Emotional Wellness

Emotional Wellness has a significant impact on one's physical and mental health.  Emotional Wellness can also impact other Dimensions of Wellness as it generally refers to the ability to cope with life using healthy behaviors. Healthy coping skills are the foundation of effective, long-term emotional regulation.  

Emotional Wellness has many elements. It can include the ability to:

• Identify and understand emotions 🤔
• Communicate feelings to others effectively 🗣️
• Develop a sense of self-respect and self-esteem 🥰
• Manage stress appropriately 😎
• Maintain positive, fulfilling relationships 💏

Understanding and expressing your emotions is essential when building a toolkit of strategies for Emotional Wellness.  The ability to "read the room" is not something we are born with.  It is a learned skill that develops through practicing social interactions with others.  Cultivating self-awareness and an understanding of how your audience perceives you are skills that can be mastered through consistent participation in Toastmasters!  This has proven to be an effective strategy for me as I work toward becoming a better communicator.  My fellow club members provide constructive feedback, helping me to identify and correct poor habits while also recognizing and encouraging my strengths. 

It is important to note that feelings aren't "good" or "bad".  For example, we often associate "happiness" with positivity and "anger" with negativity.  Your feelings are actually internal cues about the status of your Emotional Wellness. Consider a time when you were driving and noticed your gas gauge was low.  Did you interpret that as a bad thing?  It is possible that your answer is "YES" if you had no money or were a long way from a gas station 😰 The more productive way to interpret a low gas gauge is to view it as a call to action.  The car is communicating, "If you do not replenish the gas tank, you might be walking to your destination soon."   

We can have this same mindset when we consider our emotions.  When you are happy, this is a signal that whatever is happening in this moment is contributing to optimal Emotional Wellness.  Whatever you are experiencing in that moment is something you may consider doing more often to keep your Emotional Gas Gauge full.  When you are angry, this is a signal that your Emotional Gas Gauge is low and needs to be addressed soon.  While being angry may not result in an unexpected walk to your destination, you may be in an undesirable predicament if something does not change.    

What are your practices regarding self-care, managing stress, and being mindful of your feelings?  Are those practices adding value to your overall well-being?  Do you have knowledge of or access to resources that can help you improve your Emotional Wellness?  Take some time to think about your answers to these questions.  This could be a great way to connect with a loved one by having a discussion about Emotional Wellness and brainstorm ideas together regarding best practices.

Physical Wellness

Physical Wellness is arguably the most recognized dimension of wellness. Many people often associate the term "wellness" with physical health. The physical body serves as the foundation for our thoughts, emotions, and actions. By actively nurturing your Physical Wellness, you set the stage for achieving balance across all dimensions of wellness.

Physical Wellness includes:

• Eating a healthy, balanced diet 🥗
• Getting adequate sleep 😴
• Engaging in physical movement or regular exercise 🏋🏽‍♀️
• Practicing personal hygiene 🛀🏽
• Responding proactively when health issues arise 🏥

Physical Wellness can be more complex than just eating healthy foods and exercising from time to time.  Individuals with genetic predispositions to certain health conditions may require more intensive interventions.  Those lifestyle adjustments could mean increased consultations with medical professionals, taking prescribed medications or even investing in specialized medical equipment.  Open communication about family health history is very important as you discuss concerns with your health provider.  It is also very important to inform your loved ones about potential health complications.  This empowers future generations to be on the lookout for specific symptoms and obtain testing for serious conditions such as cancer.  It also allows your community to support you in meaningful ways as needed.     

As you care for your body, it's important to recognize factors that may interfere with your physical health. Achieving this involves steering clear of situations and activities that place unnecessary strain on your body. These strategies can range from simple actions, such as consulting with a health coach, to more complex efforts, like seeking help to overcome substance addiction. Your body is priceless!  You show respect for your body by treating it well to ensure it lasts a long time.  Taking an active role in maintaining your physical health is vital for achieving optimal Physical Wellness.

Many of you who know me are already aware that I dedicate a significant amount of my free time to physical fitness.  Practicing yoga and weight training in my home gym has greatly contributed to improving my physical health. These activities not only keep my body strong and flexible but also help me relax and feel a sense of inner peace. Additionally, I enjoy running 5Ks and participating in group fitness classes. Similar to my involvement in Toastmasters, group fitness classes fulfill my need for social interaction and allow me to share meaningful experiences with others.

Are there any new strategies you're interested in exploring for your own physical wellness? Personally, I’d like to focus on being more consistent with my personal grooming. Spending more time on styling my hair and thoughtfully selecting outfits each day would boost my confidence and positively impact my daily routine. What about you?  I’d ❤️love ❤️ to hear your physical wellness strategies in the comments!

Occupational Wellness

 Now the moment you have all been waiting for...🥁

Occupational Wellness!

Occupational Wellness involves one's active pursuit to experience purpose and satisfaction at work.  A job should not exclusively be a means of surviving in a capitalist society.  The work you perform should be aligned with your personal values and interests.  

Some of the main components of Occupational Wellness include:

      ·       Exploring opportunities for growth and advancement
·       Effectively managing work related stress to avoid burnout
·       Doing work that is consistent with your values and beliefs
·       Communicating and collaborating with others
·       Having a sense of accomplishment at the end of the workday

 

Many of us spend the bulk of our waking hours preparing for work, engaging in work and decompressing from work.  It is important to have things to look forward to outside of work such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies and enjoying quality rest and relaxation. 

Achieving balance between work and leisure can contribute to optimal Occupational Wellness.  There are many ways to achieve this.  Many employers offer incentives to promote wellness of their workforce.  Such incentives may include:

·       Health screenings

·       Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

·       Volunteer opportunities

·       Flexible work hours and telework options

·       Career development resources

 

I consider my participation in All In The Family Toastmasters Club as a great example of how I achieve Occupational Wellness!  My employer pays my membership fees and in return, I am permitted to participate in club meetings during my workday.  This club has been beneficial to my growth in both communication and leadership skills.  These skills enhance other areas of my life; they are not exclusive to my job performance.  I have also formed relationships with club members that extend beyond the club environment.  I find this beneficial to meet my need for regular human contact and connection.   

Increasing Occupational Wellness can mean leaving a work environment that is unsatisfying to pursuit a different field.  As you work on your own strategies to achieve Occupational Wellness, I encourage you to put thought into how content you are with the work you currently do.  It is never too late to explore other opportunities of interest! 

It could also mean developing stronger skills in your current field of work.  If you love the work you do, seek opportunities for professional development to be recognized as an expert in your field.  Consider opportunities for promotion and mentorship so that you can offer guidance to others.  Even if those goals seem lofty now, keep in mind that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." - LaoTzu

Finding a sense of meaning from your occupation and feeling like an asset to your team brings you closer to building a life that inspires you to increase wellness in all dimensions of life.

What workplace incentives to you find most beneficial at your current place of employment?  Drop them in the comments so we can compare notes! 📝

Environmental Wellness

 The next dimension of wellness we will explore together is Environmental.

The concept of Environmental Wellness reflects how your surroundings contribute to your quality of life.   As with Intellectual Wellness, this can look very different for each individual since we all have various needs and desires.  Environmental Wellness includes some basic elements that apply to everyone, such as:

·       Living in a clean and safe neighborhood

·       Appreciating time outdoors in a natural setting

·       Creating home and work areas that are pleasant and stimulating

·       Practicing habits that promote "green living"

Noticing how your immediate environment impacts other areas of wellness would be a good place to start when developing an action plan for improved or sustained Environmental Wellness.  For example, I enjoy spending time outdoors on sunny days.  I find it invigorating and boosts my mood 9,000%.  However, I work in an office setting. 

To enhance my office setting, I place my desk near a window facing the sunny sky and tall trees.  I also have plants and flowers on my desk and a small fan to simulate a cool breeze.  This helps me to experience the outdoors when I cannot be outdoors.  

The impact your environment can have on your wellness is much more important than some may have previously considered.  Your surroundings impact your mood, employment options, relationships, access to healthy food and clean drinking water, access to quality health care and so much more!  For example: A person who (at the time of this writing) lives in Virginia, USA - regardless of race, class and gender - will rank their Environmental Wellness much higher than a person who lives in a country overwhelmed by war, famine, disease and/or poverty.  Some of us may not have a choice in where we can exist but for those of us who do enjoy that freedom, take advantage of it by making your environment suitable to your wellness goals.

Take a moment now to use the decision tree below to develop your plan! (TIP: click on the map to enlarge it)

Taking stock of Environmental Wellness means becoming aware of how your surroundings add to or detract from your well-being and taking steps to make positive changes.  It is not enough to merely notice or observe.  You must also do the work to make changes as needed to ensure your environment is having a positive impact on your wellness goals. 

What are your strategies to maintain optimal Environmental Wellness?  Please share what works for you in the comments as it may inspire someone else!

 

Intellectual Wellness

 The first dimension we will explore together is Intellectual Wellness.

What is the first thought that pops up in your mind when you consider Intellectual Wellness?  💭

When I consider Intellectual Wellness, I think of exercises for my brain that can benefit my thought process. 🏋🏼‍♀️ Keeping my brain stimulated ensures that my critical thinking skills are sharp.  This is especially important when I need to make quick decisions or respond to impromptu conversations.  (Table Topics anyone? 😬) 

Regular activities that encourage activity and expansion of our brains directly contribute to Intellectual Wellness.  What are some of your strategies to stay mentally sharp? 🤔

Some things I enjoy include reading books, training/coaching my peers and making small talk with others.  

As stated in my introduction, I despise reading when the content is too complex.  Give me a King James Bible or Shakespeare and I may incur a migraine. 🤯 Give me anything written by Stephen King or Daniel Black and I am in heaven!  I enjoy letting my mind become immersed in a story that helps me to imagine a world outside of my own.  It also helps to build my vocabulary and grammar.

I also enjoy opportunities to train my peers on work related functions and offer coaching on professional development.  When I learn something new and can teach what I have learned to others, I feel like a true master at my craft. 😎 It also gives me a sense of fulfillment when I can help others solve problems without giving them the answer. 🤝 Coaching is a great method to inspire critical thinking in others.  

Making small talk with random people is one of my favorite things to do! 🗣️ I enjoy being seen by others.  It is important to me that the people around me feel seen in a positive way.  I allow myself to learn about others and challenge my own perspective when I consider the viewpoints of others around me.   

As you consider your own Intellectual Wellness, I invite you to make a list of strategies that you currently have that work well for you.  To take it to the next level, I challenge you to set goals of the practices that you would like to implement in the future.  Maybe you have been dragging your feet about enrolling in higher education?  Or perhaps you are stalling at scheduling a date to deliver your next speech in your Toastmasters club? (Yeah, I am talking to you! 🫵)

Don’t delay!  Make time and commit to your Intellectual Wellness today!  A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Intro to the Dimensions of Wellness

Have you ever been physically ill when you pay your bills? 🤒  

Are you often restless when confined to your desk at work? 😰 

Perhaps you are conflicted about how your religious beliefs may interfere with your ability to connect with a new friend? 😒  

Do you experience symptoms of anxiety when delivering a speech in your Toastmasters club meeting? 😳

 If any of these examples resonate with you in some capacity, I would invite you to read further!

Hi! 👋 My name is Michelle and I will be your tour guide on one of my favorite topics to explore:             Wellness!  

 

Throughout my life, I have been highly invested in mental and physical health.  I regularly seek out professional advice and conduct my own research to ensure I maintain a sound mind and body.  While I do have a few tried and true methods, I am always open to learn innovative ways to maintain optimal health.  

In my journey to improved health and overall wellness, I came upon an amazing resource published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  It is a guide titled, "Creating a Healthier Life: A Step-by-Step Guide to Wellness".  I found this guide to be essential in my journey to achieve better health.  It was so helpful to me that I also found ways to share it with my colleagues, clients and even with my family and friends.  I have also incorporated it into a vision board curriculum that I developed.  

This wellness guide provides clear and concise definitions of all 8 dimensions of wellness.  There are also pages allotted for note taking and goal setting.  The topic of wellness in general can be overwhelming.  Much of the information I found in my journey was filled with complex jargon that was difficult to understand.  I knew that if I were to be successful in my endeavors, I would need to understand what I was doing and why I was doing it.  This guide is simple enough for a novice to understand.  

My favorite part of this guide is that it includes worksheets to list strategies that could be implemented in daily life.  I use the worksheets as a living document, updating them as needed. Building a repertoire of healthy habits is not an end goal but an ongoing process.  There are times when I find a specific strategy is no longer effective.  In those moments I can use the worksheets as a resource to consider other options.  

No matter where you are on your wellness journey, I encourage you to check out this guide and continue reading the subsequent blog posts.  I am certain you will find something within this content that will be valuable and useful.