Hey everybody! I’m Bethany. I’m a Youth Peer Support Specialist with Youth MOVE NH. I have been with Youth MOVE NH for a few months now and I have enjoyed being a part of the team. When I first heard about this position, I was thrilled. I always wanted someone in my corner who “got it” and now I get the opportunity to be that for others.
As I have traveled this journey to wellness, I have learned that are many different facets to wellness and when we miss one, we can be left feeling depleted and incomplete. When we feel like this, it can leak over into other parts of our wellness and lives. This is something that can be a challenge at times when we are busy and have schedules and other responsibilities to care for. Today I’d like to talk about a couple of those areas and share a few ideas as well.
The way we feel when we skimp on one area is different for everyone. I know personally that my physical wellness is a huge thing. If I do not get enough physical activity or if I don’t balance the not so healthy food choices with healthier choices, I feel worn out and not myself. Getting enough physical activity can come in many different forms. You can walk, run, or any number of things. I love trying new things to get my body moving. So don’t be afraid to try anything that peaks your interest and maybe even some things that you’re unsure about. You may be surprised. When it comes to eating healthy, balance is key. You don’t have to be strict and cut out foods that you enjoy because they are deemed unhealthy; just make sure to balance them with foods that fuel your body with necessary nutrients.
Another important part of overall wellness is emotional wellness. I am someone who tends to bottle my emotions up and I continue to work on finding healthy ways of letting my emotions out. There are so many ways of getting your emotions out instead of keeping them inside of you. You can find someone you trust and talk or vent about what is going on. This can sometimes be hard and the idea of trusting and sharing with another person can be a barrier. If you find it more appealing, you can keep a journal, which is my personal favorite. You can even write poetry or songs in it. If you prefer to write electronically, you might consider starting a blog which could be made private or public. Even, if no one else reads it, the simple act of getting your thoughts and feeling out can be helpful and necessary release. I hope this blog post has given you some ideas about ways to address different facets of your overall wellness - Thanks so much for reading!
P.S. Want to learn more about SAMHSA’s 8 dimensions of wellness? Take a look here!
