Invest In Your Physical Wellness
Many of us are already aware of the benefits of a regular exercise program. Research has shown that exercise makes us feel better about ourselves, and can reduce our feelings of depression and anxiety. However, physical wellness is about more than just exercise. Many of us are out of touch with the signals our bodies are sending to us on a daily basis. For example, we might forget to eat until we have a headache, or don’t realize how exhausted we are until someone remarks that we look tired. Learning to pay attention to our body’s needs is an important skill for physical wellness. Learn to check in with your body at regular intervals throughout the day. Ask yourself, am I hungry? Am I tired? Do I feel stiff or tense? Try to learn the language of your body, and begin to takes it’s messages seriously
Recover A Sense Of Power
Our mental health is dependent upon us having a sense of control over our lives. We feel powerless when we have a lack of control in one of our primary security areas such as; our spouse or partner; our job or career; our body or health; our parents or children; or our home. By identifying situations in which we feel powerlessness we can begin to develop strategies for reclaiming power. To reclaim our power we must begin to see choices. To find choices in a situation in which we feel powerless is a sure way to regain our feeling of confidence. Identifying even one choice enables us to feel some measure of control. And remember there is always a realm of experience over which we have full control – our own inner attitude.
Relax. Relax. Relax.
Just as modern research has demonstrated the many negative effects of stress, so too has it demonstrated the existence of a natural healing mechanism called the Relaxation Response. The Relaxation Response is a naturally occurring physiological and biochemical reaction our body creates under conditions of deep relaxation. This natural mechanism has been shown to counteract the physical and mental effects of stress. Any meditation or exercise that is deeply relaxing will elicit this natural response in our bodies. The important thing is to make relaxation a part of our daily routine. Taking the time to relax deeply every day even for a few minutes will give you all the healing benefits of your body’s natural defense against stress. Pick a time that works best for you, according to the unique demands of your schedule, and then STICK WITH IT! You will find yourself looking forward to your little mini-mental vacations, and you may soon find yourself wondering how you ever got by without them.
Adopt A Wellness Lifestyle
A Wellness Lifestyle aims to bring Balance to all the areas of life that are important to you; your career, your family, you, etc. Bringing balance to an unbalanced life can by itself greatly reduce your level of stress. The more time we spend every day doing the things that matter most to us, the less stress we have in our lives. Take a minute and make a short list of ten activities that are the most meaningful, fun, and important to you. Now make a list of the top ten most time-consuming activities in your life. Compare your lists. What conclusions can you draw? What adjustments can you make to increase the amount of time you spend doing things that are fun and meaningful?
