Just as grass needs water
whether it is green or brown,
you need self-care
whether you are well or not.
A healthy lifestyle mentally, physically, and emotionally helps you maintain balance and more effectively handle the effects of stress at work and home. Self-care isn’t selfish, it is essential to be present for the people and things we care about. Pursuing a career that you are passionate about can help you maintain that balance with your overall wellness just as finding healthy relationships. No job or relationship is perfect, but overcoming the challenges of a career or partner/friend you love is far better than dealing with problems in a job or relationship you hate.
There are several theories regarding wellness, from the mind-body-spirit approach to multiple areas of wellness including mental, emotional, occupational, intellectual, social, physical, and spiritual well-being. The tips below are some of the things my clients or I find helpful to well-being. They may provide a catalyst to start you thinking about the ways in which you can maintain your wellness. What are other ways that can enhance your self-care to experience more of a life you love?
Wellness Tips
Maintaining wellness takes time and effort. In this fast-paced world, where technology is supposed to make things simpler, it seems that we have less time for ourselves. To create a healthy balance for the mind, body, and spirit, here are a few general wellness tips:
Tips for the Mind
A positive attitude doesn’t solve all of life’s problems, but it can help you find opportunities in a challenge. Focusing on creating good mental and emotional health can lead to improved physical and spiritual health as well.
- Know Your Limits
- Counseling
- Self-Hypnosis
- Positive Attitude
- Journaling
- Music / Books
- Laughter
- Social Support
- Companionship
- Vacation / Relaxation Time
- Satisfying Work or Hobbies
- Intellectual Growth & Challenge
Tips for the Body
Maintaining a healthy body can help improve our mindset and spirit. Have you ever had a bad attitude because you had a sore throat or didn’t get enough sleep? Keeping your body healthy takes time and effort, but it is well worth it. From simple hygiene and vitamins to exercising daily, taking care of our physical health can lead to a more comfortable and longer life.
- Proper Sleep
- Healthy Diet
- Vitamins & Supplements
- Good Hygiene
- Dental Care
- Aerobic Activity
- Strength Training
- Yoga / Pilates / Tai Chi
- Biofeedback
- Massage
- Aromatherapy
- Acupuncture & Acupressure
Tips for the Spirit
Spirit well-being can come in many forms and varies for each person. It can include simply being in nature and appreciating art; finding passion and meaning through activities, or connecting with a higher power through meditation or prayer. Learning what is important to maintaining your spiritual well-being and then taking action to incorporate those steps into your daily life can be instrumental in your daily wellness.
- Connect with Purpose
- Giving to Others
- Time in Nature
- Awe & Wonder
- Dreamwork
- Music, Dance & Art
- Experience or Give Love
- Relaxation
- Meditation / Centering
- Prayer / Worship
- Learn about Other Religions (Beliefnet)
- Spiritual Movies
Assess your Wellness
Below are online assessments/worksheets to discover how well you handle stress and maintain balance. They can guide your thinking and help determine areas that need improvement.
- Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-Wel) – an evidence-based wellness assessment measuring overall wellness and 17 discrete subscales based on the Indivisible Self: An Evidence-based Model of Wellness (Myers & Sweeney, 2005).
- Professional Life Stress Scale – This guide helps you take a closer look at the way you perceive and handle stress (Fontanta, 1989).
Additional Wellness Resources
- Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) – View presentations, campaigns, reports and case studies on issues regarding health and wellness.
- American Institute of Stress: Information on stress reduction, stress in the workplace, and effects of stress, America’s #1 healthy problem.
- Institute for Natural Medicine – A resource for reliable information about naturopathic medicine and natural health care.
- Wellness.com – A variety of articles and information on wellness.