5 Treasured Memorial Day Traditions That Deliver Big Health Benefits
Honoring our nation's heroes is more than just patriotic—it’s good for us
Memorial Day is upon us, and it turns out that the day of remembrance is not only a time to honor fallen soldiers and those who have served our country and celebrate our freedom, but also an opportunity to take care of our health. That’s right—research proves that the time-honored, patriotic traditions we hold dear can actually improve our health and happiness. Keep reading to find out how.
Memorial Day traditions that are good for your health
From gathering with loved ones to expressing appreciation for valiant men and women, here’s how to showcase your pride while also feeling physically and mentally restored.
Making a service member smile blocks blue moods
It’s not just you—research shows that virtually all of us experience bothersome ups and downs in our moods. Thankfully, a UCLA study suggests that just lifting the spirits of someone else, like a person who has served or is serving in the U.S. military, can make your happiness and contentment soar. Plus it can prevent glum moods if you do it once or twice a month. The reason? Spreading joy spurs the release of powerful natural antidepressant hormones.
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Also smart: keeping a sweater handy. Donning a light sweater whenever the air feels a bit breezy or cool will help you stay happy and upbeat all day long. Swiss researchers explain that warming your skin activates a happiness-boosting cluster of brain nerves that lifts your spirits.
Patriotic songs soothe aches
Listening to patriotic songs that celebrate the United States (like Dolly Parton’s “Color Me America” and Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”) can give you a welcome boost this time of year. And it could limber you up in as little as 15 minutes, suggests research out of the University of Idaho. That’s because enjoying music that gives you strong, nostalgic feelings about your country boosts your pain threshold, calms sensitive pain nerves and eases muscle tension.
Watching a Memorial Day parade renews your energy
Craving a quick pick-me-up? Try strolling down to your town’s local Memorial Day weekend parade or watch a televised one while you cozy up on the couch. The feeling of connection that you’ll get from being part of a group tribute to our hard working soldiers will make your energy and can-do spirit soar, British research suggests. Group expressions of gratitude energize the central nervous system to strengthen muscle contractions and heart rate, renewing your pep.
As an added bonus, keeping your phone handy so you can take photos of a pretty scene could keep you energized all day long. Scientists from the University of Southern California say that capturing beautiful images keeps your energy levels calm and steady the same way mindfulness training does.
Decorating your porch soothes stress
Showing your patriotic spirit by dressing up your front porch (whether you raise the flag, hang a red, white and blue wreath or jazz things up with yards of patriotic bunting) could calm your nerves in minutes. Brazilian investigators say the positive glow that you get from appreciating and honoring the sacrifices of others spurs the release of neurotransmitters that quash anxiety and heighten stress-taming optimism.
No time to decorate this year? Try winding down with a moment of reflection. Even on the busiest Memorial Day, we pause at 3 pm for a minute of silence to honor military personnel who died in service to our nation. And taking a brief pause every day to relax your body while you think positive thoughts is a study-proven way to lower blood pressure, ease achiness and deepen sleep.
A backyard barbecue sharpens your focus
Gathering with treasured family or friends for a casual backyard barbecue can pep you up fast. And getting together will help you stay 50 percent more focused all year long if you do it once or twice a month, a University of Michigan study suggests. That’s because spending quality time with your favorite people energizes a brain region that heightens alertness and fights mental fatigue.
Tip: Be sure to include some feel-good fruit in your spread. Whether you love nibbling strawberries right out of the basket or baked into your favorite sweet desserts, a daily serving could keep you more focused all summer long. Scientists reporting in the journal Biomolecules credit reddish plant pigments in strawberries (anthocyanins) with repairing and energizing hardworking brain cells.
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