In today's fast-paced world, taking a break from our busy lives to sit in silence and meditate may seem like a luxury we can't afford. However, meditation retreats offer a unique and invaluable opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Let's explore the benefits of attending a meditation retreat supported by references to scientific studies and expert opinions.

We breathe without much thought, yet it is an essential and often overlooked aspect of our health and well-being. Breathing consciously can profoundly benefit our physical, mental, and emotional health. Explore the surprising benefits of conscious breathing. Stress Reduction One of the most immediate benefits of conscious breathing is stress reduction. Taking slow, deep breaths ...

We've all been there – setting big goals, making promises to ourselves, or planning exciting projects, only to struggle to make them happen. This is known as the intention-action gap, a common challenge where our intentions don't always translate into actions. Understanding this gap is important because it affects our personal growth, productivity, and ability to achieve our dreams. Understanding the ...

Our emotions and mental well-being are intricately linked to what we consume. Our food can influence our mood, energy levels, and overall mental health. In this blog post, we will explore some scientifically proven foods that can uplift your spirits and enhance your mood. Dark Chocolate Indulging in a small piece of dark chocolate can do wonders for your mood. It stimulates ...

By Duke Health & Well-Being Team In mind-body techniques, visualization is a powerful tool for achieving personal growth, wellness, and self-transformation. Visualization empowers individuals to tap into their imagination and manifest their desires by harnessing the innate connection between the mind and body. This blog post explores the transformative potential of visualization as a mind-body technique.

We are excited to announce another psychology group offering at Duke Integrative Medicine! Healing Together After 3 years of coping with and navigating the pandemic, we all have some shared trauma. If you are experiencing fear or stress associated with anxiety and how to move forward, join us for 8 weeks as we learn adaptive coping skills in a group ...

Learn how noticing when your habits become automatic, identifying daily triggers, and practicing mindful awareness can help you transform habits into choices. Tip #1: Notice When Your Habits Have Become Automatic Most of the time, when we engage in unhealthy habits, we do it automatically. In fact, our minds are generally preoccupied with thinking ...

Mindful breathing is a powerful exercise that can help you stay focused on the present moment. Combining a mindful breathing exercise with meditation can help you focus and relax. Read the instructions below to familiarize yourself with the experience. Set a timer, and as you get more accustomed to using this technique to help you relax, you can set the ...

As we head into 2023, we have an opportunity to explore well-being tools and resources that can help us pursue activities, choices, and lifestyles that can get us closer to the most vibrant version of ourselves. Our team compiled some fun resources for the third year in a row to help you explore your version of well-being. The Best of the ...

1. Connect your new habit to your best self Deep motivation for change comes from connecting your habits to what you most want for optimal health and how that supports you in being your best self. 2. Create a 3-6 month goal Three to six months is long enough to achieve a healthy goal or ...