Make a Commitment to Wellness

Recently, I moved into an office at Pure Life Chiropractic. That's the practice of Dr. Matt Freedman in Eugene, Oregon. He puts out a newsletter too and one of the articles inspired me to write this. Thanks, Dr. Matt!

How would you define health and wellness?

It’s certainly not as simple as being upright and vertical, or being able to get from point A to point B without assistance. It’s also not just the absence of overt symptoms or illness.

Over 50 years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as, "A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

In addition to the WHO definition, you might choose to define “health and wellness” as a balance of body, mind and spirit. Do you feel balanced in these three areas? Can you say that you’re living up to your highest potential, living fully in every area of your life?

Not many of us will answer these questions with a resounding, unequivocal, and confident “Yes.” Well, maybe Deepak Chopra! We can say that it’s never too late to start the journey toward wellness by embracing and DOING the activities, behaviors, and lifestyle changes that will move us closer to health and wellness.

Here are some actions and behaviors that can be incorporated into your lifestyle to move you steadily toward a state of well being and health. When it comes to wellness, every little bit helps - at any age.

• Choose to eat right – Fast foods, sugar and artificial sweeteners, soft drinks and most snack food just won’t add up to wellness. Fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, grass-fed lean meats, nuts and seeds, whole grains – these are foods that promote health. Drink lots of pure, clean water. Moderate your alcohol consumption. Don’t buy unhealthy food in the first place. Remember – out of sight is out of mind. If it’s not in the kitchen, you can’t eat it.

• Make exercise a habit – Our bodies are made to move. Regular exercise can lead to a healthy cardiovascular system, while increasing your metabolism which burns more calories and prevents or reverses unhealthy weight gain. It also enhances your skeletal system including bones, muscles and ligaments. Exercise boosts your immune system and sweating helps detoxify your body. We all know that obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Proper nutrition and exercise can reverse this trend.

• Get enough sleep – Your body heals and recharges during sleep. Adult needs 7 – 8 hours of sleep nightly, young growing children and teens need even more. Sleep is necessary to restore and repair the body so it can function optimally the next day. Plan to get enough sleep and take action to correct poor sleep patterns. Your health depends on it.

• Live the healthy life – This goes beyond your physical needs. Express kindness and compassion toward yourself and others. Seek to develop a code of moral and ethical principles. Then live by them. Discover your life’s purpose. Connect with joy and connect with others, not just through Facebook or Twitter, but in person. Nurture your spirituality and religious connections. Bring someone else joy by helping others who are less fortunate.

Lastly, remember that it’s never too late to get on track to true health and wellness. Make a plan, draw up a list, then ask yourself, “What’s on my list and how will I get there?”