Transcript What is Wellness ? - Homepage | Student Affairs

Living a Balanced Life
Presented by:
Amanda Ostgulen
Office of Student Engagement, KU
Medical Center
The Plan…
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What is balance?
What is wellness?
Definitions and Dimensions of wellness
Exploring Wellness and the Benefits of
Being Balanced
The Challenge
What is Balance?
According to www.dictionary.com:
1. a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal
distribution of weight, amount, etc.
2. mental steadiness or emotional stability;
habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.
3. the power or ability to decide an outcome
by throwing one's strength, influence,
support, or the like, to one side or the
other.
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What is wellness?
Health
Happiness
Balance
Exercise
Rest
Positivity
Healthy meals Faith
Long Life
Open Minded Confident
Centered
Intellectual Positive Relationships
Definition
Webster defines wellness as:
1.the quality or state of being healthy in
body and mind, esp. as the result of a
deliberate effort.
2.an approach to healthcare that
emphasizes preventing illness and
prolonging life, as opposed to emphasizing
treating diseases.
Dimensions
The Student Wellness program at KUMC
focuses on 6 areas….
1. Cultural
2. Emotional
3. Intellectual
4. Physical
5. Social
6. Spiritual
Exploring the 6 aspects of wellness
Cultural
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Cultural competence is the capacity to work effectively with
people from a variety of ethnic, cultural, political, economic,
and religious backgrounds.
It is being aware of how our own culture influence how we
view others.
The first step toward being more culturally competent is selfawareness. To understand and appreciate the culture of
others, we must first understand and appreciate our own.
Then, begin to educate yourself.
Exploring the 6 aspects of wellness
Emotional
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Emotional health is possibly the most
important!!
Self-acceptance and self-confidence are essential
components, as is the ability to share our
feelings with others.
It is impossible to stop emotions from
happening, so being able to cope effectively and
in healthy ways is of great importance.
Part of emotional wellness is taking care of
yourself so that you are in top emotional shape
to deal with life’s stresses.
Exploring the 6 aspects of wellness
Intellectual
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Intellectual wellness is the utilization of human resources
and learning resources to expand knowledge and
improve skills.
Those who would be intellectually healthy are open to
new ideas, think critically, and seek out new challenges.
They have a sense of humor and a sense of their place
in the world. in order to enhance their potential for living
a more fulfilling life.
You'll spend more time appreciating and thinking about
the scenery along the path-pursuing interests, reading
books, magazines, and newspapers. You may even
discover a natural interest in keeping abreast of current
issues and ideas.
Exploring the 6 aspects of wellness
Physical
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The physical dimension of wellness promotes taking care of your
body for optimal health and functioning.
It is the also the ability to apply your motivation, behavior, selfmanagement, attitude and skills toward achieving your personal
fitness and health goals.
Our bodies function for us in countless ways every day by
allowing us to work, rest, eat, and play. Often times we expect
our bodies to perform these tasks while giving little back in
return.
Attending to your medical health is just as important, and
includes getting check-ups on a regular basis and seeking
treatment for illness.
Optimal physical health is attained through exercise, eating well,
sleeping and resting according to our body’s needs.
Exploring the 6 aspects of wellness
Social
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The social dimension of wellness emphasizes the interdependence with others and nature. It is important to
examine the degree of connectedness you currently
have with individuals, your community and the world
around you
By fostering a positive self-image and improving
interpersonal skills, one can enhance the building of a
just and caring community.
Social health consists not only of our personal
relationships but also our relationship to our
community. The contributions we make to society
make our lives meaningful and leave a legacy of
purpose and commitment for those who follow us.
Exploring the 6 aspects of wellness
Spiritual
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Spiritual wellness refers to integrating our beliefs and
values with our actions.
A sense of purpose, direction, and awareness are
important.
The first step in developing values and spiritual
wellness is to examine your own values: respect,
honesty, human life, family, education, religion,
health, wealth, community service, diversity.
What are others saying about
wellness?
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Donald B Ardell, PhD writes in High Level
Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs and
Disease:
Research suggests that the “wellest of the well” (aka well-balanced
people) possess the following qualities, to an uncommon degree…
 High self esteem and positive outlook
 A sense of purpose and personal responsibility
 Free from addictive behaviors of a negative or unhealthy nature
 A good sense of humor and plenty of fun in life
 A concern for others and respect for the environment
 A sense of balance and an integrated lifestyle
 Physically fit
 A capacity to love and the ability to nurture
 A capacity to manage life demands and communicate effectively
Balance: 10 things to consider
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You must make the decisions
You must express your talents
Accept that change is inevitable
Your lifestyle choices have an
impact on your health
Make sure you are having fun!!
Balance: things to consider
cont…
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Do not put all of your trust in
medicine
Be flexible
It is better to take up a healthy
practice than to give up an
unhealthy one
Accidents do not happen
It is never too late to start
Finding Balance = Wellness
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Balance is the key to leading a healthy
lifestyle. Wellness is the dynamic process
of becoming aware of, taking
responsibility for, and making choices that
directly contribute to one's well being and
that of the common good. It is the
integration of body, mind and spirit and
the ongoing development of one's own
meaning in life.
The Challenge
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What can you do to lead a well-balanced
life??
What areas of wellness need to be
improved in order for you to be balanced?