Living a Balanced LifeLiving a Balanced Life

Presented by:Presented by:

Amanda OstgulenAmanda Ostgulen

Office of Student Office of Student Engagement, KU Medical Engagement, KU Medical

CenterCenter

The Plan…The Plan…

What is balance?What is balance? What is wellness?What is wellness? Definitions and Dimensions of Definitions and Dimensions of

wellnesswellness Exploring Wellness and the Benefits Exploring Wellness and the Benefits

of Being Balancedof Being Balanced The ChallengeThe Challenge

What is Balance?What is Balance?

According to According to www.dictionary.com::

1. a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal 1. a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.distribution of weight, amount, etc.

2. mental steadiness or emotional stability; 2. mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.

3. the power or ability to decide an 3. the power or ability to decide an outcome by throwing one's strength, outcome by throwing one's strength, influence, support, or the like, to one side influence, support, or the like, to one side or the other.or the other.

What is wellness?What is wellness?

HealthHealth HappinessHappiness Balance Balance

ExerciseExercise Rest Rest Positivity Positivity

Healthy meals FaithHealthy meals Faith Long Life Long Life

Open Minded Confident Centered Open Minded Confident Centered Intellectual Intellectual Positive Relationships Positive Relationships

DefinitionDefinition

Webster defines wellness as: Webster defines wellness as:

1.the quality or state of being healthy 1.the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, esp. as the result in body and mind, esp. as the result of a deliberate effort. of a deliberate effort.

2.an approach to healthcare that 2.an approach to healthcare that emphasizes preventing illness and emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life, as opposed to prolonging life, as opposed to emphasizing treating diseases. emphasizing treating diseases.

DimensionsDimensions

The Student Wellness program at The Student Wellness program at KUMC focuses on 6 areas….KUMC focuses on 6 areas….

1. Cultural1. Cultural 4. Physical4. Physical

2. Emotional 2. Emotional 5. Social 5. Social

3. Intellectual3. Intellectual 6. Spiritual6. Spiritual

Exploring the 6 aspects of wellnessExploring the 6 aspects of wellness

CulturalCultural Cultural competence is the capacity to work Cultural competence is the capacity to work

effectively with people from a variety of ethnic, effectively with people from a variety of ethnic, cultural, political, economic, and religious cultural, political, economic, and religious backgrounds. backgrounds.

It is being aware of how our own culture influence It is being aware of how our own culture influence

how we view others.how we view others. The first step toward being more culturally competent

is self-awareness. To understand and appreciate the culture of others, we must first understand and appreciate our own.

Then, begin to educate yourself.

Exploring the 6 aspects of wellnessExploring the 6 aspects of wellness

EmotionalEmotional Emotional health is possibly the most Emotional health is possibly the most

important!! important!! Self-acceptance and self-confidence are Self-acceptance and self-confidence are

essential components, as is the ability to essential components, as is the ability to share our feelings with others. share our feelings with others.

It is impossible to stop emotions from It is impossible to stop emotions from happening, so being able to cope happening, so being able to cope effectively and in healthy ways is of great effectively and in healthy ways is of great importance.importance.

Part of emotional wellness is taking care of Part of emotional wellness is taking care of yourself so that you are in top emotional yourself so that you are in top emotional shape to deal with life’s stresses. shape to deal with life’s stresses.

Exploring the 6 aspects of wellnessExploring the 6 aspects of wellness

IntellectualIntellectual Intellectual wellness is the utilization of human Intellectual wellness is the utilization of human

resources and learning resources to expand resources and learning resources to expand knowledge and improve skills. knowledge and improve skills.

Those who would be intellectually healthy are open Those who would be intellectually healthy are open to new ideas, think critically, and seek out new to new ideas, think critically, and seek out new challenges. They have a sense of humor and a sense challenges. They have a sense of humor and a sense of their place in the world. in order to enhance their of their place in the world. in order to enhance their potential for living a more fulfilling life.potential for living a more fulfilling life.

You'll spend more time appreciating and thinking You'll spend more time appreciating and thinking about the scenery along the path-pursuing interests, about the scenery along the path-pursuing interests, reading books, magazines, and newspapers. You reading books, magazines, and newspapers. You may even discover a natural interest in keeping may even discover a natural interest in keeping abreast of current issues and ideas. abreast of current issues and ideas.

Exploring the 6 aspects of wellnessExploring the 6 aspects of wellness

PhysicalPhysical The physical dimension of wellness promotes taking care The physical dimension of wellness promotes taking care

of your body for optimal health and functioning.of your body for optimal health and functioning. It is the also the ability to apply your motivation, It is the also the ability to apply your motivation,

behavior, self-management, attitude and skills toward behavior, self-management, attitude and skills toward achieving your personal fitness and health goals. achieving your personal fitness and health goals.

Our bodies function for us in countless ways every day Our bodies function for us in countless ways every day by allowing us to work, rest, eat, and play. Often times by allowing us to work, rest, eat, and play. Often times we expect our bodies to perform these tasks while giving we expect our bodies to perform these tasks while giving little back in return. little back in return.

Attending to your Attending to your medical health is just as important, and includes getting check-ups on a regular basis and seeking treatment for illness.

Optimal physical health is attained through exercise, Optimal physical health is attained through exercise, eating well, sleeping and resting according to our body’s eating well, sleeping and resting according to our body’s needs.needs.

Exploring the 6 aspects of wellnessExploring the 6 aspects of wellness

Social The social dimension of wellness emphasizes the The social dimension of wellness emphasizes the

inter-dependence with others and nature. It is inter-dependence with others and nature. It is important to examine the degree of important to examine the degree of connectedness you currently have with connectedness you currently have with individuals, your community and the world individuals, your community and the world around youaround you

By fostering a positive self-image and improving By fostering a positive self-image and improving interpersonal skills, one can enhance the building interpersonal skills, one can enhance the building of a just and caring community. of a just and caring community.

Social health consists not only of our personal Social health consists not only of our personal relationships but also our relationship to our relationships but also our relationship to our community. The contributions we make to community. The contributions we make to society make our lives meaningful and leave a society make our lives meaningful and leave a legacy of purpose and commitment for those who legacy of purpose and commitment for those who follow us. follow us.

Exploring the 6 aspects of wellnessExploring the 6 aspects of wellness

SpiritualSpiritual Spiritual wellness refers to integrating our Spiritual wellness refers to integrating our

beliefs and values with our actions. beliefs and values with our actions. A sense of purpose, direction, and awareness A sense of purpose, direction, and awareness

are important. are important. The first step in developing values and spiritual The first step in developing values and spiritual

wellness is to examine your own values: wellness is to examine your own values: respect, honesty, human life, family, education, respect, honesty, human life, family, education, religion, health, wealth, community service, religion, health, wealth, community service,

diversity.diversity.

What are others saying about What are others saying about wellness?wellness?

Donald B Ardell, PhD writes in High Level Donald B Ardell, PhD writes in High Level Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs and Disease:and Disease:

Research suggests that the “wellest of the well” (aka well-Research suggests that the “wellest of the well” (aka well-balanced people) possess the following qualities, to an balanced people) possess the following qualities, to an uncommon degree…uncommon degree…

High self esteem and positive outlookHigh self esteem and positive outlook A sense of purpose and personal responsibilityA sense of purpose and personal responsibility Free from addictive behaviors of a negative or unhealthy Free from addictive behaviors of a negative or unhealthy

naturenature A good sense of humor and plenty of fun in lifeA good sense of humor and plenty of fun in life A concern for others and respect for the environmentA concern for others and respect for the environment A sense of balance and an integrated lifestyleA sense of balance and an integrated lifestyle Physically fitPhysically fit A capacity to love and the ability to nurtureA capacity to love and the ability to nurture A capacity to manage life demands and communicate A capacity to manage life demands and communicate

effectivelyeffectively

Balance: 10 things to considerBalance: 10 things to consider

1.1. You must make the decisionsYou must make the decisions

2.2. You must express your talentsYou must express your talents

3.3. Accept that change is inevitableAccept that change is inevitable

4.4. Your lifestyle choices have an Your lifestyle choices have an impact on your healthimpact on your health

5.5. Make sure you are having fun!!Make sure you are having fun!!

Balance: things to consider Balance: things to consider cont…cont…

6.6. Do not put all of your trust in Do not put all of your trust in medicinemedicine

7.7. Be flexibleBe flexible

8.8. It is better to take up a healthy It is better to take up a healthy practice than to give up an practice than to give up an unhealthy oneunhealthy one

9.9. Accidents do not happenAccidents do not happen

10.10. It is never too late to startIt is never too late to start

Finding Balance = WellnessFinding Balance = Wellness

Balance is the key to leading a healthy Balance is the key to leading a healthy lifestylelifestyle.. Wellness is the dynamic Wellness is the dynamic process of becoming aware of, taking process of becoming aware of, taking responsibility for, and making choices responsibility for, and making choices that directly contribute to one's well that directly contribute to one's well being and that of the common good. It being and that of the common good. It is the integration of body, mind and is the integration of body, mind and spirit and the ongoing development of spirit and the ongoing development of one's own meaning in life.one's own meaning in life.

The ChallengeThe Challenge

• What can you do to lead a well-What can you do to lead a well-balanced life??balanced life??

• What areas of wellness need to be What areas of wellness need to be improved in order for you to be improved in order for you to be balanced?balanced?