To kick off our summer wellness series, we wanted to start with the topic of physical wellness. Often times the first thing we think of in connection to physical wellness is nutrition and exercise. Although these are very important, we also want to make sure we touch on other factors that can help or hinder you to feel your best self.

Physical Activity:

Our bodies are made to be active so it is important to keep them in the best state that we can. Why? There are SO MANY benefits to physical activity that directly relate tour overall health! Physical activity and exercise can help you sleep better, manage stress, and is a very strong predictor to reduce risks of health problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure. The American Heart Association outlines these and many more here: Physical activity improves quality of life.  

Nutrition:

Eating well is also an important aspect of physical wellness.  Many of us have heard the saying “You are what you eat,” and while it is not to be taken literally, there is truth to this statement. What we put into our bodies provides us with the energy we use each day, so we want to be mindful that what we are using to fuel our bodies is making us feel our best! The USDA and their MyPlate guidelines give a great overview of the major food group and how they contribute to a healthy diet.

Here are some other areas of physical wellness that you might not think of right way that you should also consider with physical wellness:

Sleep:

We all at one time or another have felt like we have not gotten enough sleep. It is not always easy or realistic to get a full night sleep every night, but surprisingly the effects of sleep deprivation can effect your body both short and long term in your life. Making a point to go to bed an extra hour earlier a few times a week can give your body that extra time to recharge and help you feel your best.

Routine Medical Check:

A great way to be proactive with your health is to stay on track with any routine medical examinations. This includes a routine physical/dental exams as well as other procedures that might be suggested based on your age or family history. The CDC provides some great resources on how to prepare for your next routine exam so you can make the most of your time with your doctor or physician.

So now that we have introduced some of these areas of physical wellness, we want to keep the conversation going! Visit our Virtual Student Union and click on the Summer Wellness Series discussion forum to dive into this topic more!  We will explore goal setting, sharing experiences with other students and finding resources to help you improve or maintain your physical health!

How are you staying active this summer? Let us know know on Twitter using the hashtag #commit2fit