Thanks to Aniya Wells for this guest post! Aniya is a freelance blogger whose primary focus is writing about online degree programs. She also enjoys investigating trends in other niches, notably technology, traditional higher education, health, and small business. Aniya welcomes reader questions and comments at aniyawells@gmail.com.
When we think about the term wellness our minds typically go immediately to diet and exercise. We think of eating healthy foods, avoiding unnecessary fats, and running regularly. These are the aspects of wellness that people most discuss and most stress. Of course, diet and exercise play a vital role in our overall wellness. There is no way to overplay how essential a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise to our wellbeing. But, there are many other aspects involved with overall wellness as well. While diet and exercise are very (very) important, so too are health related things outside of the realm of fitness. Find more passion, inspiration, and happiness in life by exercising these personal wellness practices.
Lifelong Learning
Lifelong learning plans are a wonderful way to create healthy and happy minds. Education has long been the pathway to a healthier and happy future. It is through learning new things and expanding our own personal knowledge base that we find passion for the lives we lead and inspiration for the future. As online education and the online classroom become more and more popular throughout the country and world, opportunities for lifelong learning are becoming more accessible. Where at one point online degree programs were discredited by the academic and professional world, today they are widely accepted as legitimate modes of modern education.
No matter how old you are or how extensive your education is, learning more and expanding your education is a positive thing. Online education has made this more possible from a proximity and scheduling prospective and from a financial prospective. If working towards an actual degree is not something that appeals to you, there are other avenues available for attaining an academic experience outside of the traditional university system. Open courseware opportunities are being offered by numerous prestigious schools and universities throughout the country. Dedicate some time to expanding your mind and achieving a lifelong learning status.
Relaxation
Finding time for yourself is essential to personal wellness in today’s society. As members of modern society, we are constantly accessible and constantly plugged in. With social media, smartphones, text messaging, and mobile internet our lives are constantly buzzing. In order to find true clarity and peace in life, you have to find some time for relaxation and self-thought. Every now and again find some time to just “cut the cord”. As adults juggling careers, families, and so much more, it can be really difficult to just find some time to yourself. Don’t underestimate the importance of quiet time to yourself. Take the time to reflect on your day, do something for yourself, and think about your surroundings. While exercising can be a great practice in relaxation, it is also important that you simply take some time to slow down and rest. Lie down, read a book, or just sit and veg out.
Life Goals
Thinking about the future is another essential aspect of finding overall wellbeing and happiness. It is through positive thinking and forward planning that we recognize our worth in the world and our full potential. Creating goals demonstrates the fundamental concept that you see value in your future. Sit down and develop some short term and long term goals in life for you to work toward. When we consider our futures we express to ourselves that there is a future to plan for. When we have a working goal in life we are able to build confidence and find a sense of accomplishment. Think of something you would like to work towards. Whether it is health related, career related, or a personal goal, having something to work toward gives us direction.
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I agree that literally “unplugging” can be so immensely useful. When I stop using the computer for even a day, I feel my mind come back to it again and again, with “I wonder if anyone’s looking at my blog” and “what if someone wrote on my wall and I don’t respond?” or “what if my boss sent me like twenty emails and needs my help right away?” but just letting them go is SO EMPOWERING. I had to do that the last couple of days because I was moving, and it was so nice to just catch myself in those thoughts and let them go. At first, they happened very close to each other. After awhile, they would pop up once each hour or so. And then, they came up more rarely. Of course, that was about the time I had to plug the computer back in and go to work
But now I am more motivated to make a day each week that is no work, no blogging, no working-on-my-book, no computer, not even any weather-checking. Just me and the world, like it used to be!