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Social Wellness

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What Is Social Wellness? Social wellness is all about having healthy relationships and positive connections with those around us and encompasses how we interact with others. Social wellness involves building a supportive network of friends and also relates to how comfortably we can adapt to changing social situations. It is incredibly crucial to have social wellness as those with strong and genuine connections are more likely to live longer, feel less stressed, and overall, lead happier, healthier lives!

Did you know…

  • Having close friends is associated with higher levels of immunoglobulin which can help fight respiratory infections and cavities!
  • A hug a day keeps the doctor away! For most people, physical affection is linked to improvements in mental and physical health
  • Social wellness helps enable healthy boundary-making and enforcing skills, which is crucial for creating relationships in which you feel cared for, safe, and respected.

Check out these awesome ways to foster social wellness:

1. Keeping in touch with supportive friends and family! It is important to show your loved ones that you appreciate them by spending time with them! Grab dinner together, give them a hug, etc. Show them you care!

2. Joining and engaging in clubs and organizations! Clubs are a great way to find friends that have similar interests as you!

3. Practice active listening! Although it may be tempting to talk more about yourself, it is important to listen to what your friend has to say. Engaging in conversations, listening, and understanding are key to developing a strong and genuine relationship.

4. Practice self-care! It is also important to love and respect yourself. Loving yourself can also help you attract good and supportive people!

What the students had to say: To gather opinions and information for this article, we collected responses regarding social wellness from local high school seniors. When asked about traits they looked for in a good friend, the most common answers included trustworthy, positive, open-minded, kind, and ones that shared a similar interest/mentality. None of the students were in any other community programs, such as clubs or sports teams, but regarding their support system, the most common response was a family member, followed by a best friend or friends, and then a current or ex-significant other. The students expressed that they show care and improve upon their social wellness by being there for those they appreciate!

Contributors: Health & Wellness 2nd PD

Resources:

https://www.nih.gov/health-information/social-wellness-toolkit

https://www.unomaha.edu/student-life/presidents-wellness-committee/social-wellness

Spiritual Wellness

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What Is Spiritual Wellness? Spiritual wellness is all about finding your life’s meaning and purpose! It involves being connected to something beyond yourself and developing a set of values, morals, beliefs, principles, etc. that help guide your actions or define the trajectory of your life. For some people, this means participating in an organized religion, but this is not always the case. Whether it be through speaking to a community of people or reflecting upon your own thoughts, spiritual wellness can be fostered through many methods.

Did you know…

  • Focusing on spiritual wellness can be beneficial for your mental health.
  • Those with spiritual wellness/spiritual health are more likely to have additional tools and strengths to deal with challenges that may arise
  • Spiritual wellness is associated with increased feelings of hopefulness and mental clarity, especially during uncontrollable events, such as a global pandemic

Check out these awesome ways to foster spiritual wellness:

1. Joining a club or group! Finding a sense of community (ex: in a religious group or volunteer organization) could help one begin to find a cause that matters to them.

2. Spend time in nature. In this day and age, many of us are consumed by our phones. Taking time to go on a hike, have a picnic in the park, etc. could be therapeutic and relaxing for your spirit/mind.

3. Meditating/Practicing Yoga! These are great ways to relieve physical and/or emotional strain, which can open up our minds to reflect upon life.

4. Ask yourself questions! Having deep reflections about life can aid in the journey to discover one’s purpose and the meaning of life.

What the students had to say: 

To gather opinions and information for this article, we collected responses regarding spiritual wellness from local high school seniors. Of the 5 students surveyed that day, 2 are religious and 3 aren’t. One stated that religion plays a significant role in their spiritual wellness. When asked what they believe the main purpose of life is, all 5 stated that it is to get up each day and live a true and full life!

Contributors: Health & Wellness 2nd PD

Resources:

https://www.northwestern.edu/wellness/8-dimensions/spiritual-wellness.

www.unh.edu/health/spiritual-wellness

 

Occupational Wellness

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What Is Occupational Wellness? Occupational wellness is all about achieving a balance between work and leisure, and doing so in a manner that is both emotionally and financially rewarding. It is about finding a career that is meaningful to you, and doing work that you find motivating and exciting! Feeling good at the end of the day about what you have accomplished is a tell-tale sign that you are on your way to achieving occupational wellness!

Did you know…

  • The average American works 34.4 hours per week, but for populations between the ages of 25 and 54, the average workweek is 40.5 hours! Because we spend so much time at work, it is important to find a job that provides us with a sense of purpose and financial stability.
  • Finding one’s work meaningful is associated with greater life satisfaction and improved overall well-being.

Check out these awesome ways to foster occupational wellness:

1. Finding a career that you love! Reflecting on your hobbies and values is a great way to get you started on the path to discovering your dream job!

2.Avoid overworking yourself. Even too much of a good thing can be bad, so finding a balance between work and fun is a great way to foster occupational wellness!

3.Talking to a career counselor! If you are unsure about career pathways, speaking to a professional can help you narrow down your options.

4.Exploring while you are young! Do side hustles, work in a restaurant, assist at a hospital, etc. to find what field of work motivates you to get up each day.

What the students had to say:

To gather opinions and information for this article, we collected responses regarding occupational wellness from local high school seniors. A majority of the students had dream jobs, ranging from being a nurse to being a truck driver! Having a passion for the job and obtaining a high pay rate are the biggest non-negotiable for these students. Similarly, when asked about what they hope to get out of work and life, a majority stated that they wish to be happy with their career and achieve financial wealth for themselves and their families. 7 out of 10 students would not change their dream jobs even if money wasn’t a factor, while 2 of the student’s career change was closely related to their dream job. One student desired to travel the world.

Contributors: Health & Wellness 2nd PD

Resources: 

https://www.unomaha.edu/student-life/presidents-wellness-committee/occupational-wellness-tips.php#:~:text=Occupational%20wellness%20is%20the%20ability,for%20most%20people)%20financially%20rewarding.

https://www.utoledo.edu/offices/rocketwellness/docs/Tips%20on%20Improving%20Occupational%20Wellness.pdf

 

Emotional Wellness

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What Is Emotional Wellness? Emotional wellness is the ability to effectively handle stressful life events and maintain healthy relationships with yourself and others. It is important for us to be aware of our emotions and learn to express them adequately to better cope with emotional challenges. Emotional wellness could be developed by improving your coping mechanisms, mental health, and increasing your awareness and understanding of yourself, your community, and society overall.

Did you know…

  • Emotional wellness is what provides individuals with a positive outlook on life!
  • A meta-analysis of over 136,000 people from across 10 studies found that feeling a sense of purpose is associated with emotional wellness
  • Being outdoors is proven to increase emotional wellbeing (especially in those who stayed indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic)

Check out these awesome ways to foster emotional wellness:

1.Reducing your stress levels. Although small amounts of stress can be helpful and even motivating at times, chronic and long-term stress is extremely harmful and can worsen one’s mental health. If you are in a stressful situation, talk to a trusted friend or adult and brainstorm healthy ways to relieve this stress.

2. Sleep Well! Getting enough sleep is crucial for maintaining emotional wellness.

3. Eat Well! Nourishing our bodies with healthy foods gives us the energy to fuel our brains!

4. Spend time with loved ones! Studies have shown that being around those who bring you joy can drastically improve your emotional wellbeing.

5. Express gratitude and self-love! Although it may be challenging at times, being thankful for what you have and learning to love yourself can help you better cope with any future obstacles, improve your outlook on life, and increase emotional wellness.

What the students had to say:

To gather opinions and information for this article, we collected responses regarding emotional wellness from local high school seniors. Based on an analysis of the survey, all of the students already had amazing ways to maintain emotional wellness, such as listening to music, exercising, and surrounding themselves with positivity! However, when asked whether or not they felt that they were obtaining a sufficient amount of sleep, 8 of the students reported that they didn’t feel as though they had enough sleep, while 6 answered yes, 1 answered both, and 1 abstained from answering. In order to cope with stress, all of the students who responded stated that they would either talk/write out their feelings or take a deep breath and listen to music.

Contributors: Health & Wellness 2nd PD

Resources:

https://www.nih.gov/health-information/emotional-wellness-toolkit

https://www.verywellmind.com/emotional-wellness-5206535

 

Financial Wellness

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What Is Financial Wellness? Financial Wellness is the satisfaction of your current and future financial situations. It’s not about how much you make that makes you financially well, but rather are you satisfied with how much you make? Planning is the key to attaining financial wellness. It’s important to plan a budget, set goals, plan a saving’s strategy, and plan for retirement. Once the planning is complete it’s time to stick to your plans and put them into action. A saving’s plan will create financial margins in your life for those unexpected college, car, apartment, house repairs or whatever else might come up that will cost you money.

Did you know…

  • High levels of financial stress can result in emotional and physical symptoms that may damage your health. Although it is not always possible to change one’s financial situation drastically, planning ahead can help increase financial wellness and decrease stress!
  • Budgeting is associated with financial stability and increases peace of mind!

Check out these awesome ways to foster financial wellness:

  1. Make smarter choices with your money. Eat out less and cook at home more often to save.
  2. Create your résumé and keep it updated so you can promptly submit it when you see an opportunity.
  3. Securing a job. Explore sites like Careerbuilder.com or Monster.com, and consider establishing a profile on LinkedIn.
  4. Ask the bank about the types of accounts available— such as checking and savings accounts. Find out if the bank offers tools you can use to keep track of your money.

What the students had to say: To gather opinions and information for this article, we collected responses regarding financial wellness from local high school seniors. Out of the 8 surveyed students, 4 had jobs and 4 didn’t. However, many of the students say that financial wellness is a must for them in order to achieve a comfortable life, and expressed plans to achieve this wellness. Of the students working, most are not currently in a field they are passionate about but hope to switch in the future. Dream careers ranged from professional athlete to teacher for young children! 

Contributors: Health & Wellness 2nd PD

Resources: https://www.retireguide.com/retirement-planning/financial-wellness/https://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/article/what-is-financial-wellness

 

Intellectual Wellness

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Tips On How To Personally “Level up”    

What Is Intellectual Wellness?                                                            Intellectual wellness is all about striving to expand upon our knowledge and acquire new skill sets. It encourages us to engage in creative and mentally-stimulating activities that aid in creating beneficial lifelong habits. Fostering intellectual wellness can help us develop a love for learning and a strong sense of curiosity that helps us “level up” and grow as people!

Did you know…

  • Growing intellectual wellness can be beneficial for your mental health.
  • Intellectual wellness helps build memory and increase cognitive skills.
  • Teens are highly capable of complex learning and should involve themselves in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, theater, art, cooking, and more.
  • Engaging in activities that stimulate the mind can decrease feelings of laziness and even teen depression.

Check out these awesome ways to foster intellectual wellness:

  1. Test your skills, join competitive sports like soccer or basketball to keep busy.
  2. Learn a new language, and gain inspiration from places you’d like to travel to.
  3. Listen to relaxing music while reading books on interesting topics.
  4. Get more sleep at night to have the energy to engage in activities.
  5. Learn how to cook and follow recipes to make dinner for your family.
  6. Be open-minded to learn new things. You never know what you may be good at.  
  7. Always challenge yourself to find what is important and meaningful to you.

What the students had to say: To gather opinions and information for this article, we collected responses regarding intellectual wellness from local high school seniors. Nearly all of the students agreed that it is important to aim to get a greater understanding of the world, learn new things and be open-minded.   Many watched youtube videos in order to do so and fostered intellectual wellness with hobbies such as reading. They also slept/ate to restore their brains, and are interested in traveling all around the world!  The students are on the right path to fostering intellectual wellness and becoming the most open-minded and curious versions of themselves.

Contributors: Health & Wellness 2nd PD

Resources:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/debunking-myths-of-teen-depression

https://www.unh.edu/health/intellectual-wellness

 

Convenience vs. Good Health

Did you know…

  • 70% of food ads on the most popular children’s television channel are for junk foods. The promotion of junk food is worse than what we imagined and the money that companies receive and put out is millions of dollars.
  • Fast and processed foods are high in calories, unhealthy fats, sodium and sugar.
  • Fast and processed foods can lead to weight gain and nutrient deficiencies.
  • Fast and processed foods can affect your energy level, mood and how well you perform.
  • That you can curb your fast and processed food habits and patterns by making better choices.

Tips for Taking More Control Over Your Food Choices:

  • Choose whole grains over processed grains like white flour, bread and pasta.
  • Choose whole fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.
  • Choose healthier snacks like nuts, seeds, popcorn, granola bars and dried fruit.
  • Drink more water and less sugary beverages.
  • Get proper rest to avoid unhealthy food cravings.
  • Cook as many of our meals as possible to control more of what you put into your body and save money.
  • Find recipes for healthier fast food favorites you can recreate at home
  • Learn to read nutrition facts and ingredient labels to be more aware of what’s in your food.
Contributors: Health & Wellness 7A & 7B

Resources:

Food Marketing | UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesityhttps://uconnruddcenter.org › research › food-marketing
How Much do Companies Spend Marketing Junk Food to …http://specertified.com › blog › view › how-much-do-c…
https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/nutrition-education/snap-ed-recipes
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/07/24/what-drives-consumers-purchase-convenience-foods

Why getting proper rest is important and what to do about it

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Did You Know that….

  • Lack of sleep affects how we think and can cause memory lapses.
  • Lack of sleep forces your brain to shut down for a short time while you are awake.
  • If we don’t nourish and recharge the brain, it will no longer be able to function properly for us through the day.
  • Lack of sleep and rest can lead to weight gain.
  • Lack of proper rest can affect your mood and potentially cause you to feel irritated.
  • You can change your patterns and behavior to feel and perform better.

8 Helpful Tips for Proper Rest and Sleep:

  1. Minimize light and sound.
  2. Get Comfortable.
  3. Keep a Routine.
  4. Manage Stress.
  5. Get out of bed and do something that will promote relaxation.
  6. Limit technology at least 1 hour before bedtime.
  7. Take a warm/cool shower or bath before bedtime.
  8. Don’t eat your last meal too close to normal bedtime.

Contributors: Health & Wellness 7A & 7B students

Resources:

https://www.usda.gov/media/radio/weekly-features/2020-07-07/babies-kids-and-teens-how-much-sleep-do-they-need-vs-what
Why our brain needs sleep, and what happens if we don’t get …https://theconversation.com › why-our-brain-needs-slee…
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/5-ways-to-get-better-sleep
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/27-health-and-nutrition-tips#TOC_TITLE_HDR_29https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/teenagers-and-sleep