We all know that drinking water to stay hydrated is important to our physical health. It helps maximize physical performance, promotes cardiovascular health, has a major effect on energy levels and brain function, and may prevent or relieve digestive issues. Conversely, even low levels of dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, dizziness, lethargy, and constipation.
But what about our souls? What hydrates or nourishes your soul? What brings you joy or a deep sense of satisfaction?
If you’re like me, you might find January a month when your soul begins to feel depleted; malnourished. Christmas is over and New Years has come and gone. Depending where you live, winter may seem to stretch out endlessly in front of you. It’s easy to start feeling down. The solution may not be as simple as drinking a glass of water, but there are many things we can do to hydrate our souls.
Here, in no particular order, are 12 things that nourish my soul:
- daily time in prayer and God’s Word
- spending time with people who make me happy
- soaking up sunlight
- doing something unexpected for someone else
- losing myself in a good book
- writing
- spending time in nature
- traveling
- organizing and decluttering
- exercising
- sipping a cup of tea or a glass of wine
- relaxing in a hot bath
Your prescription might be entirely different than mine, but if your soul is feeling dehydrated, here are some things you might try:
- listen to music or make music if you’re so inclined
- visit a museum or an art gallery
- watch a movie or a live theatre performance
- keep a gratitude journal
- volunteer
- go for a massage
- get some sleep
- do something creative
What hydrates your soul?
Following Augustine 
Love the title of this post! Hydration is so important to our physical bodies, so why not for our souls? I always called this type of renewal “recharging my batteries”. Actually I prefer the word hydration. This is so important to all of us. You certainly couldn’t run your car if the tank is dry. You can’t use any of your appliances if your utilities are cut off. I also think hydration is so important to us because you can’t share or give away what you don’t possess. We need to focus on hydrating our souls and avoiding the damaging and toxic people and situations that sap our lives.
Thank you for adding these excellent thoughts to what I wrote! I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you for this post, a great reminder that we all need to take care of our soul. We think about our bodies at this time of year, making resolutions to lose weight, eat right, get more exercise… but, I for one, do not often think of my inner being needing nourishment. Walking in the forest nourishes my soul as does standing at the edge of the ocean or a rushing river., breathing in the fresh air and feeling the sunshine penetrate deep within.
Living on the prairie I don’t get the opportunity very often, but nothing nourishes my soul more than walking by the ocean and listening to the surf. I attribute that, at least in part, to happy days of childhood spent playing on the beach in front of our house and listening to the sound of the waves from my bed at night.