Wellness

Wellness means overall well being. It's a concept that includes taking responsibility for your own health, creating a full and balanced lifestyle, and being the best person you can be. It incorporates the social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual, and emotional aspects of a person's life.

Social

• Being comfortable with and liking yourself as a person
• Interacting easily with people of different ages, backgrounds, races, lifestyles
• Contributing time and energy to the community
• Communicating your feelings
• Developing friendships
• Recognizing a need for "fun" time in your life
• Budgeting and balancing your time to include both responsibilities and relaxation

Occupational

• Finding satisfaction and worth in your work
• Utilizing resources that help you develop personal job hunting skills
• Feeling confident in your ability to find and obtain a job
• Recognizing opportunities that lead you to new skills and acting on those opportunities
• Pursuing careers that complement your personal goals and values

Spiritual

• Being open to different cultures and religions
• Giving your time to volunteer or participate in community service activities
• Spending time defining personal values and ethics and making decisions that complement them
• Spending time alone in personal reflection
• Participating in spiritual activities
• Participating in activities that protect the environment
• Caring about the welfare of others and acting out of that care

Physical

• Exercising regularly
• Eating properly
• Getting regular physical check-ups
• Avoiding the use of tobacco or illicit drugs
• Consuming alcohol in low-risk quantities
• Taking time for stress reduction and relaxation

Intellectual

• Learning because you want to - not because you are told to. Doing the work assigned.
• Learning through varied experiences - reading, writing, sharing and exploration
• Observing what is around you
• Listening
• Finding applications for material learned in the classroom
• Staying current with world affairs/news
• Questioning
• Exposing yourself to new experiences (e.g. arts, theater)

Emotional

• Keeping a positive attitude
• Being sensitive to your feelings and the feelings of others
• Learning to cope with stress
• Being realistic about your expectations and time
• Taking responsibility for your own behavior
• Dealing with your personal and financial issues realistically
• Viewing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles
• Functioning independently but knowing when you need to ask for help

10 Tools to Live Your Life Well

The following "10 Tools," developed based on scientific evidence, are proven, healthy ways to cope with stress and boost your overall well being.

1. Connect with others. People who feel connected are happier and healthier--and may even live longer.
2. Stay positive. People who regularly focus on the positive in their lives are less upset by painful memories.
3. Get physically active. Exercise can help relieve insomnia and reduce depression.
4. Help others. People who consistently help others experience less depression, greater calm, and fewer pains.
5. Get enough sleep. Not getting enough rest increases risks of weight gain, accidents, reduced memory, and heart problems.
6. Create joy and satisfaction. Positive emotions can boost your ability to bounce back from stress.
7. Eat well. Eating healthy food and regular meals can increase your energy, lower the risk of developing certain diseases, and influence your mood.
8. Take care of your spirit. People who have strong spiritual lives may be healthier and live longer. Spirituality seems to cut the stress that can contribute to disease.
9. Deal better with hard times. People who can tackle problems or get support in a tough situation tend to feel less depressed.
10. Get professional help if you need It. More than 80 percent of people who are treated for depression improve.

Copyrighted and published by Mental Health America. No part of this document may be reproduced without written consent.Full Article

Wellness Resources

• Stress Screener: Screening tool offered by Mental Health America. Site also includes information on the negative health consequences of too much stress and how to manage stress.
• The American Institute of Stress: Non-profit organization offers wide variety of information related to stress, coping with stress, and negative health consequences related to stress. Includes a link to a stress self-test.
• Medline Plus: Website of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health offers links to many publications on stress and how to cope with stress.
• Stress Management: The Mayo Clinic website offers numerous articles on stress, medical effects of stress, and stress management.

General Mental Health Resources

The menu on the right will link you to information on specific mental health topics. -->
Below are additional links to excellent websites for mental health information:

• Go Ask Alice: Website operated by Columbia University to answer the questions of college students on issues related to physical health, mental health, and sexuality.
• Half Of Us: This engaging youth-oriented site uses video stories of students and high-profile artists to increase awareness about mental health issues and the importance of getting help.
• Healthyminds.org: This website of the American Psychiatric Association offers a broad array of information on topics related to mental health.
• Helpguide: Website operated by a non-profit organization offers information and resources on a broad range of mental health topics.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): An advocacy group for people living with mental illness and their loved ones. Good source of information and resources on mental health topics.
• ReachOut.com: An information and support service using evidence based principles and technology to help teens and young adults facing tough times and struggling with mental health issues.
• ULifeLine.org: An online resource for college students with information about protecting your emotional health and what to do if you or friends are struggling with mental health issues.
• Student Health 101