A wellness plan is geared toward achieving overall health in all facets of your life. It’s a multi-dimensional look at your well-being. Wellness is defined by Merriam-Webster as the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal (lifestyles that promote wellness). A wellness plan takes into consideration your mental, physical, spiritual, financial, professional, intellectual, and environmental health.
When creating a plan for your health, you will need to assess each area of your life to determine what your goals are. Asking yourself a few key questions can help you discover opportunities for an improved quality of life and create goals accordingly.
Physical health includes your medical wellness, your fitness levels, your sleeping patterns, and your recreational activities.
What are your fitness goals?
Are you at a healthy weight?
Do you smoke, drink to excess, or take recreational drugs?
Do you get adequate amounts of sleep?
Nutritional health questions to take into consideration.
Do your nutritional habits support your lifestyle?
Do you eat plenty of whole foods, vegetables, and fruits?
Do you drink enough water?
Mental wellness includes how you deal with stress and how you manage your emotions.
What emotions do you feel most often and how do you cope with them?
Are you able to let little things go or do you dwell on them?
Do you feel overwhelmed by occurrences in your life?
Spiritual wellness is less about religion and more about having values and beliefs that provide a purpose for your life and your place in the world.
Are you able to spend reflective time alone?
Do you feel fulfilled in your life?
Can you find comfort and meaning in your daily life?
Emotional wellness means you are attentive to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as well as to the feeling of those around you.
Are you accepting of your feelings and able to remain positive, despite life’s sometimes unpleasant moments?
How is your self-esteem?
Do you have healthy relationships and friendships?
Intellectual wellness is the practice of engaging in creating and mentally stimulating activities. It includes analytical thinking, learning, and problem-solving.
Are you frequently bored?
Do you have creative hobbies?
Are you able to see all sides of an issue?
How are your time management skills?
Professional health is having a career that satisfies and engages you. It’s having a positive attitude towards your job.
Do you feel fulfilled by your career?
Do you feel appreciated at work and well-compensated?
Are you confident in your abilities to do your job and mentally stimulated by your work?
Financial wellness is your financial stability.
Are you living within your budget?
Are you able to build up a nest egg for your future?
Are your student loans and credit card debt manageable?
Environmental wellness is respect for and being in harmony with your environment, including your personal space, community, and the planet.
Do you spend enough time in nature getting adequate sunshine and air?
Are your surroundings tidy and comfortable?
Do you make a conscious effort to save energy, reuse, and recycle?
Do you participate in community affairs?
Now that you have asked and answered these questions, it’s time to decide what goals you would like to establish. Keep them achievable and realistic and make both short term and long term goals.
As a doctor of chiropractic, I specialize in helping patients create a wellness plan for their health. Together, we can assess where you are today, and where you should be to reap the benefits of good health. Chiropractic care ensures that the spine is in alignment, causing no interference with the body's natural abilities to function optimally. If you're interested in learning more, call us for a consultation.
Excerpts from: Eat Smart