[MUSIC]
NARRATOR: Whole Health starts with me. I am the expert
on my life, values, goals, and priorities. But I need to pause
and take time to reflect on why I want my health. It is
important to think about what matters most to me and what
brings me joy and happiness. These are the things that should
really drive my choices about my health and my health care.
Focusing on my priorities and how to live my life to the
fullest will set the tone and direction for my health care
team as we work together to reach my goals. That's why I'm
at the center of the Components of Proactive Health and
Well-Being. The inner circle represents not only my body and
my mind, but also my values and my priorities. I can use mindful
awareness to notice changes in the state of my body and my
mind, and respond in ways that improve my health. I'm
partnering with my health care team and finding support in
their professional care, as well as my community, whether near
where I live or at a distance. I use a mindful approach as I
think about the eight areas of self-care to make sure I'm doing
all that I can to balance them. I'd like to talk to you about
each of these areas of self-care that support my overall
well-being. Working your body involves exercise and movement.
It is important to find things that work for me, things that I
enjoy doing, whether it's walking, gardening, dancing, or
lifting weights. I know that when I get moving, there are
proven positive effects for both my body and mind, like lowering
blood pressure, making my joints more flexible, and actually
increasing my happiness. Surroundings affect my health
and well-being, too. I pay close attention to how my environment
influences my life and health. When I'm feeling stressed or
overwhelmed, incorporating nature into my surroundings and
cleaning or tidying the spaces around me can help. When
possible, I surround myself with calming colors, look at a
picture or a drawing, or listen to music to help me feel more
relaxed. Other times, I might need to address safety, noise,
or lighting. I control the things that I can to create a
safe, comfortable, and healthy space. Personal development
includes my life at and away from work. It is important to
think about how I can approach each day with activities that
are meaningful and leave me feeling fulfilled and energized.
My job, finances, and hobbies affect not only my happiness but
also my health. Recreational activities like art, writing,
and sports can contribute to my personal development and enhance
my overall well-being. Food and drink keep my mind and my body
properly fueled, and can have a great effect on how I feel day
to day. I have learned to be more aware of the choices I
make, and now I enjoy choosing things that help me feel my
best. I strive to make healthy eating habits fit into my
lifestyle. And I limit consumption of anything that
interferes with my well-being. I recharge to get enough sleep and
rest, and unwind with calming activities. I plan ahead to
incorporate relaxation into every day, which lowers my
stress and helps me feel recharged. A mindful approach to
recharging my mind and body results in a good balance
between activity and rest to help me be at my best. Family,
friends, and coworkers are a source of strength. Maintaining
positive social relationships and talking with people who care
about me and listen to me enhances my well-being. I have
learned to be aware of relationships that are not
positive and do not fuel me, and I can choose to limit them.
Spirit and soul encompasses the sense of meaning and purpose in
my life. When things are hard, where can I turn for strength
and comfort? Spiritual or religious faith, quiet time
alone, helping others, and connecting with nature, art, or
music are all examples of ways I can nurture my spirit and soul.
Now that I know spirituality is part of my health, I turn my
attention here at least once a day. Before, I never knew how
this approach could help me. Power of the mind is my ability
to use my mind to affect my body. I have learned that I can
use relaxation and stress management techniques to lower
blood pressure, control pain, and more. By using mind-body
practices, I can learn to heal and cope more effectively.
Beyond self-care, there are two other pieces of my whole health.
Professional care includes prevention and treatment of
illness or disease, using both traditional and complementary
and integrative health approaches. Preventive care
includes things like immunizations and cancer
screenings. Complementary and integrative health includes
techniques like meditation, yoga, acupuncture, and mind-body
therapies. Community is more than where I live, work, and
worship. It includes all the people in groups I connect with,
whether they're close by or far away. These components come
together to influence my health and well-being. Continue through
this video series to learn about the specifics of each part of
the circle, as well as how the components work together to
support your Whole Health.
[MUSIC]