Staying connected in life means more than the obvious social connections. Studies have shown that staying connected with Family, Friends and your community brings many health benefits and is an important part of healthy ageing. COVID-19 has certainly taken it’s toll and now as we slowly begin to emerge from isolation, life is different but we can still be grounded and connected to help us navigate this new ‘normal’. That means re-evaluating your life, what you want and who you really are?
5 ways to stay connected with YOU
1 – Stay Connected with your inner self
Are you in tune with your inner self? Do you really know who you are and what your core values are? So often life can take over and we can lose connection to who we are. Transitions in life such as career changes, the empty nest, divorce, retirement can leave us questioning our identity and what we want from life.
Meditation, Mindfulness and Journalling are ways we can connect with our inner self.
Staying connected with our inner self means:
- Carving out time for a morning and evening ritual to start and end our day.
- Carving out time for daily self-care.
- Carving out time for gratitude.
- Taking time out for you to just think and ‘be present’ in the moment.
2 Stay Connected with your Inner Child.
Staying connected with your inner child and being present. My grandsons help me stay in the moment and enjoy the simple things, to be creative and to be fearless. I remember as a child my favourite past time was on the swing in our backyard. I would close my eyes and sing my favourite songs. I’m sure the neighbours needed ear plugs to drown out my voice but I felt free, I felt happy and just enjoyed the moment.
As adults we forget the simple pleasure of playing, having fun, laughing and just enjoying the moment. Close your eyes and think back to your childhood. What did you enjoy? Write it down and revisit what brought you joy.
3 – Stay Connected with You and your body
Connecting Mind and Body to stay active and healthy is important to living well. Whilst connection with others is an important factor in our well-being, taking time to reflect, meditate and be mindful is also important. There are many apps available which provide guided meditation and breathing techniques to overcome anxiety and improve self-reflection.
Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week starts 7th September so that is the perfect time to check in with your physical, mental and spiritual health. You might also like to join me in the WLWA50 Facebook Group for #30daysofhealthandwellness.
4. Staying Connected with nature has so many health benefits.
- reduces stress
- boosts memory and concentration
- increases creativity
- reduces inflammation
- supports immune function
- improves focus
- improves mental health
Mindfulness walking is a great way to commune with nature and be present. Forget the earphones, forget the time and just walk taking in your surroundings and being present in the moment. Why not take a mindfulness walk today and post an image of where you walked.
5. Try something new
Learning new things helps to open our mind and be creative. We connect with our ability to learn new things and as a result our lives are enriched and we experience growth. I’ve just taken the plunge over the last few months to start a Podcast – Women Living Well After 50. Take a listen as I’m up to Episode 12!
The Podcast project has been challenging but so rewarding and I’m learning the technical side of production and also learning so much from my guests. A friend, Debbie from Deb’s World has started a creative writing course and Kathy from 50 Shades of Age has discovered her creative side taking up watercolour painting.
There is always something new that we can learn which not only keeps our brains active and healthy but opens new opportunities and possibilities.
What’s next?
Over the coming months I will be working on programs and in collaboration with other professionals which will help you:
- rediscover yourself and your purpose
- light the passion within
- embrace life and live well in all areas of your life
It’s your time so embrace life and live well every day!
27 Comments
That is all fantastic advice, Sue – and something I really want to do at the moment. Thank you so much. Toni x
Thanks Toni, hope you are well. xx
Hi, Sue – Staying connected to our authentic selves, to nature, family and friends, and our community is critical to our health – especially as we age. Many researchers claim that connection is the number one ingredient that most ensures longevity. I LOVE your podcasts and am delighted that you continue to blog as well. Your energy and can-do attitude are awe-inspiring!
Thank you Donna I think if we are aligned with our inner self then life is so much easier to cope with. Thank you for your support and lovely comments and look forward to our chat later this week. xx
Hi Sue – I love that you covered such a broad range of areas of our life. Balance and growth are so important. I’ve really enjoyed watching you grow and develop your blog and podcasts and youtube videos – you’re certainly setting the bar high and showing us all how to do this stage of life really well.
Hi Leanne I’m enjoying the ride at the moment and that is the main thing. Once the enjoyment has gone then it is time to move onto something else. x
Great advice here Sue. I’ve been making learning a focus of life in isolation. I’ve been updating my genealogy qualifications and participating in virtual al genie conferences. I agree with you that learning new things keeps our minds active
Oh well done with the genealogy qualifications Jen you are going great guns this year despite COVID!
Sue, I love that you never sit still and whatever you do moves your life forward. Your energy and positivity are contegious! Thanks for sharing what you have learned through your blog and now your delightful Podcasts.
Hi Suzanne I do have days where I don’t do anything but yes most of the time I’m on the go and that’s just me. The podcast is such a joy to me and I’m so pleased I started it. Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by. x
This is such an important theme, Sue. You are such a great model of living a totally engaged life and “living well after 50. Thank you for emphasizing identity and keeping in touch with one’s inner child. Looking back at childhood memories can provide clues of buried dreams one might want to allow to surface and help with creating a new life with a new purpose. Nature is a key element in a nourishing environment.. My mission is to help women in their 50’s identify a life/work change well before retirement age and to create for themselves a plan, a road map to achieve a new life with a new purpose. As a follow up to my book on my own journey of change I am studying to create an on-line course. Need help to validate content and would love to hear from women who are just starting to think about making a change and what kind of help they need to meet challenges they are experiencing. Would be so grateful for a 30 minute conversatio, in strict confidence, with anyone willing to give me their time.
Hi Judith I love your plan and we share the same mission in life! Perhaps we can collaborate some time in the future. I will send out the word for those interested in speaking with you. Have a lovely week. x
Hi Sue, I’ve been really challenged this year and the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I can’t go back to life as it was before. It’s really made me reevaluate who I am and what my core values are. Your article is a great way to help me along in this process. I always forget to use those tools that are out there, like mindfulness and meditation apps. I must take time to listen to your podcast too – I’ve never even listened to a podcast because I enjoy reading so much! Yours would be a great start!
It has been such a challenging year Christina and add your surgery to COVID-19 and I’m sure you would just like to skp 2020 altogether. I love listening to podcasts when I walk, run or I’m in the car. Take care and I hope you have a good week. xx
Hi Sue, This is a fabulous post. I agree with the five ways you mentioned. You put them together really well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas. Have a beautiful week! #lifethisweek
Thanks Natalie I hope you are enjoying your weekend. x
Such good advice Sue and I love the inner child connection. I find that is very important and grandchildren really help keep that feeling alive. You have raised the bar high with all you do, and you are a fabulous role model for taking on something new. I’m loving the podcasts and staying in touch with you. Thanks for the reminder to stay connected in so many ways. #lifethisweek
Thanks Deb, yes the inner child can be a bit of a cliche but it is so important. We can get stuck in a routine as we get older and just forget to have fun. I’m so pleased you are enjoying the podcasts. I’m having a ball producing them. xx
Sue
The time I carve out myself each morning sets me up for the rest of the day. Whatever follows, good / bad / indifferent, having already ‘reconnected’ with myself in the morning helps me appreciate / learn from / just be as the case may be.
SSG xxx
Hi SSG, mornings are good for me as they really set the day up in a positive way. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. xx
All of your points are really good, Sue. A word that stands out for me, a common denominator, is the word “time.” A precious resource even more as I get older.
I do love seeing the world through the eyes of our grandchildren. I can see how you light up when you talk/write about your grandsons. Beautiful quote by Tina Lifford.
You are inspirational, Sue, for how you tackle new ventures. I have enjoyed the podcasts. I will try to download them so I can listen to them on my walks. I think Deb does this. I notice the word “time” in your final quote, too. I believe I should be paying attention to this word, this concept.
Thank you for a great post, Sue. xx
Thank you so much Erica for your continuing support and friendship. I listen to Podcasts when I’m walking or driving so easy to do and I just love Oprah’s Soul Sunday. xx
Nature. That is often key for me. When I am having an iffy day, taking a walk or going for a run can turn things around. Thank you for this reminder.
Yes Leslie there is so much value in just going for a mindfulness walk and appreciating the beauty of nature. xx
Congratulations on your commitment to the whole person and all part of us. I too loved a swing and when we moved up on the coast, there was a park nearby and…I could have a swing! I didn’t sing but I did enjoy seeing the sky and the trees as I moved.
Today I got the news I can be independent again by driving and gosh, I will enjoy getting out more to spaces in nature and taking time to soak in the experience.
Thank you for linking up for life this week. Next week’s optional prompt is 37/51 Remembering Sydney 2000. 14.9.2020 Hope you link up Denyse.
Great news re your driving Denyse it will really give you more freedom to explore. x
You really embody what you preach, Sue. I am so impressed by your approach to life. Staying connected with your inner child is great advice because we didn’t really need to think about how to live well when we were young. I know I was naturally happy and active and totally connected to friends and nature. It’s only as we grow older that life tends to throw more obstacles in our way. Learning new things – like starting your own podcast series!! – is also fabulous advice. It keeps the grey matter alive and it helps us to stay curious and interested which is surely one of the great secrets of living well.