All these “real-life” survival skills fall under the umbrella of one grand concept… WELLNESS

Learning Goal Day 1: Discuss the importance of wellness in achieving and maintain overall well-being and health.

What is Wellness? (Think About it…) Activity: Take out a piece of paper and write your own definition of what you believe wellness is. Get with a partner, compare your definitions, and create one together.

Wellness: Is a conscious, self-directed and continually evolving process of achieving one’s full potential. So How do I achieve wellness (or my full potential)?

This circle represents your fullest potential, and your fullest potential can not be reached without each of these dimensions. Let’s Define Each Area…

Social Wellness…

One’s Ability to interact with people around them in a positive manner. Examples: -Building positive and meaningful relationships -Communicating and listening to others -Respecting others as well as yourself -Enjoying spending time with others Do you have social wellness?

Intellectual Wellness…

Lifelong Continuation of Expanding Knowledge through creative and stimulating mental activities. Examples: -Graduating high school -Graduating college -Graduating graduate school -Reading to learn/understand a new skill -Challenging yourself using creativity Do you have Intellectual Wellness?

Spiritual Wellness…

The continually evolving search for meaning and purpose for your existence in hope to find inner peace and harmony Examples: -Practicing religion through a church -Prayer and/or Meditation -Belief in a higher power -Having a sense of faith, values or morals as a guide Do you have Spiritual Wellness?

Environmental Wellness…

Trying to live in harmony with the earth by understanding your personal impact on nature and taking action to protect the world around you Examples: -Recycling, Reusing, and Reducing trash -Conserving water and energy -Avoiding nature harming activities -Volunteering for worthy causes Do you have Environmental Wellness?

Occupational Wellness…

Preparing for a career in which you will gain personal satisfaction and enrichment throughout your life’s work. Examples: -Do what you love and love what you do -Follow your desired career path (even if it’s hard) -Having balance between work, family and leisure -Waking up and loving your job no matter how much or little you earn. Do you (or your parents) have Occupational Wellness?

Physical Wellness…

…Maintaining regular physical activity and balanced nutrition while eliminating harmful habits. Examples: -Running, biking, lifting, yoga, etc. -Joining sports teams or a gym -Eating a nutritional, balanced diet -Not smoking and drinking in moderation Do you have Physical Wellness?

Emotional Wellness…

Being able to handle stress while having awareness and acceptance of your feelings and those of others. Examples: -Accepting feelings, not denying them -Expressing your feelings appropriately to others -Managing stress effectively and in a healthy way -Being open to the feelings of others -Enjoying life and being optimistic Do you have Emotional Wellness?

Learning Objective Day 2: Decide and justify what areas of wellness are lacking and create a plan to increase wellness in those areas. Explain the 7 dimensions of wellness and prioritize them based on personal values. Decide what dimensions of wellness are higher priorities in your life and explain the reasons why you chose them.

PHYSICALPHYSICAL EMOTIONALEMOTIONAL SOCIALSOCIAL OCCUPATIONALOCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL INTELLECTUALINTELLECTUAL What happens when we don’t have wellness in all the dimensions? SPIRITUALSPIRITUAL

Activity: When I ask you a question, stand by the “Dimension of Wellness” that you feel is the best answer to the question…Be ready to explain your answers…

1. Stand by the Dimension that is most important to you at this point in your life…

2. Think of someone important to you…boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, or family member and stand by the dimension that they would say is most important to them.

3. Stand by the dimension that is stressed the most in the house you live in.

4. Stand by the dimension that you think will be most important to you 5 years from now.

5. Stand by the dimension that you will stress most in the future with your family.

Homework: Write me (Ms. Lindsey) a letter. In the letter include the following items: - Name, Age, career major - Are you happy with your state of wellness today? Explain why or why not. -Choose 2 areas of wellness you feel you are most happy with in your life and explain why you chose them (use examples) -Choose 2 areas of wellness you are not happy with and come up with a plan on how to improve them (use examples) -Where do you see yourself in 5 years from today? What about 10? Please explain -Due Friday, 6 Feb 16