As we reach the end of the school year, some of us find our schedules opening up for more “down time,” while the rest of us might find our schedules just as busy as before. Either way, summer can sometimes prove to be a difficult season to continue working on our seven dimensions of wellness.
Nicer weather comes hand-in-hand with warmer temperatures. This sometimes prevents us from being as active as we want to be, in effort to avoid the seasonal heat.
Here is a list of ways to keep on track with your wellness during the summer months:
Physical: Stay hydrated
Replace your tall glass of lemonade with an even taller glass of ice water! Water is essential for every bodily function, because we’re actually made of 70 percent water. Not drinking enough water can lead to various health problems and leaves us feeling drained of energy.
Social: Have lunch with an old friend
Reconnecting with old friends is a great way to rekindle relationships and support your social wellness. Relationships with others can improve your general satisfaction, attitudes and happiness.
Environmental: Walk it off
One way to develop environmental wellness is through an act of sustainability. For example, making your travel environmental friendly. On a nice day, enjoy the weather by walking or going on a bike ride.
Spiritual: Explore somewhere new
Taking time to expand your experiences by exploring a new place can do wonders for your spiritual wellness. Whether you are traveling to a different city, or just trying out a new coffee shop in town, taking time for you to engage in new experiences opens up more opportunity to connect with yourself.
Intellectual: Get creative!
Try doing something creative for five minutes every day. Draw a quick picture with colored pencils just for fun or write a short poem. Even the smallest burst of creativity may inspire you.
Vocational: Do what you enjoy
Take up a hobby that suits your personality, interests or talents. Vocational wellness is closely tied to personal values. Spending time working on something that you truly enjoy is not only healthy, but is great practice as well.
Emotional: Stay positive
Between surrounding yourself with positive people and getting rid of any negative thoughts as they come to mind, keeping a positive attitude will help you enjoy summer even more. Take some time out of your day to lie outside, catch some rays, read a book, and soak in all that you have to be thankful for.
Whether you have a newfound abundance of time, or still need to schedule moments throughout your week, keep up the hard work on balancing each of the seven dimensions of wellness.
Enjoy a fun, safe, and healthy summer!
Join SEVEN and discover wellness at Illinois State
Challenge yourself to make YOU a priority! SEVEN is a free program from Health Promotion and Wellness for students, faculty, and staff that focuses on the importance of the seven dimensions of wellness: emotional, environment, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual, and vocational.
SEVEN runs from September to the end of April, and you can join at any time. Log wellness activities to earn points toward monthly prize drawings. Participants also receive the SEVEN newsletter and information on campus wellness events.
For more information, visit Wellness.IllinoisState.edu/Seven.
