Contents:
#1 Wellness PDF
#2 Wellness Lifestyle Guidelines PDF
#3 Wellness Levels PDF
#4 Wellness Self-Assessment PDF
#5 Support Team PDF
#1 Wellness
Wellness is a way of life through which you can achieve your highest potential for well-being. Being well is a dynamic process which involves the awareness that health and happiness are possible in each moment. Everything you do affects your health in a positive or negative manner. Wellness is a choice – a decision to move towards optimal health.
In the early 1900s, the most common killers were infectious diseases like typhoid fever, smallpox and cholera. Today our health is largely a result of the choices we make. Most illnesses and injuries are preventable. It take less time, energy and money to stay well than to get well. We choose how we will live and, frequently, how we will die.
Wellness is the integration of body, mind and spirit.
Your health is a reflection of your self-esteem. The better you feel about yourself the better you will take care of yourself. The heart and soul of a wellness lifestyle are the beliefs: “I deserve to be healthy and I am responsible for my health”. Each person must find his/her own path to wellness. The path to health and happiness is a life long journey, make it enjoyable!
#2 Wellness Lifestyle Guidelines
Develop a deep respect for who you are.
Lovingly accept your health and your illnesses.
Seek out support for your wellness lifestyle from friends and family.
Expect more from life than the absence of illness.
Take responsibility for your health.
Challenge what you believe you are capable of now.
Take a risk – stretch you limits.
Integrate your beliefs into all aspects of life.
Search for the highest level of wellness within your capabilities.
Reward yourself for effort rather than solely for success.
Remind yourself to begin in the present regardless of your current state of health.
Make the commitment to nurture your health.
Foster a deep respect for who you are.
Accept both your strengths and illness.
Spend time daily reflecting on what is important to you.
Remember there are no instant solutions.
#3 Wellness Levels
Wellness
Health becomes a way of life. Integrating body, mind and spirit.
Life is balanced; self-esteem is high. Best possible chance of survival.
Good health
Having a strong will to live. Continually learning and growing.
Managing stress effectively to maintain high level of daily success
Action
Implementing your plan for improving quality of life.
Acting with purpose, direction and vision.
Self-motivation
Taking responsibility for own health. Building support for healthy lifestyle changes.
Identifying goals, creating plan, planning rewards.
Skills
Acquiring information to improve life. Building the tools for change.
Taking classes, seeking new interests, developing self-help skills.
Awareness
Wanting a healthier life. Health becomes a priority.
Reading books, assessing skills, identifying role models; moving toward prevention.
Neutral
No discernible symptoms. Health can go either way.
Low to moderate risk behavior, little investment in health and happiness.
High Risk Behavior
Low self-concept and expectations. Low stress management skills.
Lack of exercise, poor nutrition, substance abuse, reckless habits.
Distress
Break down due to unhealthy habits. Career or family problems likely.
Low quality of life, weak will to live and self-destructive addictions.
Illness & Injury
Chronic disability. Possible heart trouble, cancer, eating disorders; life out of balance.
Premature death possible as a result of lifestyle choices.
#4 Wellness Self-Assessment
There are 10 dimensions of wellness. Each is a stepping stone on the path to greater health.
There are tools to measure temperature and blood pressure accurately. We need to know when these indicators are rising, falling or staying the same. The Wellness Self-Assessment is a good subjective measurement of your level of wellness.
In order to be strong you must know your weaknesses.
Since change comes in small increments, the rating scale is from a low of 1 to a high of 10. A score of 10 means you have achieved a high level of mastery. The number you assign is an estimate of where you are at this point in time.
Date this assessment and repeat in the future to examine your progress.
This is not a test. It is your assessment of your current awareness and skill level. This is a picture of your present lifestyle.
The evaluation will help you see which elements of your wellness you are strong in and which areas you need improvement. The intention is to assist you in identifying the areas you are ready to improve.
The Action Plan section will provide you with ideas on how to be successful in accomplishing your wellness goals.
The Motivation Levels section will offer insights about your readiness to change.
Emotional
Environmental
Financial
Medical
Mental
Nutritional
Occupational
Physical
Social
Spiritual
#5 Support Team
Crate team of people to encourage and guide you toward accomplishing your goals. Research has consistently proven that belonging to a team will support long-lasting behavioral changes. Your team may consist of: family members, friends, coworkers, health care professionals and counselors. Team members provide encouragement when motivation is low and join with you to celebrate the highs of success.
Your teams can be formed around common interests and group action plans. A group of players who are committed to walking regularly may want to create a walking club. Your team can attend classes together and create special events. Grouping together will make it more fun, social and rewarding. Certain individuals are so self-motivated that they can accomplish their goals entirely on their own. Most of us, however, are more likely to succeed with mutual support. Your support team will help to generate a sense of belonging.
Small steady steps to success:
1. complete the Wellness Assessment to identify the areas you want to improve
2. develop your Action Plan
3. assemble your team
4. volunteer your talents to support others
Any successful person will tell you they had help in attaining goals. For many people asking for support is challenging. One person reported, “I was surprised by how willing people were to help me. If I had known, this I would have started asking sooner!”
Individual Support Options:
* Buddy System – You help me and I will help you, becoming mutual mentors.
* Role Model – Select a good role model in the area you wish to improve.
* Wellness Coach – Choose a professional to assist you with your Action Plan.