
INSIGHTS
ACTIONABLE SCIENCE FROM Dr. WELLS’ NEWSLETTER
Craft Your Ikigai through Meaning and Purpose
In our fast-paced world, finding purpose and meaning can sometimes feel elusive. Yet, having a clear sense of purpose — or ikigai, as it’s called in Japanese culture — can transform your life, bringing fulfillment, resilience, and joy. Ikigai, combining the words for “life” (iki) and “worth” or “value” (gai), refers to what makes life worth living. This article explores practical ways to discover your ikigai, helping you create a life rich in meaning and purpose.
Have Fun: The Key to Health and Well-Being
In today’s productivity-driven world, taking time to have fun can feel like a guilty pleasure or an afterthought. However, recent research and expert perspectives highlight that having fun is essential for a balanced, healthy life. Fun isn’t just about amusement; it’s a cornerstone of mental and physical well-being, helping us relieve stress, strengthen social bonds, and boost creativity. This article explores why having fun is more important than you might think and offers ways to integrate play into your daily life.
The Focus Superpower: Unplug and Disconnect
In today’s hyperconnected world, being “always on” has become the norm. We are constantly within arm’s reach of our devices, often feeling the urge to check notifications, respond to messages, and scroll through social media. However, this perpetual connectivity can lead to stress, distraction, and burnout, making it essential to carve out mindful moments and embrace intentional disconnection. By unplugging and practicing mindfulness, we can foster deeper focus, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
Why Community Matters: The Science of Social Connection
The need for social connection is ingrained in our biology. From early humans working in groups to survive, to today’s collaborative workplaces and social networks, humans are hardwired to seek meaningful relationships. But in a world where we’re more “connected” than ever through technology, real, quality connections are becoming rarer. This article explores why and how to build authentic connections that foster well-being, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
5 Tactics to Help You Shift from Surviving to Thriving
In our fast-paced, demanding world, many of us are constantly striving to “survive” rather than truly thriving. Yet, flourishing is within reach for everyone willing to cultivate a balanced approach to life. With a focus on nurturing both mental and physical health, this article explores how to thrive — achieving growth, resilience, and an abundance of positive outcomes.
Do Not Disturb
This week I am going to challenge you to actively avoid interruptions when you are doing important tasks or activities.
Practice the Morning Workout
Starting the day with a workout is an ideal way to get your brain waves and blood flowing.
Be Mindful
Mindfulness, or keeping your awareness in the here and now, is important for mental health and elite performance. The key is to stay in the moment in the face of distraction, no matter how great that distraction may be.
A Powerful Strategy for Sleeping Soundly
Quality sleep supports the immune system, aids in muscle recovery, and reduces the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. It also boosts concentration, memory, and problem-solving abilities.
But have you ever had an tough day at work, come home still firing on all cylinders, and then, in the hour before going to bed, found yourself fuming over the day’s events while also planning strategies for the next day?
Unplug and Disconnect
Let’s focus on what we can do to thrive through a balanced relationship with technology. In your life, I’m guessing that doesn’t mean adding more technology time. Instead, my suggestion is to add some time to unplug and disconnect—so you can reconnect to your inner life and those that truly matter to you.
The Right Dose of Technology
We have never been more connected via technology, yet at the same time we have never been so far apart. This strange relationship between connection via our devices and loneliness is made even harder to navigate given that different people have different needs for connection and experience connection differently. Let me explain.
Why Phytonutrients Are Key for Recovery From Stress
Phytochemicals act as important antioxidants and induce hormesis—the adaptive stress-resistant process we are seeking to positively adapt to stress. These phytochemicals are potent free-radical scavengers and anti-inflammatory agents.
The Why and How of Healthy Fats
We all know that the macro-nutrients protein, carbohydrates and fats are all essential contributors to a healthy diet. To help you craft your nutrition plan, I want to remind you about adding healthy fats to your diet as fats still get a bad rap.
Find Calm in the Chaos
In the face of launching into a moment where you want to be your best, where you want to reach your peak, where you want to really reach your potential, there’s nothing harder than achieving a state of mental and emotional calm. And, in some ways, nothing more critical.
How You Can Experience The Runners’ High
When we remind ourselves that exercise just feels good, and that after we do our activities we are often happier, that can help us overcome the inertia of lying on the couch and get some momentum to get up and out the door for our run.