Your Brain Needs Company Too: The Wellbeing Habit We Forget

There are days in the wellbeing calendar that lend themselves to grand advice. Today, I think, calls for something much simpler.

Have a conversation with someone.

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day, part of World Alzheimer’s Month, when communities around the world are encouraged to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This year’s international campaign is particularly focused on diagnosis and the value of people getting appropriate information and support.

I’m not going to pretend that having a chat over a cup of tea prevents dementia. That would be an irresponsible claim.

But today has made me think about something broader: we spend an awful lot of time talking about looking after our bodies and sometimes forget that social wellbeing belongs on the Wellness Wheel too.

The ten-minute phone call

As autumn arrives, our routines begin changing.

Here in our part of Wales, today is expected to become cloudier, although generally dry, with temperatures around the high teens. The wider forecast becomes more unsettled as the week progresses, with heavier rain expected on Wednesday.

And that change matters to naturists.

During summer, connection can happen almost accidentally. Someone suggests a beach. There’s a walk. A garden gathering appears. We spend more time outdoors and often encounter more people.

Then autumn comes.

We close the door. Put the heating on. And gradually our worlds can become a little smaller.

That’s why I’ve started thinking about the ten-minute phone call.

Not a scheduled Zoom meeting. Not an organised event. Not something requiring six people to consult their diaries.

Just:

How are you doing?

And then actually listening to the answer.

Social wellbeing is still wellbeing

The social part of the Wellness Wheel isn’t about being endlessly sociable.

Some of us love a room full of people. Others would rather have one meaningful conversation with someone they trust.

Both count.

Connection can mean friendship, belonging, being listened to, sharing laughter, offering support or simply knowing there is somebody who would notice if you disappeared for a while.

That’s particularly important to remember as the darker months approach.

And I think naturist communities have something rather special here.

When naturism works at its best, the absence of clothing is almost the least interesting thing about it. What matters is the openness, acceptance and equality that can develop between people.

That doesn’t suddenly vanish because it’s too cold to sit naked in the garden.

Naturism moves indoors with us

This is something you’ll hear me return to throughout autumn and winter.

Naturism doesn’t hibernate.

Our way of living simply changes with the season.

There will be saunas and indoor gatherings. There will be meditation, stretching, cooking, conversations, video calls and evenings spent with people who understand us.

Sometimes naturism in January might simply mean being comfortably naked at home while chatting to another naturist who is doing exactly the same thing twenty miles away.

There is still freedom in that.

There is still community in that.

And there is certainly wellbeing in knowing we belong somewhere.

World Alzheimer’s Day is rightly about a serious neurological condition, diagnosis, research and support — matters that belong with qualified healthcare professionals and specialist organisations.

But perhaps it can also give the rest of us a gentle reminder not to take the people around us for granted.

So today I’m setting you a ridiculously easy wellbeing challenge.

Find one person you haven’t spoken to recently.

Give them ten minutes.

No agenda. No reason required.

Just connection.

Who haven’t you spoken to for a while who might genuinely smile when they see your name appear on their phone?