In today’s fast world, we live a haphazard lifestyle with distorted daily routines. Here, only chasing targets matters, shortcomings are criticized, and productivity is praised, thus promoting the hustle culture on a large scale.
In Ayurvedic classical texts, it is stated that the harmony of the Body (Sharira), Mind (Manas), and Soul (Atman) is considered the cornerstone and the prime pillar of health and well-being.
- A survey of people from 31 different countries around the world found that mental health was the most significant health problem, which affected about 45% of the total population. Other lifestyle disorders and fatal diseases carried a lower percentage, contributing 38% to cancer, 31% to stress-related disorders, 26% to obesity, and 19% to diabetes and heart diseases.
- If we roughly talk about the basic statistics indicating the burden of mental disorders across the world, 264 million people are suffering from Depression, 50 million with dementia, 45 million with bipolar disorder & 20 million with Schizophrenia, and the countdown is still on while you are reading this article.
Ayurveda is the first medical science, one of its kind, to establish the existence of the mind independently. Mind, soul and body are the tripods on which life depends. Any variation in mental temperament affects the body’s physiology immediately in a person; for example, anger or grief alters heart rate, cardiac output, gastric secretions and appetite, which contributes to a significant and drastic disturbance in the Gut-Brain axis, which itself is a prime reason to cause vikriti in the Jatharagni (Digestive fire) and cause several diseases associated with GIT.
Factors contributing to hampered synchronization between Body, Mind and Soul
- Complex interpersonal relationships, job responsibilities, career imbalances, and emotional challenges further add to this burden. These pressures affect individuals across all socioeconomic groups, from high-powered executives and business professionals to working women, single parents, and even students.
- In today’s world, people increasingly find themselves trapped in a constant state of stress. This stress stems from various factors, including the rapid advancement of technology, environmental pollution, highly competitive and ambitious lifestyles, and the monotony of daily routines.
Ayurveda emphasizes preventive care, balance, and harmony in all aspects of life, making it particularly relevant for addressing modern challenges like stress, sedentary lifestyles, and poor dietary habits. Here’s how Ayurvedic-inspired resolutions benefit the current generation:
Tips for Creating an Ayurveda Oriented New Year Resolution:
- Wake Early: Resolve to wake up 1-2 hours before sunrise for a peaceful start. Aligning with nature’s cycles fosters mental clarity and emotional stability.
- Dhyana (Meditation) and Pranayama (Breathing exercises) calm the mind and improve focus, resilience, and emotional stability.
- Daily Exercise: Commit to 30-45 minutes of yoga, walking, or any physical activity. This approach prevents imbalances that lead to lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
- Healthy Eating Habits: Resolve to eat balanced meals, including fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs, while avoiding overeating or fasting excessively.
- Mindful Evening and Night Routine: Wind down with calming activities, like reading or herbal teas, and aim to sleep by 10 PM.
- Gratitude and Reflection of Moral Values: End the day with a moment of gratitude and plan for the next day.
- Swasthvritta, or the Ayurvedic code for maintaining health, focuses on preventive healthcare through a combination of proper diet, lifestyle, and mental discipline.
- Set Health Goals: Focus on maintaining health rather than curing ailments.
- Sadvritta: Cultivate positive habits like kindness, honesty, and self-control.
- Avoid negative emotions like anger, jealousy, and stress through mindfulness practices.
- Avoid unhealthy habits like smoking or alcohol consumption.
- Practice moderation in work, leisure, and relationships.
- Digital Detox: Resolve spending less time on screens and more time connecting with nature and loved ones.
Benefits of Resolutions based on these principles:
- Better Immunity reduces the risk of lifestyle and chronic illnesses. Adapting these resolutions can lead to a healthier, more mindful, and purposeful life in an increasingly fast-paced and complex world.
- Mindful Eating and Avoiding processed foods can transform your relationship with food. It helps maintain the gut barrier, reducing the risk of neuroinflammation and cognitive decline. A healthy gut microbiome produces neurotransmitters like serotonin (90% of which is made in the gut) that regulate mood and emotions.
- A Structured Lifestyle enhances productivity and consistency in achieving resolutions. Such mindful practices encourage balance in all dimensions of life—physical, mental, and spiritual—while fostering a deeper connection with nature and the self.
- Pranayam stimulates vagal activity and decreases stress by reducing stress hormones, thus calming the Rajas and Tamas guna. It increases antioxidant production and improves the blood flow to the ciliary epithelium. It also enhances brain function, normalizes brain wave patterns, and brings peace and calm to a restless mind.
- Yogasana practice improves the tidal volume of the lungs, thus improving chest expansion and cardiopulmonary functions. It stretches and relaxes nerves and muscles and promotes the free flow of blood and energy throughout the body.
Therefore, New Year’s resolutions inspired by Ayurveda offer a pathway to sustainable health and happiness. These practices encourage balance in all dimensions of life— physical, mental, and spiritual—while fostering a deeper connection with nature and the self.