Wellness and Your Total Health

What is….

Foundations of Health Three types of health Physical Social Mental/Emotional Health – combination of physical, mental/emotional, and social well-being

Foundations of Health Physical Health – Includes total care of your body Examples: visit dentist regularly, wear seatbelt, exercise, eat healthy, wear protective gear, plenty of sleep

Foundations of Health Social Health – Involves how you relate and get along with others Examples: strong friendships, warm family relationships, supportive of friends/family, accept others for who they are, good listener, follow through when making promises, honest, reliable

Foundations of Health Mental/Emotional Health - Solve problems and handle daily events in your life. Knowing and sharing your feelings and responding in positive ways Examples: patient with new skill, understand everyone makes mistakes, take action to reach goals, take responsibility for personal health behaviors

Foundations of Health All three types of health are interrelated Example: Staying up late playing video games. Tired Not alert Not focused Moody Unhealthy Choices

What is wellness? Wellness – state of well-being or balanced health over a LONG period of time Health vs. Wellness Your health constantly changes (minutes, hours, days) Sad one day, happy the next Good sleep one night, no sleep the next Balance diet most days, junk food a few days Your overall wellness takes a LONGER view (months, years) Another perspective: Climate (wellness) vs. Forecast (health) Each person will have a different balance

Concepts of Wellness Physical Mental Social Emotional Environmental Occupational Spiritual

How can you maintain overall wellness? It’s the smart and healthy habits, choices, and decisions that YOU make every day for your mind and body that promote overall wellness

Good Health Habits & Smart Health Choices Choosing the right foods Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs Taking part in regular exercise program Learning ways to handle stress positively Getting along well with others When you practice positive health behaviors, you help to prevent injury, illness, disease, and other health problems.

Taking Responsibility for Your Health

Factors That Affect Your Health Heredity Environment Lifestyle

Factors That Affect Your Health Heredity – passing of traits from parents to their biological children Examples: nose, eye color, disease Environment – all living and nonliving things around you Examples: live, educational and job opportunities, climate, neighbors, air/water quality, available health care ***Little or no control over these two factors

Factors That Affect Your Health Although you have little or no control over heredity and environment, the way you behave has an effect on them. Lifestyle – the way you act or behave in many different situations and events in life Positive or negative impact on all factors You can control your lifestyle choices

Heredity – Environment – Lifestyle Example Heart Disease Exercise and Diet (Lifestyle Choices) You have little or no control over your heredity and environment – however – you can control your lifestyle choices. Environment Sunny Florida Sunscreen (Lifestyle Choice)

Take Control of your Health and Wellness TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF IS MAINLY YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY

Stay Informed Health Education – providing health information in such a way that it influences people to change their attitudes and take positive actions regarding their health The goal of health education is to help people live long and productive lives

Decision Making About Your Health

Decision Making Decision making – the process of making a choice or finding a solution You make many decisions everyday regarding your health (physical, social, mental/emotional)

“DECIDE” Process D = Determine the problem E = Evaluate alternatives C = Consider the consequences I = Identify your values D = Decide and act E = Evaluate results

Evaluate Your Decision The most important step of the process is evaluating your decision….why? What was the outcome? Was it what I expected? How did my decision affect each part of my health triangle? How did my decision affect the way I feel about myself? What effect did my decision have on others? What did I learn? Would I take the same action again?

Emily has soccer practice at 3:30 PM Emily has soccer practice at 3:30 PM. Her friends want her to hang out with them instead. Emily loves soccer but also loves to spend time with her friends. How can the six steps of the decision-making process help her make a choice?

Setting Goals and Making Action Plans

Why Set Goals? Goal – something you aim for Easy Challenging Realistic One goal can lead to accomplishments of other goals Example: If you have a goal of being fit and learning how to do yoga, accomplishing yoga will also help you become fit Goal setting takes planning and effort

The Importance of Goals Focused and on track (help shape your future) Sense of purpose and accomplishment Make good decisions Measure progress Boost self-confidence (strengthens mental/emotional health) Identify and accomplish what you want out of life Use time, energy, and resources wisely Timetable for completing work Enhance relationships

Short Term and Long Term Goals Short-term goals – goal that you can achieve in a short length of time Example: complete your homework Long-term goals – goal you plan to reach over an extended period of time Months to years… Example: becoming a doctor, learning to play the piano

Short Term and Long Term Goals Sometimes, short-term goals lead to a long- term goal Long-term Goal: Become a Veterinarian. Short-Term Goals: finishing homework, graduating school, volunteering at an animal shelter, etc.

Making an Action Plan 1. Identify your goal and put it in writing Example: Train and run a 5k

Action Plan continued… 2. List the steps you will need to take to reach your goal Example: -Follow running schedule to increase distance gradually over time -Plan and prepare nutritious meals -Get plenty of rest -Drink plenty of water

Action Plan continued… 3. Identify sources of help and support Examples: -Ask someone to train with you -Talk to other experienced runners to get advice, tips, etc.

Action Plan continued… 4. Give yourself a certain period of time to reach your goal. Example: The 5k is in one month.

Action Planned continued… 5. Set up checkpoints to check on how well you are doing. Example: -At the end of every week, reflect on eating and physical activity behaviors to stay in check with plan -Communicate daily with running partner to keep up motivation and keep each other accountable for assigned activities

Action Plan continued… 6. Give yourself a reward once you have achieved your goal. -Upon completing 5k, go out to eat at your favorite restaurant.