The term “wellness” can mean a variety of different things to different people. For some, well-being manifests itself through physical activity such as sports or exercise. For others, it may take a more internalized form through spirituality or mindset. Whatever wellness means to you, there are ways you can practice healthy habits every day to achieve better physical, mental, and overall well-being Matses.
Now more than ever we must take care of our mind and our body. Here are some tips from our Colorado Spirit team on how you can cultivate every aspect of wellness in your life!
Spiritual Wellbeing:
Spiritual wellness is connecting to something bigger than yourself and following a set of values, morals, and beliefs to guide your actions and help you form meaningful habits. Habits can also provide a sense of purpose and meaning.
Spiritual well-being and the habits you help create and enforce have the potential to make your decisions and choices easier and keep you grounded during periods of change. This practice has become even more important during the uncertainty and instability related to COVID-19.
Tips for spiritual well-being
He has a powerful reason. Remind yourself regularly why these changes are important and your motivation to adapt. Write, draw and visualize the board your way and place it in a meaningful place in your home, on your phone or in your office.
Ask “what” instead of “why.” This may seem like a mindset shift from ‘why can’t I move on?’ or ‘why do I always get stuck at this point?’ to ‘what do I need to put into practice to take the next step?’
Learn your “bologna” coping patterns. These are the things you do when you are avoiding something. They could look like scrolling through social media, eating, exercising or having a conflict with a housemate. Not all Bologna survival tools are harmful at first, it’s the drift away from our values and goals that becomes problematic. Don’t feel guilty or start a cycle of negative self-talk. Look at your habits and return to a value you are working on to take a step forward.
Physical well-being:
Physical well-being involves making decisions to satisfy our bodies in a meaningful way that aligns with our values related to our physical health. Physical well-being balances all aspects of the physical self, including sleep, movement, nutrition, hygiene, relaxation, sexual health, management of illness and injury, and drug and alcohol use.
If we combine all the benefits of paying attention to our body’s wants and needs, we can improve our thinking, the way we feel in our body, and our mood. Balancing activities for all areas of well-being takes time, intentionality, and compassion.
Tips for physical well-being
Ignore prescriptive language that requires you to label or measure your activities. This may seem like letting go of what people tell you what you “should” or “must” do. Physical wellness will look different for everyone, so let go of preconceived notions!
Don’t wait for motivation to do something, do it when you think about it. Motivation can be difficult when it comes to physical activity, so try to hone and take advantage of your mindset when the opportunity presents itself.
Lastly, have fun, do what feels good, and don’t overdo it. Physical activity should be pleasant and make us feel good. Whether it’s for an evening walk or practicing jujutsu, find out what your interests are and follow them!
Intellectual Wellbeing
Intellectual well-being is the creativity and mental growth that we develop in school, but we choose about topics. In order to expand our knowledge and skills, cultivating intellectual well-being can feel like school, but overcoming these feelings and keeping in mind that you are in control of what you learn can keep those feelings at bay.
Intellectual well-being also helps stimulate creativity and curiosity, which helps us continue to interact more with the world around us. Curiosity helps us be open to new things and new experiences.
Tips for intellectual well-being
When curiosity attacks you, follow it. This can help develop a love of learning and the philosophy of “lifelong learning.” Knowledge is infinite, so take advantage of it when a new topic piques your interest.
Start goals with words like expand, create, develop, analyze, criticize, concentrate, understand, evaluate, problem solve, predict, comprehend, etc. This places learning and intellectual growth at the forefront of that goal.
Choose a hobby that is difficult for you at first. Learning doesn’t always have to be easy, but it is almost always rewarding. By challenging yourself, you will grow both intellectually and personally.
Social welfare
Social well-being refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others. This dimension involves building healthy, nurturing and supportive relationships, as well as fostering a genuine connection with yourself and those around you.
Social well-being is important to maintain harmony in all relationships, from acquaintances to close friends and immediate family. This dimension is essential to develop resilience in other dimensions, such as emotional well-being.
Tips for social well-being
Tune into your social interactions and be present in your social interactions. Consider questions like, “How do I feel when I engage in this interaction?”, “What are my personal values that this relationship supports?” or “What do you value in this relationship?” As you tune in, you will begin to gain perspective on how to maintain harmony, how to navigate conflict, and where to set boundaries.
Take time for yourself and your interests. Nurturing yourself is key to being able to socialize with others. Think about your aspirations for this dimension. Have you always wanted to be part of that committee or participate in that community activity but never have? Have you always wanted to start that routine or ritual with your friends or family? Maybe it’s time to put your intentionality into practice and finally commit.
Be creative. If you feel like you’re already tired or aren’t someone who needs a lot of social interaction, you can still nurture your social well-being in other ways. Maybe you spend time outdoors with a pet or your plants and socialize with the occasional greeting to a passing stranger. Think about ways to embark on this journey that fit your schedule and needs!
Emotional well-being
Emotional well-being is the process of recognizing, understanding and accepting our emotions. It involves the ability to stay in the present moment and effectively manage the changes and challenges that come our way.
Emotions are an important part of being human, allowing us to experience life in a meaningful way. When we choose to engage with our emotions, we can know ourselves better, learn a deeper understanding of why we feel this way, and decide how to move forward based on our values.
Tips for emotional well-being
Consciousness. Mindfulness is the practice of tuning into the present moment. This tool creates intentional space between a reaction and an action, allowing us more freedom to choose how we want to act.
Gratitude journal. A gratitude journal gives us a personal place to remember the good things in our lives. When we write down things we are grateful for, our brain releases the feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin. This improves our mood, helping us feel optimistic and experience more joy and pleasure.
Find a safe person with whom to share your emotions. Being transparent with a trusted person who will listen to what we are going through often helps us feel less alone in our experience. It is an opportunity to transform a bad feeling into a better one by risking being known, as well as fostering connection and support.
Interested in finding more ways to support your overall well-being? Enroll in one of our wellness classes or sign up for a wellness workout! You can get more information by following the link below.