56. Aligning with Nature and Bio-Rhythms to Boost Mood & Resilience

In this episode, we're working on our element of Resilience and exploring the third "Root of Resilience" known as aligning with nature. The Roots of Resilience were laid out in one of Dr. Emmons book, "The Chemistry of Calm." This root builds on our last one ("managing energy") by embracing the cycles and rhythms that are part of a much bigger system. This may seem "woo-woo," but.. well, it's not. Like all mammals and really every other living thing, we are influenced by cycles around us. A growing field of study known as chronobiology is bringing more scientific understanding to these cycles (for example: seasonal affective disorder and seasonal mood shifts). We'll talk more about this root and how increasing awareness of your connection with nature and adding some simple skills in response to this connection can support your mood, energy, and resilience in really powerful ways.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Supplements Mentioned to support SAD and drops in mood during winter:

• TruAdapt
• NeuroMood Pure Pack
• Vitamin D (we like this October-April)

Note: These product links go to our partner store at Fullscript (with an ongoing 10% discount for you + free shipping on orders over $50). You must have an account to view products and shop. Create your free account at: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/nmh/signup 

Links and Sources Mentioned:

• NMH Resilience Quiz and Mini Course
• Joy Lab Program (step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life)
• Joy Lab Podcast #13 (The Roots of Resilience) This episode is a broad overview of what we'll be talking about over the next 9 episodes. It's a really helpful summary!
• Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series)
• The 20 Minute Break (book)
• Linnaeus' Flower Clock
• More on light therapy in our blog here.
• More on seasonal affective disorder and seasonal mood shifts from our blogs:

  • Natural Approaches for Seasonal Affective Disorder and Supporting Winter Mood

  • Does Winter Get You Down? (video)

  • What Causes Seasonal Affective Disorder?

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder in the Summer

  • A Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder: Definition, Treatment, & Prevention

• Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: interdisciplinary perspectives
• Annual Research Review: Positive adjustment to adversity -Trajectories of minimal-impact resilience and emergent resilience
• The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change (book)
• Effects of a 12-week endurance training program on the physiological response to psychosocial stress in men: a randomized controlled trial
• No man is an island: social resources, stress and mental health at mid-life
• How does the brain deal with cumulative stress? A review with focus on developmental stress, HPA axis function and hippocampal structure in humans
• Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind (this is the study of people shocking themselves out of boredom)
• Emotion Suppression and Mortality Risk Over a 12-Year Follow-up
• Cumulative Stress and Health

• The Times of Our Lives: Interaction Among Different Biological Periodicities