4 Ways to Improve the Quality of Our Lives

Available for Interviews: Dr. Pete Loper

Dr. Pete Loper, MD, MSEd, FAAP, is a triple board-certified physician in pediatrics, psychiatry, and child psychiatry. He is also a professor and executive coach and is dedicated to mental health and wellness advocacy.

What Dr. Loper could say on
Improving the Quality of Life:

It seems that in our harried busy, busy worlds having a rich, fulfilling life is all too elusive. Dr. Loper breaks it down and gives great advice about how to live a life with more connectedness, love, meaning, and mindfulness.

1) Address your Entropy

The second law of thermodynamics dictates that any system in isolation will experience entropy; it will become chaotic and disordered. As complex, living ecosystems, human beings obey the second law of thermodynamics. We are inherently social creatures, and our lives can become chaotic, disorganized, and dysfunctional when we are isolated or alone. The United States was already in the “Isolation Epidemic” prior to COVID-19, where data indicates that we were the loneliest and most isolated society in the history of civilization. Now throw in the pandemic, and we are even more isolated. Therefore, when seeking to improve your quality of life, first seek to identify the etiology of your entropy by exploring the quality, depth, and consistency of your relationships with your family, friends, co-workers, and yourself. 

2) Be intentional about spending time with those you love most

You spell “love” t-i-m-e and a-t-t-e-n-t-i-o-n. The most effective and efficient way to address your entropy and bolster your quality of life is to be intentional with devoting time and attention to those you love most. For those with children, the best way to do so is to put aside all screens and distractions, and “break bread” for a nightly family dinner. Devoting thirty minutes every evening to be present with those you love most over the dinner table promotes resilience, and well-being, and has a remarkable impact on quality of life. For those who are single or located a distance from their loved ones, spending time with friends, and scheduling consistent FaceTime or Zoom sessions with loved ones is just as effective at improving quality of life.

3) Be intentional about engaging in meaningful interpersonal interactions with your coworkers

While double goes for your loved ones, the value of time spent in meaningful interactions with co-workers cannot be underestimated. Many of us have transitioned to the virtual space for work, but for those who have returned to the office, taking time to put your work tasks aside and engage in meaningful interpersonal interactions with co-workers promotes resilience and well-being, and improves the quality of life both in the workplace and at home.

4) Be intentional about spending
time in self-reflection

Finally, while time spent in meaningful interpersonal interactions with loved ones, friends, and co-workers should be the foundation of any attempt to improve your health and well-being, time spent bolstering your relationship with yourself can also have a dramatic impact on your quality of life. In the highly technical and task-oriented constructs in which we work and live, we often fail to take the time to explore our internal experiences. Throw in the never-ending distractions of emails, social media, and streaming entertainment, and we often become isolated not just from others, but from ourselves. Healthy adult development is informed by our capacity not to avoid distractions, but to engage with and reflect upon our internal feelings and thoughts. In fact, our internal thoughts and feelings have a direct impact on our behavior. Therefore, human health and well-being are a manifestation of our internal experience. Devote time daily to intentional self-reflection. If life is too busy, and you are overwhelmed with distractions, hire a coach to support you in the “meaning-making” required for healthy personal and professional development, and improved quality of life.

*From the Recent Up Journey article highlighting Dr. Loper’s as well as other health professionals & wellness experts’ advice:

How to Improve Your Quality of Life (100+ Effective Ways)

 

Interview: Dr. Pete Loper

Dr. Pete Loper began his undergraduate studies in English at Kenyon College prior to completing his premedical coursework and Bachelor of Arts at the University of South Carolina (U of SC).  He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and his Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.  Following medical school, Dr. Loper completed a residency in pediatrics. He then worked as a pediatrician in a private practice setting while completing a second residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry.  He has also completed the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Psychoanalytic Fellowship Program and the Teleos Leadership Institute’s Coach Development Program.

Dr. Loper has been featured in numerous academic publications and media outlets and it is through these channels that he can dedicate his time to being an advocate for mental health and wellness.

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