Author: Sofia Carter

Why Gut Health Matters – And How to Support It

An artistic and symbolic representation of gut health, featuring a human silhouette with a glowing digestive system. Inside the digestive area, include colorful fruits (like berries, apples, bananas), vegetables (like broccoli, carrots, spinach), whole grains (like oats, quinoa, and brown rice), and a variety of meats (like grilled chicken, salmon, and lean beef). The background should be bright and clean, with natural elements like leaves and water droplets to suggest freshness and vitality. The overall tone should be healthy, balanced, and holistic, emphasizing the importance of a diverse diet for gut health

Your gut is more than just a digestive system – it is a bustling ecosystem of trillions of microbes that play a vital role in your overall health, they are called the gut microbiome. This community, of microbes, includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that live primarily in your colon. Although they are tiny, their impact is anything but.

The Gut-Body Connection

A healthy gut microbiome supports your body in several important ways:

  • Digestion and Nutrition Absorption: Gut bacteria help break down complex carbohydrates and fibers, producing short-chain fatty acids that nourish your colon and support metabolic function.
  • Immune Function: About 70% of your immune system resides in your gut. A balanced microbiome helps regulate immune responses and protect against harmful pathogens.
  • Mental Health: The gut and brain are closely linked through the gut-brain axis, and often your gut is referred to as your second brain. Some gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, which influence mood and cognitive function.
  • Chronic Disease Prevention: An imbalance gut microbiome has been linked to conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers.

What Disrupts Gut Health?

Modern lifestyles can throw your gut out of balance. Diets high in processed foods and low in fiber, chronic stress, lack of sleep, and overuse of antibiotics can all reduce microbial diversity and allow harmful bacteria opportunity to thrive.

How to Support a Healthy Gut

Fortunately, small lifestyle changes can make a big difference:

  • Eat More Fiber: Whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables feed beneficial bacteria and promote diversity.
  • Include Fermented Foods: Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi contain live cultures that can enhance your microbiome.
  • Exercise Regularly: Physical activity may help increase microbial diversity and reduce inflammation.
  • Avoid Unnecessary Antibiotics: Use them only when prescribed, as they can wipe out both harmful and helpful bacteria.

Your gut health is foundational to your overall well-being. By making mindful choices in your diet and lifestyle, you can cultivate a thriving microbiome that supports everything from digestion to mental clarity. Think of your gut as a garden – how you care for it, and what you feed it determines how well it grows.

Written By: Sofia Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Champaign County

Reviewed By: Shannon Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Fairfield County

A No-Shoes Policy. Is this for you?

In the U.S., it is very common to wear shoes at home, but have you ever considered the benefits of taking them off?

Why Take Off Your Shoes?

Footwear is designed to protect our feet but consider the costs. Shoes travel with us everywhere-through public restrooms, parks, and the outdoors- meaning they can pick up harmful toxins, germs, and chemicals along the way. Studies have shown that our shoes can carry millions of bacteria on them, germs like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli  (E. Coli) and Clostridioides difficile (C.diff).

Shoes can also track in heavy metals like lead, and hazardous chemicals such as fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you might even be dragging allergens throughout your home, aggravating your symptoms.

How to Be a No-Shoes Household

If you have made the decision to be a no-shoes household, it might feel awkward asking your guests to comply. Many people are uncomfortable showing their bare feet or socks, and in formal settings, shoes are often part of an outfit. However, if creating a healthy home is your goal, don’t feel afraid to implement a no-shoes policy. Here are a few ways to make your request easier for everyone:

  • Tell Guests in Advance

If possible, inform your guests ahead of time that you have a no-shoes policy. This gives them a chance to adjust their footwear and prepares them for easy removal when they arrive.

  • Put Up a Polite Sign

Consider placing a friendly sign by your door to remind guests of your request to remove their shoes. It is an easy and non-intrusive way to communicate your preference.

  • Offer Washable Slippers

If you want to make your guests, feel more comfortable, offer them a pair of clean, washable slippers to wear during their visit. This can make them feel more at ease while respecting your no-shoes rule.

What if Your Guests Can’t Go Shoe-Free?

In these situations, don’t stress- just take some time after the visit to clean your floors or carpets. For carpets, use a HEPA filter vacuum, if possible. If you don’t have one, a fabric-safe disinfectant spray followed by a regular vacuuming will still help. For hard floors, use a mild disinfectant mixed with warm water, and mop instead of sweeping, as sweeping can stir up particles into the air.

What if you Need to Wear Shoes Indoors?

Consider purchasing a pair of house shoes that you only wear inside. Keep them by the door for easy access when you come home. Also, it is a good idea to clean the soles and sides of your shoes regularly. Doing so can eliminate up to 90% of bacteria picked up outside.

The Benefits of No-Shoes Policy

It may seem like a small change, but it can have a big impact on your family’s health, creating a cleaner, safer environment for everyone.

Written By: Sofia Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Champaign County

Reviewed By: Shannon Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Fairfield County

Our Epidemic of Loneliness

Social connection is vital to human existence, but we have become more isolated over time. In fact, loneliness and isolation, which threaten our health and well-being, have become a major U.S. health concern, according to an advisory from the Surgeon General.

Over the past few decades, U.S. social trends indicate that companionship and engagement with friends and family have declined while isolation has increased. Trust in institutions and in others, an indicator for social connectedness, is reported to be on the decline in our country.

Approximately half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness. Loneliness affects people from all age groups, socioeconomic conditions, and geographies. Possible causes for the downward trends in social connection include decreasing social participation, demographics, reduced community involvement, and use of technology.

In May 2023 a press release announced a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiative, the Commission on Social Connection, focusing on the importance of social activities to our health and well-being. Social connection reduces the risk of premature mortality. It can predict better physical and mental health outcomes and ease stress. Higher levels of connection can even impact educational and economic achievement.

two men having coffee and giving each other a high five

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, is challenging us to take the “5-for-5 Connection Challenge” to build and strengthen relationships and inspire others to incorporate connection in their daily lives! Here are the steps:

Step 1: Commit to connect

Pick 5 actions and 5 days in a row to connect with people in your life.

Step 2: Connect each day for 5 days

Each day, take 1 simple action of your choice to express gratitude, offer support, or ask for help. For more ideas, see the card deck.

Step 3: Reflect and share.

Take a moment. How did connecting make you feel?

Let your loved ones know about your experience and invite them to join in! Use #MadeToConnect on social media and share this link.

You can share your stories by emailing MadeToConnect@hhs.gov to inspire more connection.

Together, we can foster social connection and improve our nation’s public health. Improving social connection requires that each of us commit to our relationships and communities. Our actions today can create sustainable positive changes to society and improve health for everyone.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County

Reviewer: Erin Ruggiero, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Medina County

Why “Resolutions” might not work…

Sign with the year 2025 and a question mark

We are naturally drawn to the idea of setting resolutions and intentions at the start of a new year. Whether you view this as social conditioning or simply a cultural norm, it is undeniable that many of us share a collective awareness of what we did or did not accomplish in the past year. This shared sense often sparks a desire to reflect on what we would like to change, achieve, or create in the year ahead.

There is 4,000 years of historical tradition of New Year’s resolutions. The Farmer’s Almanac writes an interesting article of this history.

So, how is your resolution going so far? Does this question excite you, or aggravate you?

Did you make a resolution to get healthier this year and rush to join a local gym? If so, you have probably noticed that many others have the same idea. Your news feeds are flooded with gym membership deals and online fitness challenges targeting those eager to lose weight. You might wonder; how do these companies predict my resolutions?

There is no secret behind this marketing tactic. As humans, we are creatures of habit, and year after year, we tend to follow similar patterns when it comes to our New Year’s resolutions. The most common resolutions focus on:

  1. Saving or earning more money
  2. Improving our happiness
  3. Physical health and wellness
  4. Improving our diet

So, why do so many resolutions fail? If we are creatures of habit when it comes to setting resolutions, why do we struggle so much with following through on them? It is only January, yet here we are already talking about failure in the new year. In fact, about 88% of people who set New Year’s resolutions will have given up by the end of the month, according to Baylor College of Medicine.

Most explanations for reasons resolutions fail point to our struggle with making big changes long-term, lack of commitment, and the unrealistic nature of some resolutions.

An alternative approach to New Year’s resolutions might be to skip them altogether. Dean of Social Sciences, Dr Thomas MacCarty, at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), does not recommend making New Year’s resolutions. He believes setting lofty resolutions can have psychological harm when those major changes do not come to fruition. An alternative can be SMART goals instead of resolutions. These are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely goals. You can also boost your accountability by sharing your SMART goals with friends and family. Another good practice is to set SMART goals earlier in the year, rather than waiting until the end. By shifting the tradition of “making a fresh start” we can focus on personal growth and improvement throughout the entire year.

Using these alternatives to resolutions could serve us better in succeeding with our tangible SMART goals and building upon our successes. This approach seems more encouraging and rewarding.

So, how are your SMART goals going so far? Does this question excite and motivate you?

Happy New Year!

Written By: Sofia Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Champaign County

Reviewed By: Shannon Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Fairfield County

Parenting a College Student this Summer?

Welcoming home a college student for the summer? It can be a wonderful time for college students to reconnect with family and friends, or maybe work a summer job. It can also be a tricky adjustment for students to live under their parents’ roof again after being mostly independent for nine months. Likewise, it can take some adjusting for parents (who have become accustomed to new routines of the empty nest) to learn to accommodate their college student’s schedule and independence, not to mention all the dorm gear and laundry.

African American black college student moving to dorm with parents helping with moving crates

Here are some things to consider in helping smooth the transition for everyone:

Adjust your parenting style. To ease into this new phase of life for both of you, you’ll likely need to adjust your approach to be more collaborative in nature. Think of it in terms of requests versus rules or demands. If you have younger children at home, you’ll be adjusting your parenting style continually to each child in their current life stage… just like you’ve done all along.

Talk about expectations. Will they have use of a car, a summer job, household chores, curfew, etc? This can involve some give and take. Ask your adult child his or her thoughts and expectations about coming home.

Set a few limits. Even though your child is an adult, they can still be asked to help around the house. Instead of a set curfew, maybe they can let you know where they are going out of courtesy and respect and make a quiet entrance when returning home late. Set a few family times during the week to catch up or make plans, and otherwise let them have time to socialize with friends.

Give them space. Remember your child was away from you for the better part of nine months and may need a little extra time and space to retain their sense of independence.

Have some family fun. It’s never too late to make memories together. Find an activity you all enjoy and do that several times throughout the summer. Take a family trip and let your adult children help make the plans.

Though there are a lot of changes and adjustments during this time, a little flexibility and communication can go a long way to making it an enjoyable summer for everyone.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu

Reviewer: Erin Ruggiero, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Medina County, ruggiero.46@osu.edu

Sources:

Flanigan, R. 7 Ways to Get Along With a College Student Home for Summer. June 2023. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2023/parenting-college-students-home-for-summer.html

Returning Home from College: Tips for Parents and Students. Lifespan Living Newsletter. May 2023. https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/returning-home-college-tips-parents-and-students.

Thurrott, S. 7 College Tips for Parents and Guardians: Adjusting to Parenting an Adult. Azusa Pacific University. November 2019. https://www.apu.edu/articles/7-college-tips-for-parents-adjusting-to-parenting-an-adult/

Where Hope Blooms

purple crocus with the quote: "where flowers bloom, so does hope." by Lady Bird Johnson

One of the earliest and most-welcomed signs of spring are the flowers who have persevered through the winter. As colder temperatures subside and give way to spring, crocuses respond by pushing new shoots up through the earth and opening their cheery blossoms. A bright purple crocus bloom against a backdrop of snow or last year’s fallen leaves is a picture of resilience in the face of difficulty. This can remind us that there is always potential for change and growth, even during difficult times. In order to bring about positive change in our culture, or ourselves, we begin with hope.

Fostering hope has been shown in various research studies to help decrease symptoms of depression and improve mental health, self-esteem and the ability to function with a chronic illness. In a study of older adults, hope was linked to better physical and mental health and health behavior outcomes.

To better understand what hope is, we can look at the science behind it. Researcher Chan Hellman from the University of Oklahoma’s Hope Research Center has explored the components of hope and found 3 distinct ingredients: goals, pathway and agency. Goals are the thing we are striving for and become the cornerstone of hope. Pathway is the ability to identify routes toward goals and to find new pathways (problem solve) around obstacles, if necessary. Agency (willpower) is the ability to sustain motivation to move along these pathways. Hellman asserts: “Hope is the belief that your future will be better than today and you have the power to make it so.” No matter the difficulties we may face, hope is accessible to each and every one of us. Unlike optimism, which is simply the expectation of a better future, hope is action-oriented and a skill that can be learned.

To foster hope in your life, you may need to re-frame your thinking and form new habits. Hope experts recommend these tips:

  • Break goals into smaller chunks so they are more manageable.
  • Stay connected. Hope is a social gift. It is not something that happens in isolation within us. It happens in relationships with each other. We should be more intentional in our social connections. Our connectedness with others or with something greater than ourselves is one of single best predictors of hope.
  • Celebrate small successes. It is important to acknowledge and celebrate what you have accomplished to boost your willpower to reach the next small goal.

At the heart of change is our ability to understand the way things are right now in our lives… and that we can begin to imagine the way things could be. This is where hope is born. So, when you see early spring flowers, let them remind you to hold on to hope and believe that things will get better, and the courage to take some action to bring about change.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu

Reviewer: Erin Ruggiero, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Medina County, ruggiero.46@osu.edu

Sources:

Abramson, A. (2024). Hope as the antidote. Monitor on Psychology, Vol. 55 No. 1. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from : https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/01/trends-hope-greater-meaning-life#:~:text=Along%20with%20improving%20mental%20health,28%2C%202020.

Long K. N., Kim E. S., Chen Y., Wilson M. F., Worthington E., Jr, VanderWeele T. J. (2020). The role of hope in subsequent health and well-being for older adults: an outcome-wide longitudinal approach. Global Epidemiology. 2, 100018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloepi.2020.100018  

Steffen, L.E., Cheavens, J.S., Vowles, K.E. et al. Hope-related goal cognitions and daily experiences of fatigue, pain, and functional concern among lung cancer patients. Supportive Care Cancer 28, 827–835 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04878-y

Reclaim and Refresh your Space!

Have you ever noticed how your space affects your mood? Does a messy desk or cluttered bedroom bother you? Do you like some rooms in your home better than others because of comfortable furniture? What type of lighting do you prefer? Some people like bright lighting and others prefer darker rooms. Take note of what causes and relieves stress from the spaces around you. The physical environment where we live and work can affect, as well as reflect, our emotions or mood.

stack of books

There are professionals who make a study out of how our spaces affect us. Environmental psychology is a branch of psychology that studies how humans change the environment and how the environment impacts humans’ behaviors and experiences. Studies have shown that many aspects of interior design, from how you arrange your room, how much sunlight enters your room, can affect your emotional state, impact daily life and influence behavior. Since we know that lighting can make a big difference in how we function, consider brightening your room with ample light, especially for darker winter days.

Maybe it’s time to reclaim your space by de-cluttering. Clutter affects people to varying degrees, but most studies agree that clutter can negatively impact how we think, focus and function. De-cluttering can help improve your mental health. Start small by de-cluttering one junk drawer or closet. Set aside things you no longer need and consider how you might donate or recycle them. Then take these same steps with other spaces until you have sufficiently reduced the clutter in your home or office.

Refresh your space by making small, inexpensive changes that bring you joy. Simple ideas for refreshing space might include rearranging furniture for better function, getting an indoor plant or herb garden, finding a new wall hanging, or even putting on a fresh coat of paint. Brighten a couch with a throw pillow or your dining room with a table runner. Carefully consider making room for anything you add (like getting rid of something you no longer use) so you do not contribute to more clutter.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu

Reviewer: Erin Ruggiero, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Medina County, ruggiero.46@osu.edu

Sources:

Beckwith, A., Parkhurst, E. (July, 2022). The Mental Benefits of Decluttering. Utah State University; Mental Health Education Extension. https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/the-mental-benefits-of-decluttering

Innis, Gail. (November, 2015). Declutter your life and improve your health. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/declutter_your_life_and_improve_your_health

Kolakowski, Emma. (Visited October, 2022). Mess makes Stress: Declutter and the Mind. Michigan State University, MSU WorkLife Office. https://worklife.msu.edu/news/mess-makes-stress-declutter-and-mind

Zozobrado, Mia. (May, 2022). Decluttering to de-stress and improve your focus. Georgia State University, Be Well Panthers. https://bewell.gsu.edu/decluttering-tips-relieve-stress-improve-focus/ 

Ambiguous Loss

Have you ever had the feeling of grief or loss without closure? If so, perhaps you were struggling with something called ambiguous loss. If you’ve ever dealt with breaking up with someone, a child moving to college, aging parents, or your own degenerative health condition, you have most likely experienced ambiguous loss. In the 1970s, Dr. Pauline Boss termed this type of grief as ambiguous loss to describe a feeling of loss without closure, originally studying families of Vietnam War soldiers who went missing in action. This research was expanded to examine other situations where the loss remains unclear: family members disappearing in natural disasters, families separated at international borders, caregiving for dementia, divorce, stillbirth, and many more.

Research tells us that ambiguous loss is a relational disorder brought on by the lack of facts surrounding the loss of a loved one. Ambiguous loss differs from other types of loss in that there is either no confirmation of death or no certainty that the person will return to the way they used to be. This type of loss can not only be confusing, but it can also prevent resolution of the loss, which can freeze the grief process, leaving individuals and families stuck in their grief and impair normal functioning. People don’t deal well with ambiguity under normal circumstances, and in the dealing with loss, ambiguity poses even more of a challenge. Our minds use closure to help understand the situation and process grief.

Woman, sunset, trees

The pandemic posed a unique dilemma in that everyone experienced loss of one sort or another. No one got any closure on the former way of life before the pandemic required us to adapt to a chaotic new way of life. Many of us have experienced grief for all we have lost.

Thankfully with this research as well as the accounts of those who struggle with it, there are some ways we can deal with ambiguous loss.

  • Name what you’re feeling. Labeling what you’re going through might be the first step toward healing.
  • Work toward acceptance. Find a way to make peace with the situation and live with ambiguity.
  • Pet a guinea pig. Well, it doesn’t have to be a guinea pig, but any pet can offer comfort and lighten your grief.
  • Get support from others. Open up to a close friend or family member so they know what you’re going through.
  • Look for the positives. Ponder how this new way of life has brought you new relationships.
  • Find meaning through action. You will not only feel better in having helped others, you may connect with others that have gone through something similar.
  • Seek help when needed. If you continue to have trouble coping, seek out a therapist who specializes in grief counseling.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu

Reviewer: Christine Kendle, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Tuscarawas County, kendle.4@osu.edu

Soucres:

Boss, P.  Ambiguousloss.com. 2023. College of Education and Human Development, Department of Family and Social Science, University of Minnesota. https://www.ambiguousloss.com//

Stephens, E. The Countdown We’ve All Been Waiting For… Jun 29, 2023. Live Healthy Live Well, The Ohio State University. https://livehealthyosu.com/2023/06/29/the-countdown-weve-been-waiting-for/

What Ambiguous Loss Is and How To Deal With It. A psychologist shares ways to cope with a lack of closure. Feb. 17, 2022. Health Essentials. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ambiguous-loss-and-grief/

The Countdown We’ve Been Waiting For…

stop watch with the words Count Down

Almost 4 years ago, we were delivered with the news about COVID-19. Most of us if not all of us can remember where we were on March 13, 2020. We can vividly recall what we felt when we were told that we were put into the lock down and quarantine stage.

While the news affected everyone differently, one group that the news of the pandemic took a toll on was the graduating class of 2020. Effects from COVID-19 included not having senior night for those in spring sports to not getting ready for senior prom. The biggest effect and game changer for the class of 2020 would be not getting together one last time for graduation. No chance to hear graduation speeches or hearing “On a count of three move your tassel.”

Not only did COVID-19 physically affect us, but it also affected us mentally. As a 2020 graduate, I was in a constant state of worry. I was worried about how my senior year was going to end. I had to take it day by day and week by week to know if I was going to maybe have a chance to go back into my high school before graduation and if I was going to get to have a graduation ceremony. There were times when I would break down while doing homework in my room because all I wanted was to be back in school. We all worked hard to get to this point in our life and before we knew it, it was getting taken away from us.

After what would have been graduation, we started to go our own way. Some went to college while others went to the workforce. Here we are almost four years later after getting the news that the world was shutting down, myself and others from the 2020 graduating class who are finishing college will be finally getting the graduation we deserve. Getting to wear a cap and gown to a ceremony full of friends and family is something that we’ve been waiting for, and we will finally get to do it.

Picture of fence with saying "2020 We Love Our Seniors!"
Picture credit: Emma Stephens

Sources:

Lee, J., Solomon, M., Stead, T. et al. Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of US college students. BMC Psychol 9, 95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00598-3

Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic. March 20, 2023. National Institute of Health.

Written by: Emma Stephens, Ohio State University Student Intern, Ohio State University 

Reviewed by: Susan Zies, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Wood County, zies.1@osu.edu

 

Intentional Connections

Intentional Connections

Connecting with friends and family is essential for good health. We were made to connect with one another. In fact, we thrive on it, both mentally and physically. Researchers are exploring how social support and good relationships are converted into neurochemical signals that can boost one’s immune system. The quality of our social support and interpersonal connections can affect things like mood, motivation, coping skills, self-esteem and general well-being.

many hands together, friendship
hands, frienship

Recently I participated in a program where we learned to make a Vision Board and set goals for our own personal vision. The area I focused on was ‘heart.’ I wanted to be more intentional about connecting with family and friends. I do not want to look back later and have regrets about missed opportunities to connect with others, especially my kids who will soon both be grown and flown, leaving an empty nest. Having just sent one child to college this fall, and the other child to follow in two years, I’m keenly aware of how quickly the years roll by.

For each person on my goal list, I tried to think of specific ways we could connect. For my husband I made a goal to plan a monthly date. This could be something as simple as a walk in the woods, or a breakfast out. For my teenage son, I simply need to be available whenever he wants to talk or share about his day and take an interest in his thoughts. For my daughter who is now in college, I try to support her when she calls or needs help and send an occasional text of a cute picture or positive affirmation.

So how do we become more intentional about connecting? September 26, 2022 just happens to be National Family Day to remind us to reconnect and cherish family and loved ones. Here are a few tips to consider:

Go on an outing

Whether it is a day in the park, a picnic, or a movie, an outing with your family can provide an opportunity to reconnect and enjoy some quality time.

Eat together

Family meals are a wonderful way to learn about one another’s day and reconnect daily. There are so many benefits to eating together as a family.

Plan a game night

Games bring families together for fun. When families have fun together, lasting memories are created. Be intentional about spending time together and make family game night a regular part of the schedule.

Use technology to connect

Modern technology makes it easy to connect. This article on unexpected connections provides helpful tips on how to creatively connect with loved ones both near and far.

When we are intentional in connecting with loved ones, beautiful and meaningful moments await. Be intentional. Connect often.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu

Reviewer: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

Sources:

Create Your Own Vision Board: Bring your goals to life with a vision board! National 4-H Council, All State Foundation and Ohio State University Extension. https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/emotional-wellness/digital-vision-board/

Perissinotto CM, Stijacic Cenzer I, Covinsky KE. Loneliness in Older Persons: A Predictor of Functional Decline and Death. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(14):1078–1084. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1993

Uchino, B. N., & Way, B. M. (2017). Integrative pathways linking close family ties to health: A neurochemical perspective. American Psychologist, 72(6), 590–600. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000049

Live Healthy Live Well Blog from Ohio State University Extension, various posts:

  • College Send-Off: Are You Ready? By Shannon Carter
  • Empty Nest: Now What? by Misty Harmon
  • Take a Dine-In Day with Your Family by Lisa Barlage
  • The Case for Family Game Night by Shannon Carter
  • Unexpected Connections by Beth Stefura
  • Why We Need Connection by Jami Dellifield