This year, my New Year’s resolution is to avoid resolutions. My goal is to steer clear of placing additional pressure on myself. The way I see it, the world applies enough pressure on us already without us joining in. So, instead of stressing out that we let ourselves down if we fail to meet an unrealistic challenge, how about we take small steps to care for ourselves and potentially find new habits that we enjoy?
Let's start with the obvious. We know that a balanced diet and exercise promote good physical health, and that destructive habits like tobacco, drugs, and excessive alcohol can cause lasting harms. Most New Year's resolutions tend to focus on one or another of these. I agree that it is a good idea to recognize when we are making harmful choices and do our very best to fix things if we are able.
I think that there are also ways that we can expand our overall wellness. Making small changes in our life might strengthen us overall so that we are better equipped to overcome challenges and address specific behaviors. The key to this, I believe, is by seeing that there is much more to our wellness than just a good diet, exercise, and avoiding certain foods, substances, or behaviors. True wellness also includes emotional, intellectual, occupational, and environmental components.
Emotional wellness concerns our ability to express feelings and deal with conflict. It’s about maintaining a positive attitude and a strong sense of self and learning how to recognize and share a wide range of feelings with others in a constructive way. The key to emotional wellness, I think, is cultivating our sense of empathy, and one of the best ways to do that is to really listen to other people. If we make a point of hearing what others have to say and respect their viewpoint, it could make it possible to find common ground where we can defuse conflict. If we embrace a continual process of emotional growth, we will be better equipped to maintain satisfying relationships and remain grounded during stressful times.
There are some easy and practical ways I can think of that could help us make good connections with people and learn to deal with conflict. We might participate in neighborhood associations where we work to find solutions to keep the peace in a community. Volunteering for youth groups where conflict mediation is key, is another way. The simplest way to expand your emotional wellness is to get out of the house, break your routines, visit new neighborhoods, and talk with new people.
Intellectual wellness encourages us to engage in creative and mentally stimulating activities. It involves actively participating in educational, cultural, and community events and combining life lessons with those learned in the classroom. It’s about nurturing curiosity and lifelong learning. You might find that you become a more mindful and well-rounded person, and your life might seem a bit more balanced.
There are many ways to exercise your mind. You can set aside a little time each week to journal your thoughts, read for fun, or do a crossword or Sudoku puzzle. You can even debate an issue with a friend. Community colleges offer classes in many subjects and there is an abundance of online resources, such as the various UC Extensions, where you can study anything you can imagine. If you have time and interest, nothing can stop you from learning.
Occupational wellness entails seeking personal satisfaction and enrichment while being fully engaged in your work. It’s about developing work-life balance, maintaining positive working relationships, and having enthusiasm for your job. People who do what they enjoy deepen their sense of meaning and purpose. Our time on Earth is limited, so follow the path that fulfills you. The adage, “Do what you love and love what you do” couldn’t be truer.
Once you are in a job your love, why not be great at it? Take advantage of any programs that help you acquire or expand the skills you need to succeed in your job. You may find that the things you learn that help you in your work translate to success in other parts of your life as well.
Environmental wellness refers to your relationship to your surroundings. It centers on finding harmony with the natural world, understanding your impact on it and its impact on you. Consciously choosing to live in ways that protect the world around you will help ensure your future health and that of the community and the world at large.
There are lots of simple ways to improve your relationship with the environment. Gardening is a great way to connect with nature and the seasons. Bird watching is an inexpensive and rewarding way to get outside and see non-human tourists who are passing through. If you are drawn to marine life, a boat trip to watch whales is hard to beat and a fantastic way to connect with water, which, in the bay area, literally surrounds us.
Whether it's volunteering to pick up litter at a local beach, volunteering in Golden Gate Park, mentoring someone in the community or at work, there are many activities that provide mutual benefit to yourself and others. It’s never too late to embrace healthy habits, commit to overall wellness, and to learn new things.
Stay well… and don’t forget to brush and floss.
