Of course we are stressed. The tools of wellness are in everyday Judaism.

Lately, I’ve realised that many of the things that help me stay calm and grounded come from Judaism. Not the big, dramatic parts, just the quiet, repetitive rituals I’ve done for years without thinking too hard about them. In my 30s, with my job, kids and many demands, of late I notice that these rituals have become the scaffolding of my days.

One of the buzzwords in wellness culture is gratitude. You’re encouraged to write affirmations about your body, your breath, the good things in your life. In Orthodox Judaism, gratitude is present from the minute you wake in the morning. The first thing I say every morning is Modeh Ani, a short prayer thanking G-d for returning my soul to my body.

It’s simple, but it shifts my focus. Before I’ve even looked at my phone, before the morning chaos begins, I’m reminded that life isn’t a given. That I woke up is already something to be thankful for.

Meditation is another wellness practice that’s constantly recommended, where you take the time to reflect, breathe, pause. And while I’ve never been great at sitting on a cushion in silence, daily Jewish prayer, tefillah, offers a similar experience. It creates space to think, to reconnect with something larger than myself. It’s structured and repetitive, which helps on the days when everything else feels overwhelming. There’s comfort in having a set rhythm to follow.

Then there’s Shabbat. In a world where digital detoxes are trending, Orthodox Jews have been doing this for centuries. For 25 hours, from Friday evening to Saturday night, we unplug, no phones, no laptops, no scrolling. And yes, sometimes it’s hard. Especially in the past year, when major events in Israel often seemed to unfold right as Shabbat or as a Chag (holiday) began. There were times I didn’t want to switch off. But once I did, I noticed the difference.