Eight Dimensions of Wellness: Physical Wellness
Scrolling through Instagram while I'm supposed to be getting ready for the gym...lucky me I follow a lot of fitness pages so I quickly remember what it is I'm should be doing. They say the hardest part is getting to the gym and once you get there it's "smooth sailing" after that so let's smoothly sail into our next dimension of wellness shall we......
Physical wellness promotes proper care of our bodies for optimal health and functioning. There are many elements of physical wellness that all must be cared for together such as routine medical exams, immunizations, sexually transmitted infection screenings, adequate sleep, and more. Overall physical wellness encourages the balance of physical activity, nutrition and mental well-being to keep your body in top condition. It is also about avoiding or minimizing risky behaviors like alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Most importantly, physical wellness is about discovering what healthy habits make you feel better and suit your lifestyle and level of mobility and fitness.
I've been running around and into working out since I can remember from playing outside, climbing trees, and being in summer camps as a child to basketball gyms and weight rooms. I felt like I had this physical wellness thing down and under control...until about my last 2.5 years of basketball. I would literally roll out of the bed (it wasn't that far of a drop) feeling like I got hit by a bus. I used to sit on the floor and contemplate life and whether this basketball thing was really for me. I'd take pain killers and electrolytes before every game I played (oh yea can't forget the drinking on the weekends too). Needless to say my body was going through a lot!!! I was in a lot of pain and soreness, the painkillers, ice baths, and occasional chiropractor visits seemed to feel less effective as time went on and I couldn't wait to just sit down and rest. After basketball ended and I entered grad school in addition to still working out I got into yoga and meditation, cleaned up my eating, stopped taking medicine, still participated in drinking activities (just not as heavy and as frequent as before), and I couldn't even begin to tell you what sleep was. I could feel my body changing and correcting itself as some of the inflammation began to go away. Although I didn't have the best sleep schedule during grad school I still gained a lot of feeling and mobility that I didn't have before. I was able to feel and sense different things as my body began to change. Being aware of those changes motivates me to unlock the full potential of my body and pinpoint different areas I need to improve.
Fast forward to today I still workout, meditate, eat clean majority of the time (it gets a little difficult when I travel), participate in drinking activities, and don't take medicine. My sleep has gotten better but it's not where it should be but I'm working on it by trying to clear my mind before I lay down, meditating and stretching and not being on my phone 30 minutes prior. I am going to start going back to the chiropractor regularly as well as trying to incorporate acupuncture every once in awhile and keeping up with my regular check ups. One of the last things people worry about when they move is finding new doctors. Some insurance companies have databases that you can search for doctors in your area; but there are various stores with pharmacies that offer free shots, screenings, and testings as well if you can't manage to get around to a doctor.
My goal for my physical wellness is to continue to reduce inflammation and scar tissue from old injuries, be properly aligned, and learn and be in tune with how my body functions. Physical wellness has such a huge impact on your mental wellness, self-esteem, and self-control! When I neglect my physical wellness I definitely feel sluggish and start overthinking and doubting myself with some of the smallest things so I try to workout consistently so I don't go crazy.
Don't be afraid to stir up the tea in your own life; explore your own physical wellness by starting to workout for at least 30 mins 3-4 times a week or switching up your workout routine. Take a closer look at your nutrition, cut out junk food and fast foods and add more water, fruits, and vegetables. Try different recovery techniques, chiropractor, acupuncture, yoga, massage therapy, foam rolling, etc. Oh yea and try to get more sleep and stay up to date on your check ups!
