When you think about wellness, what comes to mind?  Maybe eating right?  Yoga?  Possibly some massage therapy?  Being happy?  I don’t know about you, but that’s what I think about.  But how do you get started on those things and why are they good to incorporate into your life?  Keep reading this blog and together we will find out.

Headspace

One of the hardest things for us to do sometimes is finding time to ourselves.  And no, I’m not talking about sitting on the couch watching TV eating Doritos, I’m talking about sitting, enjoying the peace and quiet, while clearing your head of all the stress and hectic thoughts.  There’s a difference between mindlessly watching TV and purposely choosing to be in silence and listen to your surroundings and block everything out.  When I originally wanted to start incorporating this reflection time into my life I needed guidance, so I went looking for something that would help.  I wanted something hands on and easily accessible—what better than to check the app store?  I discovered an application called Headspace and it’s exactly what you need to have a personal meditation trainer.  It allows you to set a time that you want to designate as a 10-minute meditation period.  And even if you don’t want to rely on an app to remind you to meditate for 10 minutes a day, at least try to find some time to yourself.  I always find it best in the morning.  We all know that early 5 AM or 6 AM morning silence.  The peace and quiet before the world wakes up.  Take advantage of that.  You’ll not only improve your mood, but you’ll find yourself able to sleep better, worry less, listen better, eat better, and have less stress in your life.  Sounds like a great thing especially when we are getting so close to finals, right…?

Eat Right

At this point this probably sounds like I’m beating healthy eating over your head.  I hate to say it, but shouldn’t this come across as something you should consider?  The statistics don’t lie.  Healthy eating can improve your productivity, mental state, and overall improve your lifestyle.  While I hate to preach, this is one of those things that I truly believe can make a positive impact on your life.  While I would love to make pizza my meal at least 5 times a week, it is never the best option for you.  Don’t have any idea what to cook?  No excuses!  Use resources like Food Network or Pinterest to find great, healthy recipes.  There are even budget conscious recipes and honestly, cutting out some of your unhealthy habits may save you money.  Think about how much you spend on soda, snacks, or other beverage items that are burning a hole in your pocket.  If you spend your money on vegetables, fruit, and drink water (it’s not that bad!), as well as challenge yourself to make at least 3 to 5 home-cooked meals a week then you will be helping yourself to having a healthier lifestyle as well as possibly lengthen your life!  And who doesn't love more birthdays?

Massage Therapy

Some of you may be rolling your eyes at this, but I think this is something that should be enjoyed by everyone.  Last year I injured my back and experienced the most physically limited 6 months of my life.  I thought that was the end of enjoying the gym and playing soccer, but about 4 months into my recovery my doctor mentioned massage therapy—or more specifically, muscular therapy—to see if that would help my mobility come back.  I took the suggestion and very cautiously found a massage therapist to see to get some help.  I cannot stress enough that without the muscular therapy I know for a fact that I would not have the mobility that I have today.  Not only did it help my back, but I found it to be the one hour a week that I could have time in silence and to relax.  In other words, it’s the one place a week that I don’t complain about having to be somewhere.  So, if you’re experiencing any kind of tension headaches, back aches, or you simply want to enjoy having sore muscles worked on, don’t hesitate to find a massage therapist to help you.

Be Active

Maybe meditation and massage therapy isn’t your sort of thing, but how about yoga or other ways of getting active like going on a walk or taking your bike for a spin?  I know the theme of this blog is coming off as a very pro-zen, but keep in mind that these are to give you ideas.  I have only tried yoga a few times, and honestly, I would be just fine with taking a long walk to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.  Especially here in the Midwest, you truly do need to appreciate the good sunny days, because Spring is here and gone before we know it and then we will all be hugging our A/C’s as the 90 to over 100-degree weather moves in.  If you’re a student take advantage of the ARC, it’s free for you to use and if you are on campus over the summer I guarantee it’ll be the best time to go workout there and enjoy the outdoor pool to swim some laps.  Not a student?  Look for different gyms around town such as the Refinery, Planet Fitness, Charter Fitness, Fitness Center, etc… and look for great places to go for a run at outside such as around Centennial Park or Dodds Park.  There are plenty of great walking routes that will help you to get outside and not only get your miles in, but enjoy the weather too.

Spend Time with Others

With all this talk of spending time by yourself I don’t want you to get the impression that surrounding yourself with friends or family or even meeting new people is a bad thing.  In fact, I highly encourage this.  Because while meditating or taking a long walk alone may be a great way to bring yourself peace, you may find yourself even happier if you choose to share those moments with others.  We’re all human, which means we all need interaction with another human.  Even if you aren’t the most social person, having at least one person to talk to via text, on the phone, Skype, or in person can help get you out of your head.  Challenge yourself to make friends if you are new to the area, especially if you’ll be on campus this summer and your friends who you’ve bonded with all year won’t be.  I’ve been there, and while making new friends can be difficult, it can be very rewarding in the end to know that you have someone nearby to connect with.

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