19 Jul 2016 Tips to create a wellness balance

by Karl Lenser

“Without goals and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” — F. Dodson

When you define the major components of wellness, the main categories are physical, spiritual, social, mental/emotional and intellectual. In order to be considered a wellness-balanced individual, one should strive to intertwine these wellness components into a lifestyle on a daily basis. Although this is the ideal scenario for which to aim, not everyone is capable or interested in having this balance.

Some individuals may, for example, neglect their physical health, but are fortunate to have a vast social network of friends and are overall quite happy with their life. Another example might be someone who is very active and fit, but has no spiritual life and a minimal amount of friends.

Incorporating all components of wellness into your lifestyle takes a little practice and planning in addition to some goal setting. Motivation is the key in making some new healthy habits and sticking with them. Here are some wellness-based habits that will help you cover all five components of wellness:

Eat a healthy breakfast.

Goal: Physical wellness. This is the most important meal of the day and gets your body fueled. If time is a hurdle in eating breakfast, then set the alarm a few minutes earlier. Make a plan before going to bed so you know what you will have to eat in the morning. Taking in some complex carbohydrates with some protein is ideal.

Get moving.

Goal: Physical and social wellness. Go for a walk with a friend or neighbor or take a new group exercise class at your fitness center. Make it a point to meet a new person and expand your social network. Life is more fun with friends!

Show gratitude.

Goal: Social, mental and physical wellness. The simple act of saying “thank you” does wonders for your physical health and spirit. In addition, this is also a big plus for the social aspect of wellness as most people love to hear this simple expression and may be apt to converse with you even if they don’t know you that well.

Attend church services.

Goal: Spiritual and social wellness. Participating in church services is uplifting for your spirit and strengthens your relationship with God. In addition, getting involved in your church offers endless opportunities to meet others and boost your network of friends. If you can’t make it to church, pray and read the Bible or a devotional book.

Learn something new.

Goal: Intellectual wellness. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this goal is to look for a new word daily. A “Word of the Day” game can be very rewarding and stimulating. When you run across a word that you don’t know, write it down and keep a record of the words. Or, just find a dictionary and look for some new words.

Track your progress.

This covers all of your wellness goals. Whether working out, eating better or church-going, etc., keeping a record of your progress is powerful in helping you stay on track. Recording your daily efforts is rewarding, and it reinforces the positive energy that you produce when seeking ways to practice the five wellness components.

A Conway resident, Karl Lenser is the employee wellness coordinator at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. An accomplished runner, he can be reached at [email protected].