WAY TO WELLNESS #50

You can undo the harms and reduce your risk from certain smoking-related damage by quitting. It is hard, but it is worth it. Make a plan to quit today and take back your life!

If you’ve never used nicotine products, commit never to start.

Check out this short video from Dr. Joseph Mercola about what happens when you quit. VIDEO LINK – CLICK HERE

Generally speaking, people like to live a life with meaning and purpose. When these personal goals are met, it creates harmony in your life, and the lives of those around you.

The spiritual realm of wellness is where we find the meaning in life events and define our individual purpose. Regardless of whether you believe in a particular religious faith, there is always something to be learned about how you see yourself in the world.

Your personal mission statement will change and evolve over time, but it can be a powerful tool that helps guide future decisions and your direction in life.

For more information and suggested steps for the process, as well as examples, please visit:
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/personal-mission-statement?fbclid=IwAR0X0i4CqlZgFrBPQI5H6c_UQ3Zk-pmgE7ia1IQNVKe829Q3pKzjEzikssc

You know how it goes, you get to work and hone in on whatever project or tasks you have going and you’re so focused in, you don’t even bother to see what anyone else is working on. What IS everyone else up to? 

Most businesses require people in different roles to make it run smoothly, but do we even know how important each person is to our team? When we have no idea how our team works together to make our company successful, it’s easy to feel frustrated when work from other departments seems to infringe on our work “turf”. 

Take a few minutes to talk to a coworker and find out what they do and how their work impacts your own. This will help you develop a greater appreciation for the contributions of others in your organization.

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering and giving to others – even in simple ways – can also help protect your mental and physical health.

The key is to find a position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing. It’s also important to make sure that your commitment matches the organization’s needs.

With physical distancing practices in play, it may be a little more challenging to find volunteer opportunities right now, but the needs are no less great than in normal times. The pandemic has even created new opportunities for volunteerism as groups around the world are working in new ways to meet the needs created by COVID-19

POSSIBLE VOLUNTEER NEEDS IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY:

• Mask making – contact your local hospital, municipal office, or community organization to see if they need homemade masks or some other precautionary materials that you may have the skills to help provide.
• Libraries or senior centers – as these centers reopen they may have a need for additional volunteers to assist with safety precautions and screening.
• Service organizations such as Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs – these types of groups may already be aware of local needs and be plugged into recurring projects in your local community.
• Local animal shelters, rescue organizations, or wildlife centers – animals still need help…even during a pandemic.
• Places of worship such as churches – with some of these places beginning to reopen, volunteers might be needed to provide additional cleaning and precautionary measures each week between services.
• Meals on Wheels/Soup Kitchen programs – With many people out of work, food insecurity has become a rising problem that may provide additional food availability/delivery opportunities.

Is laughter the best medicine for emotional health and wellness? Check out this short video from WebMD to find out how laughter can lead to some amazing health benefits! VIDEO LINK: youtu.be/0xgDtx6kxhs

Today, be on the look-out for laughter – even if you need to laugh at yourself!

There are many benefits to having plants in your living spaces. Studies suggest that plants have positive health and wellness impacts including lower blood pressure, increased productivity, and improved well-being.

Studies also show that rooms with plants contain up to 60% fewer airborne molds and bacteria, and NASA tested a number of common houseplants against indoor air pollutants, particularly ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, benzene, toluene, and xylene. High levels of VOCs in the indoor air result in several health problems, collectively called ‘sick building syndrome’. Some of them, like benzene, are known carcinogens. This chemical leaches into the air from plastics, synthetic fibers and resins in the house and can cause nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Formaldehyde emitted by paints and varnishes and the adhesives used in wall boards can irritate the respiratory tract and cause allergies.

Do you have some air cleaning plants in your living spaces already? If not, go out and get one today! 

Vision loss has a significant impact on the lives of those who experience it as well as on their families, their friends, and society. The complete loss or the deterioration of a person’s eyesight can feel frightening and overwhelming, leaving those affected to worry about their ability to maintain their independence, pay for needed medical care, retain employment, and provide for themselves and their families. The health consequences associated with vision loss extend well beyond the eye and visual system. Our vision truly plays a significant role in our health, vocation, and social well-being and should not be something that we take for granted or neglect. 

If you experience changes or problems with your vision or already wear corrective lenses, you’ll need to see your provider more regularly, but for those without a history of vision problems, doctors recommend getting regular eye exams based on your age:

• Ages 20 to 39: Every 5 years
• Ages 40 to 54: Every 2 to 4 years
• Ages 55 to 64: Every 1 to 3 years
• Ages 65 and up: Every 1 to 2 years

You’ll also want to have your eyes checked more often if you have a family history of eye disease, or have a chronic condition that puts you at risk for eye disease, like diabetes.

For kids under age 3, a pediatrician can look for common childhood problems like a lazy eye or crossed eyes. It’s a good idea to have your kids’ eyes checked before entering first grade. After that, if your family doesn’t have a history of vision problems, eye exams every one to two years should be enough.

Aside from the joys of reading to learn something new, there are neurological and mental benefits of reading, too. Studies show stress reduction, mental stimulation, memory improvement, and improved focus are just a few of the immediate benefits. It turns out there are several benefits to reading in addition to de-stressing:

• Increases lifespan
• Increases memory
• Diminishes risk of Alzheimer’s
• Reduces illness ~ physical & mental
• Reduces stress & anxiety
• Enhances sleep quality
• Enhances creativity
• Improves problem solving
• Improves analytical, writing, & conversational skills
• Expands vocabulary
• Increases learning and knowledge of the world, people, or particular subject matter
• Increases your perceptiveness when reading people & situations
• Increases your empathy
• Low cost

So what are you waiting for? Find a book and connect with someone over a mutual reading endeavor!

Self-care doesn’t have to be something expensive or that takes a long time. We have already reflected on some of the things that we know refresh us throughout our time on this 100 Ways to Wellness journey. As long as it refreshes us and gives us renewed energy and motivation, it qualifies! Much like the oxygen mask on an airplane, we will be of little use to others if we are not feeling (or functioning at) our best. Take some time for you today!

Wide-ranging research suggests that strong social ties are linked to a longer life. In contrast, loneliness and social isolation are linked to poorer health, depression, and increased risk of early death.

Studies have found that having a variety of social relationships may help reduce stress and heart-related risks. Such connections might improve your ability to fight off germs or give you a more positive outlook on life.

Physical contact can also trigger release of hormones and brain chemicals that not only make us feel great but also have other biological benefits.

We are living in unique times and we can’t just get together the way we are used to with all of these physical distancing guidelines to consider, but it pays to make relationships a priority. Make regularly occurring get-togethers a habit and use the time to strengthen your existing relationships. It doesn’t have to be a big deal thing, it can simply mean having a standing Saturday date for coffee on the porch with your bestie. You could even create a recurring group get-together in a safe way. It doesn’t matter what you do so long as you involve others.