 This week we’re talking about something that is a big stress factor for many of us. Something that is meant to support us through our lifetime, but something that many spend their lifetime trying to sort out. Something that was definitely NOT covered in school between math, history, and science. This week we’re combining the dimensions of occupational and financial wellness. Seems fitting to pin these two together as they often go hand-in-hand; however, each on its own can be quite daunting as well.
Occupational wellness, of course, has to do with your occupation – your work. It involves the compatibility of your talents, interests, and aspirations with your employment/career, and the satisfaction you feel toward this. Focusing on occupational wellness may inspire one to search for work that will provide personal satisfaction and enrichment toward life. It may inspire one to highlight the aspects of work that brings satisfaction and make the most of those. Developing occupational satisfaction and learning what you want out of your own occupation, can also lead to improved communication of your values and needs with current and future employers. Wellness in this dimension can involve developing effective job search strategies and skills such as interviewing; as well as understanding how a job may affect other aspects of life including family, spouse, recreational activities, and friends. After all, we spend a large portion of our lives at work! Now, of course it’s not that easy! Not as simple as ‘find what you love and make it your job’. Sometimes a job is needed simply for the sake of making ends meet! Especially now with unemployment skyrocketing, and work hours changing. But, even so, it’s important to reflect on the aspects of work you enjoy, and the aspects of work you loathe. It’s never all going to be rainbows and butterflies, but these things are important! If the ‘Rona has caused your hours to be cut, or your work life to be turned upside down, maybe it’s a good opportunity to reflect on what you truly want out of your occupation; and to make a move if you are able. If you’re currently working, but dread the sound of your alarm clock in the morning, maybe start each day saying ‘I get to work today’ vs. ‘I have to work today’ and find those aspects of your job that bring you satisfaction and gratification; they’re out there. Your dream job, a decent job, no job, or an okay job – they all have that dreaded counterpart… money. Financial wellness involves developing a satisfying ability for self-management and providing for the needs of yourself and your loved ones; and also, the ability to acquire and apply knowledge regarding financial matters (pretty sure I learned how to write a check in 4th grade??). As you all know, money plays a critical role in all of life; and not having enough is known to impact health. 78% of adults lose sleep worrying about everyday expenses, saving for retirement, and healthcare costs. We’ve already learned about the vicious cycle that sleep and stress live in. Money stress is often the top choice for life stressor across all generations, well ahead of issues with jobs, relationships, and health. So, what? Better get started on making more money then, huh? We know that’s not easy either. But financial wellness doesn’t necessarily equal more money. After all, mo’ money mo’ problems, am I right? It really comes down to managing money well. Which is much more than writing that check you learned about in 4th grade. It means keeping track of expenses, making a budget and sticking to it more often than not. It means not putting your finances off but making them a priority; and trying to address any financial problems before they start. Keep records of your finances and set budget goals. And (shout out to wellness!) balance your other dimensions, as they tie into your financial wellness by allowing you to work, to work hard, and to have a clear mind about what is realistic, necessary, or obtainable for you personally. Finances are not simple, and they’re hardly ever easy to manage; and we are by no means your resource for financial advice. However, being more aware of how your financial and occupational wellness dimensions influence your well-being and your livelihood (outside of being able to pay your bills and have a little fun) is important. This will allow you more clarity in making financial and occupation decisions, as well understanding what is important for you not only now, but through the seasons of life. Next week will be our final week of this wellness series! We’ll be finishing off with the physical dimension of wellness. Something we’re knee deep in every day as physical therapists. This dimension was chosen as our last to cover because as the other dimensions change – for better or for worse – the ramifications often manifest physically. So, stay tuned, and keep your eyes peeled! We’d love for you to join in as we wrap this series up! If you’ve followed along for this entire series, THANK YOU. We very much appreciate it and hope that we’ve provided some helpful information! Cheers, Elle and Taylor References
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 We’re about halfway through our wellness series, and after the social, emotional, spiritual, and environmental dimensions, we’re transitioning toward something that may be a bit more tangible. These Corona times are changing many aspects of life including time spent with friends/family, ability to work, or working from home, and the environments that surround us. It may also be providing us with opportunities for new hobbies, career endeavors, and free time.
Intellectual wellness encourages us to engage in creative and mentally stimulating activities; and allows for expanding knowledge and skills, as well as the ability to share these with others. Developing your intellectual wellness can support your own personal resources that work together with the other dimensions of wellness in order to obtain a more balanced life. This realm of wellness can be supported through academics, cultural involvement, community involvement, and personal habits. Both during these times, and always, it’s important to explore new ideas and understandings in order to become more mindful and well-rounded. Working on your intellectual wellness encourages learning, curiosity, and inspires exploration. Being curious about the world and your surroundings provides motivation for trying new things and helps you to understand how you see the relationship between yourself, others, and your environment. Aside from some of the behaviors intellectual wellness may affect, it’s also known that engaging in stimulating activities can strengthen the neural network in the brain. This can make the brain more resistant to things like dementia and Alzheimer’s over time. It’s even thought that cognitive decline can be prevented, slowed, or possibly reversed in older adults who partake in creative and cognitively challenging activities. So, some things you can do to support your intellectual wellness while spending more time at home (and to help with some of that boredom or cabin fever) could be reading, learning a new language, playing a game or doing a puzzle, journaling, playing music, or taking up a new hobby. We’ve probably all done or seen some ‘quarantine home projects’ that have stretched skills and intellect! It’s also important to be open-minded so that you can better learn about things around you. Maybe try to learn more about a common debate topic, but from the stance you may not agree with. Try to delve into a culture you’re interested in by cooking its food, reading about it, or learning its language; maybe even plan a future trip to wherever this might be! While stretching your brain, many of these activities can also help with stress management and effective coping; as well as providing a sense of meaning and purpose (sounds familiar, right?). Challenging your intellect can be uncomfortable, frustrating, and perhaps discouraging at times. Trying new things is hard! (just ask Taylor about me trying to get better at chess). But it’s always an accomplishment to learn something new, and you likely feel better after a stimulating activity (and sleep better too!). We know there are direct benefits of expanding your knowledge and understandings – working on those brain folds! We also know that there are indirect effects on wellness through the other dimensions (emotional, social, spiritual, environmental). So why not give it a shot! Spend some of your extra time doing something new, or maybe not new; but something that challenges your brain, your beliefs, or your current view of the world (without giving yourself an ulcer, of course). We’re on the tail end of this wellness series, so we want to give another ‘thanks’ for hanging out! We’ve got some exciting ideas for where we want to go after this series, so be sure to keep following! Next week we’ll be combining the two dimensions of occupational and financial; both of which might be the culprits for many of our stresses and concerns right now! Cheers, Elle and Taylor References  As we continue with our wellness series, we’ll be seeing once more how connected these dimensions are and how fluid our wellness can be because of this. The already covered dimensions include social, spiritual, and emotional. We hope you learned how these work together to allow a greater sense of meaning, ability to cope with life’s stresses, and to support you in living a healthy lifestyle!
This week we are discussing the environmental dimension of wellness, which refers to both social and natural surroundings. It also relates to a feeling of responsibility for your environment and the health of the Earth. During the time of COVID, you are likely spending more time at home, which creates an increased importance for your home environment and the impact it has on your wellness. Is it chaotic, or organized? Does it feel safe? Is it a place where you feel you can relax/unwind? How do you pass your time at home, and does this support you the way you want? Having a home that is free of clutter or disorganization, and one that feels safe, can lead to healthier habits, increased sense of responsibility, and can carry-over into other aspects of life. Surrounding oneself with an environment that is comforting, supportive, and close to those you love is important for enhancing the emotional and social dimensions of wellness. Meanwhile, making responsible choices and understanding how daily actions can impact the Earth, often can create a sense of belonging or purpose – and being a part of something bigger than just yourself. In addition to the immediate environment, the environment outside the home is completely different as well, right? Staying six feet apart, wearing masks, being unable to interact with people and our environments as we’re used to. This change can take a toll on our emotions and ability to socialize; maybe even more-so as places of business begin to re-open in some way or another. Some other things to consider include whether or not your social environment aligns with your values, and if you feel supported by those in your circle. With summer being near, one blessing-in-disguise of the ‘rona may be that we’re spending more time outside! This can create huge benefits in our health and wellbeing. The natural environment has a large impact on wellness and physical health. Being close to nature can improve blood pressure and decrease stress. It also enhances emotional-wellbeing and alleviates feelings of social isolation. And we discussed in our spiritual QuickRead how connecting to nature can help develop a feeling of belonging. So, as this pandemic is providing more time at home and a change in your environment, think about taking this opportunity to reflect on your environment and enhance it as you see fit. Naval Admiral William McRaven says “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.” Although you may not be changing the world just yet, something like this can kickstart your day with an accomplished task that can snowball into greater productivity. If you’re a WFH employee who is struggling to maintain a productive day, try making your bed each morning and maintaining a clean and organized work environment. If you have the option, spend some working hours outside and be mindful of your natural surroundings. Something Taylor and I make a priority is our backyard! Planting flowers, hanging hummingbird feeders, and creating a space where we can relax and feel comfortable; a space where we can bring a bit of nature to us, to enjoy daily. These small changes to your environment can have drastic impacts on your stress levels, feelings of security and comfort, and feeling of belonging and responsibility. And to think bigger, taking a responsibility for your actions toward Earth can lend even greater support toward your sense of belonging and purpose. Recycling as you’re able, conserving water, esp. in drought-common areas, and responsibly using electricity are some relatively simple steps you can take toward a more positive impact on Earth. If you’re unsure where to start, or are interested in making environmentally friendly changes, turning to community resources regarding recycling and responsible waste is a good first move! A couple simple changes Taylor and I have made include recycling more consciously, and using reusable grocery and produce bags at the store! Our environments are ever changing - Coronavirus or not – and they have really felt the wrath of ‘rona recently. Understanding what you value in your immediate environment, and how you impact your larger environment, is important for leading a healthy life for which you feel responsible. This understanding can help you in maintaining a supportive environment regardless of what this world throws atchya! Thanks again, for hanging with us these last 5 weeks; we hope we can keep your company! Check it out next week as we challenge our own minds by diving into the Intellectual Dimension of wellness! Cheers, Elle and Taylor References  So far in our wellness series, we’ve discussed the social and spiritual dimensions. These two interact closely with one another. Our social connections often support our spiritual health by providing us with a feeling of belonging and purpose. Both individually, and combined, they can affect our overall health by influencing our behaviors, actions, and physical being. If you didn’t get to read these QuickReads, you can still catch them on our website!
These two dimensions also closely interact with this week’s featured dimension… emotional. Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully cope with life’s stresses, understand them, and react appropriately. During the times of COVID-19, life’s stresses are popping up left and right, and in all sorts of shapes and forms… like you haven’t noticed. These negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, depression, and anger can actually be related to various diseases including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and even things like the common cold; mostly in the long term, of course. Negative emotions can weaken our immune systems by creating a chronic build up of stress hormones, negatively affecting our sleep, and likely changing our diet and exercise habits. On the flip side, positive emotions appear to promote health related to hormone production and immune function. They can also lead to improved life outlook, optimism, and healthier life habits. Alright, so it sounds like we just need to avoid all negative emotions, right?? Of course, this isn’t possible, and suppressing emotions has actually been found to cause things like increased blood pressure, poor behaviors such as substance abuse, and mental health difficulties such as panic disorder. And again, on the contrary, disclosing our emotions to those we trust (through our SOCIAL DIMENSION) can provide better adjustments to emotional situations and lead to improved immune function, improved mental health, and improved perception of health. Aside from the physical implications, emotional wellness inspires self-care, relaxation, and the development of inner strength. This can lead to better autonomy, and proper decision-making skills; as well as feeling your life has become better balanced, with a developed sense of awareness and strong social connections – AKA social and spiritual wellness. During these times, when you’re likely feeling a million different emotions that change on the daily, it’s ultra-important to be able to understand and properly respond. Some strategies that may help to support your emotional wellness include:
If you feel stress is your biggest emotion right now, you may want to focus on things to boost your resilience:
If sleep seems to be an issue:
And finally, be mindful and completely aware of what’s happening in the present:
For many, and especially in the American culture, coping with our emotions can be tough. And when something is difficult or uncomfortable, it may be easier to avoid it all together. However, having poor emotional health can be harmful to our wellness, as we hope you’ve learned here! If you’re feeling like the Corona Pandemic has taken a toll on your emotions (you’re not alone) then maybe give the above strategies a try! And even if you feel you cope with your emotions well, it never hurts to tune in and take a close look at how you’re doing! As always, thank you for accompanying us as we tackle the eight dimensions of wellness! Please share with those who matter most to you and subscribe if you haven’t already! Looking forward to next week as we talk Environmental Wellness! Cheers, Elle and Taylor  It wasn’t until recently that spiritual health was considered an important component of wellness. Probably because it’s so dang hard for us to understand, and that there are so many different definitions of spirituality. Some say it’s our ability to “deal with day-to-day life in a manner which leads to the realization of one’s full potential; meaning and purpose in life; and happiness from within.” Others say it’s “one’s sense of purpose, life’s meaning, our relationship to other people and a self-awareness to these things.” Looks like we’re seeing a common theme – ‘meaning and purpose in life’. WHOA. Does anyone know their meaning and purpose in life? That’s the ultimate question, isn’t it?
Some of you might be saying, ‘yeah, I know why I’m here and what I’m meant to be doing.’ Many of you might be like, ‘I have no flipping clue what my purpose is.’ And that’s okay. Reading this won’t likely bring you closer to figuring it out. But we hope to shed some light on how to be spiritually healthy! Personally, we feel that our purpose and meaning might be ever evolving with our lives and adapting to our current circumstances; and even then, it’s different for every one of us. For many, their spiritual life comes from their faith, their religion, and their belief in a Higher Power. For others, it comes from their connection with nature, with other human beings, through serving others, or from living a life true to their beliefs and moral values. And I’m sure you’ve heard more than one person say their family is their purpose. Whatever it may be, we do know that having some level of spiritual belonging supports not only our physical health, but our overall wellbeing. It’s been found that positive beliefs, comfort, and strength gained from religion, meditation, or prayer can contribute to wellbeing and support healing. Having a strong spiritual connection may improve stress control by offering better coping mechanisms, richer social support, and the strength of personal values and worldview (this stress thing keeps popping up every week, doesn’t it?). People who identify with a spiritual belonging have a more positive outlook and improved quality of life. And if you’re one who enjoys meditation, 10-20min of meditation daily has been shown to decrease heart rate and blood pressure, leading to decreased anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain. It may be that we don’t have one specific purpose in life, and that we never truly understand the meaning of life. Even so, identifying the things in our lives that give us a sense of peace, comfort, strength, love, and connection brings us closer to our spiritual selves and supports this dimension of wellness. In a world where we have daily objectives to meet, societal standards to uphold, and seemingly never-ending to-do lists, the pressure and anxiety can build up quickly. Being spiritually healthy allows us to step back from this hustle and bustle. To realize that the to-do lists, the business meetings, and the deadlines really don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things; because we have an intimate feeling of belonging to a purpose bigger than ourselves – whatever that may be. For many, this aspect of wellness may be a bit intimidating, or perhaps uncomfortable. Even so, this global pandemic is providing us the extra time or motivation to give a little TLC to our spiritual being. We may have more time now than ever before to do the things that help us spiritually on a daily basis. These might be providing community service or volunteer work, praying, meditating, singing or playing music. It might be reading, taking nature walks, having quiet time, doing yoga, playing a sport, or attending (virtual) religious services. It’s not a coincidence that what supports us spiritually is also what we find joy in doing! So, allow yourself some time every day to enjoy the activities that bring you peace and comfort. If you know what those are, great! If you’re still trying to figure that out, awesome! Whatever you do, stick with it; and reflect on how it makes you feel – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Again, we thank you for following along during our Eight Dimensions of Wellness series; and we hope you are gaining useful knowledge! Please let us know your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Stay tuned next week as we delve into our reading on the Emotional Dimension: Coming to terms with it all. Cheers, Elle and Taylor References |
AuthorElle Morgan, PT, DPT Archives
February 2023
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