Spiritual wellness can mean finding room for meaning, connection and the sacred within an ordinary week. After the disruptions of the pandemic, some people rebuilt familiar practices, some tried new ones and others found that their spiritual life had not changed much at all.
You do not need to match a national trend. Begin with what matters in your own life: a belief you want to explore, a connection you miss or a practice you would like to make more sustainable.
A wider picture than “spiritual but not religious”
In its 2023 survey of American spirituality, Pew Research Center classified 70% of U.S. adults as spiritual in some way, including 22% as spiritual but not religious. Spirituality and religion often overlapped; the survey did not establish that spirituality was increasing over time.
That matters because there is no single story of Americans leaving religion for personal ritual. A person may pray within a faith, meditate at home, believe in spirit communication or find sacred connection in nature. These experiences should not be collapsed into one identity or treated as interchangeable traditions.
What the pandemic changed—and what it did not
Closures disrupted how communities gathered, but a change in access is not automatically a change in belief. In Pew’s 2025 report on an October 2024 survey, 69% of Americans said the pandemic had no impact on their religious or spiritual lives. Those who reported an impact described positive, negative and mixed effects.
If that period changed your life deeply, the majority finding does not diminish your experience. You may still be grieving, rebuilding community or reconsidering what support feels right. It simply means there is no sound basis for saying everyone experienced the same spiritual shift.
Choose a practice around a real need
Meaning
Read, pray, study or journal around a question that matters to you. Leave room for an unfinished answer.
Connection
Arrange a manageable conversation, gathering or shared activity. Choose people who respect your beliefs and limits.
Remembrance
Mark a person, place or transition through a memory, photograph or simple personal ritual.
Everyday care
Bring a value into action: keep a promise, ask for help, offer a kindness or make time for rest.
These are possibilities, not a prescription. A religious practice may be central to you; so may psychic reflection or an intuitive journal. Learn the context of a tradition before borrowing a ceremony, and do not assume that every practice is yours to recreate from a short online description.
Make it small enough to belong in your life
Choose one existing moment—perhaps a first drink, a break or the end of work—and attach a brief practice to it. You might read a paragraph, write an intention or sit with an open question. Give yourself a simpler version for full days and permission to miss it.
Then decide whether you want company. A trusted friend, faith community, accessible class or well-moderated online group may offer something a solo routine does not. Ask about privacy, fees, participation expectations and the freedom to leave.
For ideas, explore a sustainable spiritual life, a supportive home space or finding spiritual connection.
Keep care and choice at the center
You do not have to meditate, buy objects or feel positive all the time. If a practice causes distress, pause it. The NCCIH meditation overview discusses possible negative effects and advises against using meditation to replace appropriate care.
Review what a practice is doing in your life rather than asking whether you are doing spirituality well enough. Does it leave room for honesty, responsibilities, connection and support? Can you adapt it without fear or pressure? Those questions are a useful place to return.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is spiritual wellness?
It can mean caring for your sense of meaning, connection, values and relationship with the sacred. It may be part of a religion, a personal spiritual path or a combination of practices.
2. Must I be spiritual but not religious?
No. Religious and spiritual identities can overlap. You do not need to abandon a faith community or adopt a label to care for your spiritual life.
3. What did Pew’s 2023 survey find?
Pew classified 70% of U.S. adults as spiritual in some way, including 22% as spiritual but not religious. These are findings from that survey, not a count of people who began a new practice after the pandemic.
4. Did the pandemic change everyone’s spirituality?
No. In Pew’s October 2024 survey, reported in 2025, most Americans said it had no impact on their religious or spiritual lives. Others reported positive, negative or mixed effects.
5. What if I still feel disconnected after the pandemic?
Your experience deserves attention even when it differs from a survey majority. Consider which connection you miss and one manageable way to seek it, with support if needed.
6. Can I begin without buying equipment?
Yes. A familiar place, an honest question, a short reading or a conversation may be enough. Special objects and paid subscriptions are optional.
7. How do I choose a practice?
Start with the need you want to meet: meaning, quiet, remembrance, connection or service. Choose one practice that fits your beliefs and daily circumstances.
8. How long should it last?
There is no required duration. Choose something brief enough to approach comfortably and adapt it around your needs rather than treating time spent as spiritual achievement.
9. Can I practice from home?
Yes. Home practice can be meaningful. Consider whether you also want connection with other people rather than assuming solitude must meet every need.
10. Can an online community be supportive?
It can be, especially when access or distance matters. Look for respectful moderation, clear fees and privacy choices, and the freedom to disagree or leave.
11. How do I respect a tradition I am learning from?
Learn its context, listen to people within it and ask what participation is appropriate. Do not assume a ceremony or title is available simply because it appears online.
12. Can tarot or oracle cards be included?
If they fit your beliefs, you may include them as part of reflection or a spiritual practice. Keep interpretation separate from guaranteed outcomes and retain responsibility for your choices.
13. What if meditation does not suit me?
You may stop or choose another activity. The value of a spiritual life does not depend on sitting still; study, prayer, creativity, nature or service may feel more fitting.
14. Should I force gratitude on a hard day?
No. You can acknowledge pain and uncertainty honestly. A practice should not require denying a loss or pretending to feel something you do not.
15. Does spiritual wellness replace healthcare?
No. Spiritual support can sit alongside appropriate medical or mental-health care. A guide should not pressure you to stop treatment or keep concerning symptoms secret.
16. How can I include community without overcommitting?
Choose a manageable form of contact, such as a short call, occasional gathering or accessible group. Keep your limits clear and leave room for rest.
17. How do I know whether to keep a practice?
Ask whether it supports your values and daily life, and whether you remain free to adapt it. Pause if it brings distress, isolation or pressure to spend beyond your comfort.
18. What if I miss a week?
You can begin again without punishment or a catch-up ritual. A sustainable practice makes room for the real life it is meant to support.
‘Grounding before meetings?’ What’s next, yoga breaks during board presentations? Look, if this helps people feel better, then I’m all for it, but let’s keep some professionalism intact in workplaces too!
I find it hard to believe that a sudden interest in spirituality is truly beneficial for everyone. Is relying on intuition really a replacement for professional guidance? It’s crucial that we don’t romanticize spiritual practices without addressing potential downsides.
‘Burning incense after work as a survival tactic’? Wow, who knew adulting could be so dramatic! Just give me my coffee and call it self-care; I’m not trying to summon any spirits here! ☕️👻
‘Spirituality as a survival tool’—what will they think of next? If only my houseplants could meditate away their problems too! Maybe I should start pulling tarot cards before deciding what to have for lunch! 😂
This piece offers valuable insights into the intersection of spirituality and mental health during the pandemic. The rise in mindfulness practices is well-documented, and it’s fascinating how technology has made these resources more accessible to everyone.
This article beautifully captures how the pandemic has transformed our understanding of spirituality. It’s refreshing to see a shift towards personal wellness and emotional intelligence being prioritized. I believe this is a positive evolution for society! 🌟
While I appreciate the sentiment behind this article, it seems overly optimistic about spirituality’s rise. Many people still rely on science for answers, and mixing intuition with mental health could be problematic. Let’s not ignore the importance of evidence-based practices.
‘Personalized spirituality’? Sounds like a fancy way to say people are just winging it now! Whatever happened to structured beliefs? Now we’re just mixing everything together like a spiritual smoothie! 🍹