Getting involved with a local Veterans’ group can help you connect with a community of people with similar experiences. The American Legion is the largest traditional VSO, with over 10,000 posts across the United States.
Connect with other Veterans
Eating dark chocolate stimulates your body to release feel-good endorphins and may even help reduce inflammation.
Pampering 101
How to jumpstart your fitness journey
If you continue to explore the activities and hobbies you enjoy, chances are you’ll pick up new ones and deepen meaningful connections with other people while you’re at it.
Find a hobby, make a friend
One 2023 study looked at the effects of a support program that encouraged U.S. Veterans to engage in self-care activities in a group setting. Program facilitators said that mindful awareness practices were among the most effective at helping Veterans engage in positive health behavior.
Group mindfulness
YOUR GUIDE TO
Prioritizing Self-Care
AS A VETERAN
Mindfulness is a powerful form of self-care. It’s essentially the practice of focusing your mind on the present moment in a
non-judgmental way rather than dwelling on the past, future,
or passing thoughts.
Make time for your favorite hobbies
Get physical
Pamper yourself from time to time
Build your social circle
When you get deeply involved in a task, it can provide a heightened sense of pleasure and control, according to experts.
When you exercise, your body produces feel-good endorphins. Plus, getting sweaty benefits many different aspects of health,
including your mental health.
Spoil yourself a little once in a while — there’s research behind it.
Remember: You’re not alone.
Regularly connecting with others can help you feel a sense of belonging and increase your well-being.
Another option for getting in touch with other Veterans? Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) works to foster camaraderie among United States. Veterans of overseas conflicts. They operate over 4,000 posts across the U.S.
Want to try mindfulness for yourself? Consider exploring yoga and mindfulness programs available through organizations like the Veterans Yoga Project and Warriors At Ease.
Still thinking about what to do with your free time?
Consider reaching out to local museums to find out if they
have reduced rates or free admission for Veterans.
Need a bit of motivation to get moving? Consider joining
a community like Team RWB, a nonprofit health and wellness
community that holds events and more across the country
to help U.S. Veterans stay healthy, mentally and physically.
It’s not selfish. It’s science-backed self-care.
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Research suggests that mindfulness activities can help produce actual physical changes in your body that might help improve your well-being. For Veterans, mindfulness work may even counter processes related to PTSD by reducing physical stress responses and increasing the ability to control one’s attention and thoughts.
Mindfulness and well-being
People often talk about reaching a flow state during exercise, but you can get “in the zone” by doing many different types of activities. It might be a favorite hobby or a calm, repetitive activity like gardening or cooking.
Reach a flow state
Social connection can even reduce your risk of chronic diseases and mental health issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Connection for health
Here are a few ideas to try:
Aromatherapy with essential oils, including lavender and chamomile, may help reduce stress and anxiety, according to research.
Soaking in a hot bath has been shown to reduce anxiety and increase feelings of well-being.
The VA recommends a few ways to make movement a bigger part of your life, including:
starting with one small change
working with an expert, like a physiotherapist
joining a class
making a personalized exercise plan
tracking your progress
Practice mindfulness