Health Ministry Article – April 2026 (“Healthy You”)

The challenges facing our world today are exploding. Couple that with life’s “usual issues” and you have the formula for sadness and depressing thoughts.

Staying healthy mentally (along with physically and spiritually) involves a combination of factors!

Key strategies :
1. Stay socially connected! (see the March article for excellent ideas.)

2. Challenge the brain! “Use it or lose it” applies! The brain needs exercise to stimulate new neural pathways.
Learn a new language /instrument / exercise / puzzle. Ditch the repeated familiar routines.

3. Manage stress and mental health. Small acts of kindness make a huge impact. Volunteer!!!! Service is a powerful antidote to loneliness or feeling down. (Explore opportunities such as Meals on Wheels / school projects / neighbor help).
Gather around food, music, and/or sports to provide diversion, joy, and human connection.

4. Prioritize sleep: 7-9 hours for older adults is suggested to allow brain to process information and clear toxins.

5. Adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle and get regular checkups!

6. Take time for gratitude and meditations with your God, who loves you and died on the cross to save you.

We need to cultivate a positive outlook and find our purpose, perhaps even rebuilding our social fabric to adapt to the changes we experience with the years. Birth and death are not endings in the story of life, but a doorway to transition .
In-between lies the most important choice of WHO YOU CHOOSE TO BE!
If you feel like nothing good ever happens TO YOU, maybe YOU are the good that happens to others! Embrace the kindness of words and the safe place you offer.

Remember sadness, depression, and anxiety are not a normal part of aging. Practice some of the strategy suggested. Seek professional help if those feelings overwhelm you.