself.

I think a lot of ailments come down to stress. (Disclaimer: The author (me) is not a medical professional in any way, shape or form and all statements have not been evaluated nor approved by the FDA and are solely based on the experience of the author.) So first and foremost, I try to work with my mind. Many, many things cause us stress from personal experiences like family dynamics to greater societal challenges like school shootings to our closely held opinions and beliefs that we tend to think of as extensions of ourselves.

So how can we work with our minds in a way that fits into our busy daily lives? Sometimes it’s as easy (not easy) as counting to ten, as our parents told us to do, before we react. If we can do that, it means that we are seeing the situation, whatever situation that might be, more from an objective view and less from a reactive place. We are much more likely to respond in a way that reduces rather than furthers the conflict. It takes a lot of intention to count to ten and it may seem impossible sometimes.

We can also just pause regularly throughout the day and follow our breath in and out and in and out, for a minute or less. Think of it as practice for counting to ten. And if we really want to jump on this getting in touch with our minds, we can take up a formal meditation practice or begin a yoga practice.

Physical activity also seems to help with stress, as any runner, bicyclist, hiker and just about any person involved in an aerobic activity can tell you. The mind and the body are linked.

And finally, some time walking along the river or in park or in the hills changes everything. There’s a word for it in Japanese, shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, which means immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of nature in a calm and quiet way with a focus on the present moment.

Let the reset begin.

Have a happy, healthy New Year!

Scott