I wanted to create a blog post that would help keep us reaching towards our goals during the quarantine. Right now, we have more time on our hands than we are used to making it important to stay disciplined. I believe if we can stay disciplined right now, in these present times, we are going to achieve new levels of wellness across all categories.

The rest of this blog is going to give simple tips to improving your wellness in all aspects. We strive to become the best version of ourselves, but that can be tricky when it comes to wellness. Here are some simple ways to improve your wellness from the inside out.

1. Eat food with simple ingredients and that is less processed. Choose fresh produce foods that don’t have an ingredient label (or have recognizable, pronounceable whole foods as ingredients).
2. Disconnect and unfollow. Unplugging from technology allows us to think quietly. Social media also creates unrealistic expectations of reality. Another tip is to unfollow accounts that bring no positive attributes into your life (scrolling through accounts can waste time).
3. Journal. Journaling can be useful in many ways. You can journal to organize thoughts, write how you are feeling, and for task-oriented planning (or a schedule/calendar works for this too).

Here are some other fun goals I incorporate into my lifestyle to improve and expand my overall wellness. You can find many more of daily goals to improving your wellness, but I found these to be most helpful and most fun.

To start, one simple daily task that can easily be incorporated is staying hydrated! Check out hydrations benefits here: https://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/6-benefits-of-staying-hydrated/

Another behavior to develop in your daily routine is to keep active! Physical activity carries many benefits throughout all aspects of our wellness. My pops once told me something that has stuck with me throughout life,” Our bodies are like a machine…they need to be ‘run’ so they don’t go idle, properly fueled to function well, and rested so it doesn’t burnout from exhaustion.” For more information on benefits, go to: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389

Hello, my name is Dana Hockbein and I am this week’s guest blogger! If you would like to learn more about traveling on a budget feel free to head over to: uww.blogs.edu/traveling/

There are many benefits to your personal wellness if you chose to travel.

Mental Wellness:

Mental wellness is very important, it affects how we think, feel and act. Sometimes (or most of the time) we are so stressed out, with either work, school, or other responsibilities. Taking a trip out of the workplace or school setting will enhance your creativity and benefit your overall work production. Additionally, traveling can help with stress relief and boost your happiness.

Physical Wellness:

Physical wellness is also very important! Travel decreases the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Not to mention all that walking you will be doing. For more information head on over to: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/wellness/5-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-traveling-abroad-n759631

I remember a time when I wished I was in better physical shape.

I was in Paris, France visiting the Eiffel Tower. You have to pay to use the elevator and there is usually a very long line to wait in. I thought I was in shape enough to climb all of the 1,710 steps which is around 108 stories up.

I was very, very wrong.

I made it to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, but I was already exhausted from the 328 step climb to go any further. The view was amazing from the first floor, but I can only imagine what it looked like from the top.

I will be back one day to conquer all of the steps!

Spiritual Wellness:

Lastly, spiritual wellness is prevalent in traveling. Going to unfamiliar places and creating new experiences will open your mind up. You will be able to see the world from a different perspective from your own. Traveling shows us that we are all pretty small on this large planet. Every time I go somewhere I get that feeling. Traveling is very important in helping to diminish xenophobia and racism.

I cannot stress this enough PLEASE GO OUT AND TRAVEL! It does not need to be some life altering event and you do not have to travel across the pond unless you want to, but go to an unfamiliar place for a little while. I guarantee you will learn a thing or two.  

Spirituality is often times looked at as over-rated in todays culture leading many to have a mis-conception of what spirituality wellness really is.

“The spiritual dimension is your center, your commitment to your value system. It draws upon the sources that inspire and uplift you and tie you to timeless truths of humanity.”

Stephen Covey

To begin understanding spirituality, lets look at the word “spiritual” referring to one’s innermost core detentions such as having a sense self, where you came from, where you’re heading and how you might get there.

Spirituality takes on many different meanings. For some it means traditional religious values as for others it means the quality of personal relationship (including yourself) or love for nature. Finding meaning and purpose in life is important for reaching towards your wellness goals.

Healthy Spiritual Wellness: Behaviors associated to those with healthy spiritual wellness include volunteerism, social responsibility, optimism, contributing to society, connectedness with others, feeling of belonging/being part of a group, and love of self/reason to care for self.

Other signs include a positive outlook on life, acceptance of death, forgiveness, self-acceptance, commitment, meaning and purpose, clear values, sense of worth, peace, worship, prayer, and meditation.

Spiritual Atrophy: Behaviors associated with poor spiritual health include emptiness, anxiety, loss of meaning, self-judgement, self condemnation, apathy, conflicting values, and irritation.

Here are some helpful tips to improving and becoming more aware of your spiritual health.

• Be Quiet. Set aside time to be still and quiet. Our spiritual truths come from a quiet voice within.
• Be open to the spiritual. Look at the spiritual side of events such as gardening or talking a walk in nature.
• Be inquisitive and curious. Keeping an active searching mind increases your spiritual centering. Trying a silent retreat may renew your optimism and enthusiasm. Meditation and yoga may provide that same effect too.
• Be receptive to pain and grief. Life without pain leads to a shallow existence. Pain explores the widest part of our being.
• Be playful. Being playful breeds spontaneity enthusiasm and celebration. This is found listening to music, dancing, playing, laughing singing and much more.

For more information you can visit: https://studentwellness.uni.edu/spirituality