By Brianna Alvarado, CTRS Activity Coordinator
When we think of ‘being healthy’ we generally think of diet, exercise, staying hydrated, stretching, etc… but that’s not the complete picture. Reaching your full health potential combines all aspects of your body, mind, and soul — your whole self. The term used for this description is “holistic wellness,” which incorporates six broad-reaching variables: physical, cognitive, spiritual, creative, emotional, and task (or occupational) wellness. All of these are equally important to incorporate into your daily routine.
Health and wellness is most commonly focused on physical exercise and what you do for your body — and that is important. Whether it’s stretching, joining a strength class, participating in a relaxing yoga group, or strolling along the Western Prom with friends, we all know that it’s healthiest to keep our bodies moving. But physical wellbeing is causally related to emotional health. The experience of joy is just as important as stretching your hamstrings!
While people often experience joy while being physically active, there are many ways to bring joy to your life. Completing your daily crossword puzzle, attending spiritual services, or participating in an open art class are ways to condition your mind, exercise your creativity, and be joyful. Even something as simple as actively listening to the news and striking up a conversation with a neighbor helps condition critical thinking, learning, and mental growth. Curiosity, creativity, and socialization are all healthy ways to achieve cognitive wellbeing.
Holistic wellbeing at its core is about taking care of you. Make time to be active both mentally and physically, so when you’re looking back at the past year of your life, it’s full of the stuff that matters. Take time to make memories! If you incorporate a sense of holistic wellness into your life and take care of your body and mind, you’ll be better able to hold onto those memories for a lifetime.
Your body is a temple. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.
Content provided by Seventy-Five State Street
