How well you are isn’t defined by a number on a scale. In fact, the CDC defines wellness as a process of learning and being more aware of the choices you make to attain a more balanced and healthier lifestyle within seven suggested dimensions:
- Social
- Physical
- Emotional
- Career
- Intellectual
- Environmental
- Spiritual
In these unprecedented times, your wellness may have taken a back seat to caring for your family, navigating remote work or some other situation. The stress of the pandemic and other events may have left you feeling fatigued, lonely or depressed. No matter what emotions these ever-changing times have evoked, it is important to recognize where you are with your health and prioritize it.
Doing small things to improve wellness, such as, developing a better sleeping schedule, exercising, eating better or limiting media consumption, can help you feel better instantly.
We all know how hard it may be to prioritize wellness with so many other competing interests, however, here is a list of how you can start prioritizing your wellness:
Make a Routine
First things first, establishing a wellness routine can be the key to making sure that you are prioritizing your wellness. Including activities such as exercising, meditating and eating right into a daily routine can get you into the habit of doing these routines so that it eventually feels natural.
Create Time for You
Having alone time after a tough day is one of the easiest, most effective wellness activities. Reflecting on your day, relaxing your body or doing an activity that you love will improve many of the daily tasks that you do.
For extroverts, alone time may not work is well because they recharge through others. If this fits you, set aside time with a designated listener to talk about your day or just to chat about other things going on in your life through a Zoom or phone call.
Develop a Work-Life Balance
While having alone time is important, making sure that you also have a life outside of work will also improve wellness. Developing and maintaining a strong work-life balance can reduce levels of stress and prevent potential burnout.
COVID-19 may have stopped us from participating in our usual life events, but there are still ways to enjoy family and friends while abiding by COVID-19 safety precautions. Netflix watch parties, online gaming, Zoom and other resources have made it easier to be connected to one another.
Reward Yourself
When finishing a wellness activity, make sure you find the time to reward yourself for a job well done. This could be adding an extra scoop of ice cream to your bowl, watching one more episode of your latest show or trying something new.
Prioritizing wellness acts can start at home, however, UofL Health offers plenty of resources available to employees that can help you with wellness.
If not already engaged, be sure to become active in our wellness program, Wellness Journey! In this program, you gain access to tips about increasing your wellness, recipes and exercise routines, just to name a few. Wellness Journey also has many benefits, such as reaching successful wellness goals and gives rewards to those who accomplish certain status levels within the program.
You can find more information about Wellness Journey on our employee intranet.
ICWS Health & Lifestyle coaches can help you set goals that you want to achieve by focusing on any or all aspects of wellness. Eat well. Think well. Move well. Sleep well.
Your coach will help identify what you could do, should do, and really want to do. When you create an ideal goal, something you really want, you are more likely to take action to achieve it. Your ICWS coach will work with you to create a step by step, achievable plan to reach your goals, big or small, all while overcoming obstacles. By completing four sessions throughout the year, the ICWS coaches will support you to make positive, lasting changes to all aspects of your health.
January is also the best time to start scheduling annual exams to ensure that your health is still being maintained. If you need a provider, be sure to use one of our hundreds of UofL Physicians providers.
No matter which resources you use, it is crucial to prioritize your wellness. Establishing a healthy wellness routine will improve your health and make it easier to continue to work remotely or in the workplace.
For more information about wellness resources at UofL Health, visit our Employee Benefits page on the employee intranet.
