Daily Practices that Lead to Increased Well-Being

1. Take Incremental Steps Away from Problem Areas

First and foremost, I suggest addressing what I refer to as the “Four Pillars of Health.” These include sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and community-stress management—the latter being time spent with family, meditative practice, and other activities to help you unwind and focus.

The first step is to look for small ways you can weave healthy practices into your day. Examples of this can include trying a new exercise program, taking the stairs instead of the elevator for extra steps, blocking a set amount of time in your day to journal, putting your phone away for an hour to avoid the temptation of social media, and pausing— even if it is simply sending a text—to interact with loved ones. By starting small, you begin to tackle “problem areas” in a more manageable way. Once one of these small steps has become routine then you are ready to add another and then another.

2. Move Your Body Any Time You Can

Studies have long shown integrating physical activity into our daily lives has a host of physical health benefits such as improving brain health, weight management, reducing the risk of disease, strengthening bones and muscles, and improving our ability to do everyday activities. Additionally, regular exercise has many psychological and emotional benefits as well.

The trick is being intentional to identify any pocket of time, even just five minutes, to make a move. While it may not always be convenient, we have access to exercise pretty much anywhere. A bonus of these short exercise snacks is increased focus and alertness.

3. Seek Out Help and Available Resources

Today, we have more substantial resources than ever before when it comes to access and education around physical and mental wellness.

One of the most overlooked opportunities is the support that many workplaces offer through EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs), as well as benefits surrounding mental health needs. While this is a resource over 97 percent of US companies with more than 5,000 employees provide, one survey reports that EAP utilization rate is only 2 to 3 percent. In addition to employees having access to different mental health means, many students also have access to mental health support they may be unaware of.

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

Reflections:

What daily practices do you do that benefits your well-being?

#Self-reflection #Wellness #Habits