Wellbeing and Me > Wellness

Good health, both physical and mental, is a key component for our wellbeing. We each must do our best to promote our own physical health and foster an environment that enhances our mental health. But how can we accomplish these tasks?

Promoting good physical health involves several key components, which you've probably heard about from your doctor, on TV, in school or at work, or from reading the newspaper or magazines. Regular exercise is important for cardiovascular fitness, maintaining agility and an appropriate weight for your body size, and the release of endorphins, which increase one’s sense of “feeling good”. A balanced diet “fuels” your body by providing the proper nutrients for it to function optimally. A variety of foods that offer the proper balance of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables is essential, as is the consumption of sufficient amounts of calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals. You’re probably also aware of the importance of moderation in fat and sugar intake, the use of salt, and alcohol consumption. All of these factors impact your physical wellness in many ways: your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer and low bone density; and the enhancement of your mobility, independence, and mental acuity in later life. You need to pay attention to all of these components to promote your own physical wellness.

Good mental health tends to be a little less tangible, but is equally important for overall wellness of mind and body. Utilizing stress management techniques is vital for mental health, and also plays a role in physiological wellbeing through the mind-body interrelationship. Being involved in loving, supportive relationships with family and friends is equally essential for maintaining sound mental health; even relationships with pets can foster this important sense of connectedness. Unhealthy use of substances is another factor that plays into mental health: being under the influence, while temporarily making us feel good, impedes our ability to deal with the different issues going on in our lives, resulting in us staying “stuck“. Last, but not least, since we all know that no matter how much we strive to take care of ourselves, challenges present themselves to us at different times in our lives, it is important to be willing to reach out and get help when needed to support good mental health—in other words, make use of your EAP, T.E.A.M., whenever barriers to good health get in your way.

To get more information about your wellness and links to other great resources, please visit the Life Enhancement Services section of T.E.A.M.’s website. If you’d like to schedule an appointment to meet with a T.E.A.M. counselor to discuss your wellness, call us at 1-800-448-TEAM (8326).