7 Dimensions of Ideas

Looking to try something in a specific dimension of wellness?  Here's a list of some ideas to get you started:

PHYSICAL

• Focus on boosting your immunity
• Add 10 minutes of movement into your daily routine
  Consider a walk with a friend or try alternating jumping jacks with crunches, squats, push ups, and lunges.
• Join a fitness class
• Go vegan for a day
  Research shows that a vegan diet enhances the immune system, prevents degenerative diseases and generally promotes vitality. Not to mention that it helps toward creating a sustainable and more green society!
  For more information about a vegan diet:http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm

SPIRITUAL

• Run in the rain
• Express appreciation
  Tell someone 3 things you appreciate about them.  Cultivated as a habit, this can help you build more appreciation for your life and those in it.
• Spend time in nature
  Take 15 minutes to be outside with no distractions.  Leave your cell phone inside.  Don't bother to bring the iPod.  Just sit outside and appreciate the surroundings utilizing all 5 senses.
• Read a book by a notable author on a spiritual topic
  Consider one by Eckhart Tolle, Pema Chodron, Dalai Lama, Candace Pert, or Marion Woodman

EMOTIONAL

• Say something positive to the 1st person you see
• Smile and laugh with others at least 10 times in one day
• Find 10 minutes to check in with someone to see how they are doing

OCCUPATIONAL

• Talk with someone you don't know about their profession and why they love their job:
• Update your resume
  Updating your resume can provide motivation to get a job or a better job that suits you, lead you to surprising realizations on your skills, goals, and qualifications, take charge of your career, puts yourself in position to tak on any immediate opportunities or job leads, and brings out the postive things in your life.
• Create a personal mission statement
  A mission statement will help you align your values and goals which is key for understanding what is most important to you in your work and in your life.
  This website will assist you in a step-by-step process to create your personal mission statement:  http://www.franklincovey.com/msb/ 

INTELLECTUAL

• Visit the Health and Wellness Library
  Come check out a book or a video about an area and topic in wellness of interest.  This library is located at the entrance to the fitness center in the bottom floor of Blake Student Commons and is available to all faculty, staff, and students of Bay Path College.  
• Read a newspaper article every day for a week
  Consider reading newspapers by different publishers, online and in print, from a different part of the country or world, or two articles about the same topic from newspapers with different perspectives
• Attend an invigorating lecture or watch one online
  The Bay Path College Kaleidoscope Series fosters openness, curiosity  and dialogue concerning issues and topics in our community, country, and around the world.  Can't make it to campus, check out a TED talk online for a great talk aimed to stir your curiosity.

SOCIAL

• Smile and greet the first 5 people you see in a day
• Spend 15-30 minutes with a group of friends this week
• Watch an engaging documentary

FINANCIAL

• A dollar a day
  Aim to save $1 a day.  Perhaps it is making coffee at home instead of buying it out or bringing a banana for a snack instead of stopping to grab chips.  At the end of 30 days, reward yourself with something fun for $30
• Pay yourself first
  Before you pay your bills, before you buy groceries, before you do anything else, set aside a portion of your income to save.  Think hard and long about what you want or need to save for, and ensure you are putting some of every paycheck towards that. 
• Check your credit
• Keep a spending journal
  Track every dollar you spend for a week.  Include day and date, expense item, amount spent, and if it was a need or a want.  Then review at the end of the week.  Are you surprised by anything?  What changes can you make?

The Flu and You

Are you looking to avoid the flu?  Or do you want to prevent spreading the flu?  There are a few basic tips to help you out.

·         WASH YOUR HANDS:  Use soap and warm water -- and rub hands for 15 to 20 seconds. Sing the 'Happy Birthday' song twice while rubbing, to keep track of the time.

·         SNEEZE INTO YOUR ARM:  Although most people think that coughing or sneezing into a hand is perfectly acceptable, few realize that germs are spread quickly this way.  As you begin to cough or sneeze, place your nose below the top of your arm so that the bridge of your nose is barely visible. Your nostrils and your mouth should both be covered by your sleeve, keeping your germs to yourself.

·         LOVE SICK FRIENDS FROM A DISTANCE:  One of the best things you can do for a sick friend is to let them know that you care, even from a distance.  If you have a friend that has the flu try making them a get-well basket that includes tissues, hand-sanitizer, vitamin C, etc. 

BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY

Though the basics are good preventative measure, the best is using your body’s natural defense, the immune system. 

·         EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES: Your body can build up immunity when it gets the vitamins and minerals it needs on a daily basis. The most readily available source of these vitamins and minerals is food, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.  Fill half your plate with fruits and veggies each meal.

·         GUZZLE UP: Drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day is a great way to keep the immune system up and running. Water keeps toxins flushed out, as well as helping your body maintain its regular functions.

·         MOVE YOUR BODY: Recent studies have suggested that if you complete moderate exercise just a few times every week, you can drastically reduce the number of colds that you get every year. Just 30 minutes 3 times a week is all it takes.  Drop into one of our many fitness classes such as Boxing or Zumba to making working out fun!

·         GO TO BED: People who sleep less are actually more likely than their well-rested counterparts to fight off the flu. You should aim toget 7 hours of sleep each night.