Monday, September 3, 2012

Unit 9 Final


I.                   Introduction:

Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically? What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?

Health care professionals need to develop psychologically because they need to be mentally strong.  Candace Pert states that “if we can control, dissipate, and transform the negative emotions that occupy our mind, we could simultaneously reverse their deleterious effect on the body” (Dacher, 2006, pg 17).  The spiritual ways are to know everyone is different and we believe in different things.  Spiritual well-being is important to the mind and body.  We all need to learn how to have peace in our life.  Physical fitness will be a positive gain to the health of a person.  Connecting a physical workout to a mind and body can increase “strength, flexibility, and endurance (Dacher, 2006).  My goals are not of spiritual, but more for psychological and physical.  Once these are achieved, I can focus more on the spiritual.

II.                Assessment:

How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?

My assessment of health needs to be worked on.  I seem to go through each day as easy as I can, but take on too much stress. I have learned that I cannot change the way some things are in one day or even by myself.  As I sit here and think, I score my spiritual wellbeing as a 4, my physical wellbeing as a 7, and my psychological wellbeing as a 6.

III.             Goal Development:

List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.

A goal for my physical development is to actually exercise.  I need to start doing more cardio fitness.  I have been wanting to try that zumba, but just seeing it makes me tired. I have to get over this in my lazy head.  A goal for my psychological development is to stop taking on so much at one time.  I have to learn to say no and be fine with that decision.  A goal for my spiritual development is hard to do.  I would guess that I need to not worry so much and learn to let things go. 

IV.             Practices for Personal Health:

What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.

Physical-The strategies I can implement is to; 1. Do more cardio exercises, such as cycling and jogging. 2. Do more actual physical exercises such as zumba.

Psychological-The strategies I can implement is to; 1. Do more mental exercises such as Sudoku. 2. Focus less on the stress and more on the relaxation.

Spiritual-The strategies for this are a bit harder for me.  However, what I have learned in this class has put me on the right path.  1. The meditation. 2. The enjoyment of nature.

V.                Commitment:

How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months? What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?

I find this a good question.  I can assess my progress by doing my meditation practices that I have learned in this class. I enjoyed the subtle mind exercise. I have been using this more at night, and it has helped me sleep.  The strategies that I will use will be the book I have from this class and my teachings.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Unit 8

I think out of all of the exercises the one that I liked the most was the subtle mind.  I enjoyed the sounds, there was no one talking the whole time.  I found it very soothing.  It was easier to focus.  I felt more relaxed. 
The other one would be the meditation/mindfulness.  Like I said in my last blog, I have been doing this more at night and it has been helping me to sleep, but I am still getting these vivid dreams. I wonder if it is cleaning it out :).

I will try to keep implementing these practices throughout to keep my mental fitness.

Jennifer

Monday, August 20, 2012

Unit 7

Mindfulness or meditation has helped me to be calmer throughout my day. Even at night I try to do one of these exercises to help me sleep and get out all the thoughts in my head. What I have noticed though is that I have been having more vivid dreams. I wonder why that is?

I guess the saying from our book can apply to health and wellness by having an understanding of another persons feelings. From working in health care I feel that I can not be understanding of another person completely.  I don't feel that it is an obligation.  I would not use that word.  I feel that it is a skill or a gift maybe, but not an obligation.  I think I can implement psychological and spiritual growth in my life by being kinder to myself.  I should not let the little things bother me. I am getting better at that.

Jennifer

Monday, August 13, 2012

Unit 6

I like that phrase it made me really stop and think of others that may be worse off than myself, or if another is going through something hard and I thought how can I help them. It was hard to close my eyes and remember each sentence, but I got through it. 
My psychospiritual is my source of difficulty. The fitness is my level of development that I am stuck on.  I find myself lazy and wanting to exercise. The area I need to focus on for growth and development is to start doing maybe some yoga, that could help me with stress and relaxation. I am up for any ideas on some activities that I can do to help with greater wellness.
Have a great week,
Jennifer

Monday, August 6, 2012

The Subtle Mind

My mind was very busy today. It was hard for me not to drift away. As this was giving me the sounds of waves I put my bad day on a raft and pushed it into the waves away from me.  As I did this I started to feel better and a bit more relaxed.  I really like the sounds, my breathing got better.  To compare it to the loving kindness, I found the subtle mind to be easier and better. I could not do the loving kindness that easy.



Exercise has helped with both the physical and mental health.  It provides a balance. In a way it goes hand-in-hand. I have a lot of stress and to be honest, it is even more stressful right now for me.  I just got a new job so I am trying to go through that process, and that process is making me feel like I am going to work for the President.  I am still working at my current job, I am doing school work, and getting my kids ready to start school in a week--I am going crazy!

Jennifer Johnson-Orchard

UNIT 5 PROJECT

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B18ZdE21hyT8THFiUFFwc1VzSDQ/edit

Monday, July 30, 2012

Mental Health Workout

Mental workout? Well I guess this can be in different ways for each person. Some like yoga, some may do some running or bicycling. There are many studies that help with growth factors of new nerve cells.  The brain is positively affected by exercise that this can increase chemicals in our brains.  Exercise of any kind will have a positive mental benefit.

I personally am not one who exercises. I used to do yoga everyday, but I just have gotten to be so tired. I wonder if it could be from a full time job, school, kids, a house, a husband, etc......I guess I could try to take some time out and take a walk every day.

Jennifer O.