Four unconventional ways to feel more spiritual every day

1. Make the world a better place.

Volunteer vacations — whether traveling to Africa to record the population of black rhinos or flying to Brazil to comfort patients with AIDS — offer more than an excuse to lounge all day with a favorite novel. “Devoting a holiday to helping others can be spiritually rewarding, especially when you realize you’re making a difference to people in need,” says David Clemmons, founder of Voluntourism.org, an online guide to service trips. “Plus, serving a larger cause and meeting people who are happy despite poverty help volunteers feel connected to the global community.” Get information at Voluntourism.org or CharityGuide.org.

2. Make a high-speed connection.

The Internet can strengthen your bond to friends and family, at least if you use it in moderation. It provides support and can make you feel linked to others, says Barry Wellman, Ph.D., sociology professor at the University of Toronto. It also provides a chance to meet people outside your circle. Reaching out, either online or face-to-face, can be a potent reminder that you’re not alone.

3. Spend time in nature.

Take 15 minutes a day to walk outside while being mindful of your surroundings. “Utilize all your senses,” suggests Eva Selhub, M.D., senior staff physician of the Health and Wellness Center of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine in Boston. There’s nothing like nature to make you feel small yet part of a larger whole.

4. Give a little help to your friends.

Comforting a pal with a card or call can make you feel needed, which may increase happiness and self-worth, says Louise Hawkley, Ph.D., a research scientist in psychology at the University of Chicago. “Instead of simply meeting your own needs, develop the habit of meeting someone else’s as well.”

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