Blog Entry

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have had to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances that may cause strong feelings of stress or anxiety. While there is so much negativity and disappointment surrounding us right now, it is important that we focus on maintaining our health and wellness through establishing new routines and changing the way we think about wellness. COVID-19 has really caused the world to hyper-focus on physical health and the absence or presence of disease (for example, whether or not you have the coronavirus), but there are eight total dimensions that make up a person’s entire health and wellness. It’s important to give attention to each of the eight dimensions of your wellness, especially during these difficult times. Below are some tips and suggestions on how to address each dimension of your wellness. Remember Bearkats, “Be Well, Do Well.”

• Physical Wellness
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes a day for at least five days each week. Physical activity can help relieve stress, give you more focus, and help you sleep better. Even a short walk outside can do wonders for your health.

• Emotional Wellness
  • Scrolling through social media and listening to news reports can cause mental and emotional exhaustion. Unplug, log out, and do some deep breathing. Practicing deep breathing can help you feel calm and grounded. Try following along with this deep breathing video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fcW5cSeWwQ).

• Spiritual Wellness
  • Spiritual wellness is all about finding purpose, value, and meaning in your life (with or without organized religion), and participating in activities that are consistent with your values. Try some deep meditation or journaling to explore your purpose and reflect on your day.

• Environmental Wellness
  • The environment has a huge effect on your well-being. Venture outside and spend some time among the trees or other green spaces. If the outdoors aren’t quite your thing, consider cleaning out your closet and donating clothing you no longer wear to local shelters or charities.

• Financial Wellness
  • For many people, money is tight right now. Being financially well is all about managing your resources to live within your means. Try using apps like Mint or EveryDollar to create budgets. Or, if you’d like help from another human, schedule a consultation with the Student Money Management Center by visiting https://www.shsu.edu/dept/smmc/consultations

• Social Wellness
  • While we may all be physically distant right now, we can still maintain social relationships with others. Go on a virtual date with bae or have a Zoom game night with friends. Remember games like Words with Friends and Trivia Crack? Try downloading them to your phone and challenging your friends and family.

• Occupational Wellness
  • Occupational wellness is preparing for or participating in work that provides personal satisfaction. Set yourself up for your dream career now by putting your career goals on paper and creating a plan to accomplish them. This gives you a sense of purpose and a hope for the future, which is great for your emotional and spiritual wellness. Win-Win-Win!

• Intellectual Wellness
  • While classes may help you flex that brain of yours, don’t forget to expand your skills, knowledge, and curiosity about non-academic subjects. You can do this by finding a new podcast, documentary, or docuseries to get into. Play games that involve strategy, and read a book or journal article for fun.