Breaking Down Balance
By The Center for Cura Personalis
Wake up. Press Snooze. Wake up again. Find something to eat. Find a coffee. Get to class. Try to learn something. Go to next class. Try to learn something else. Find something else to eat. Work on homework. Volunteer somewhere. Work on more homework. Hang with friends or family. Take care of other responsibilities. Find something to eat. Catch up on current events. Brush teeth. Get to bed. Repeat.
While every student is different, most days are packed full of school-related activities, work or service, friends or family, and trying to find a way to balance it all. As your Zag settles into the new semester, you can help make sure they are finding balance in their college journey. Within Gonzaga University’s Center for Cura Personalis, we operate using a model for wellness that emphasizes eight areas of life that require care and attention in order for us to be healthy and balanced human beings: Occupational, Physical, Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, Emotional, Environmental, and Financial. We know eight can be overwhelming so we’ve highlighted five of the dimensions below with tips for helping your Zag excel in each dimension:
Occupational: This dimension emphasizes a person’s ability to contribute their unique talents, skills, and abilities to ones work. Being healthy and balanced occupationally means that we are choosing a career or volunteer opportunity that is consistent with our values, interests, and beliefs. It also means we should find our chosen field to be rewarding and meaningful.
Tip: Help your Zag by challenging them to find an occupation (while on campus or when they graduate) that is meaningful to him or her and in line with their unique talents and abilities. Encourage your Zag to speak with a staff member in Career and Professional Development.
Social: In this dimension, being socially balanced means one has a sense of connection, belonging, and a support system. It is the dimension in which one learns that they create their environment as much as they are a part of it. In this dimension of wellness a person builds relationships, contributes to the common good, and can live harmoniously with others.
Tip: Encourage your Zag to join a club or attend events on campus and to build diverse and meaningful relationships with a variety of people. Your student can log on to Zagtivities to view many campus events and offerings.
Intellectual: A person who is intellectually well learns new things, advances current skills, and shares his or her gifts with others. Learning to solve problems, pursuing personal interests, and challenging one’s mind are all components to intellectual wellness.
Tip: Encourage your Zag to keep learning outside of the classroom. Invite them to dig for answers in their classes, personal life, and interests and attend guest lectures on campus.
Spiritual: In being spiritually well, a person continuously seeks purpose and understanding of human existence. A person who is considered spiritually well will live in such a way that their actions align with their values and beliefs. It’s important to note that the journey to spiritual wellness is just that – a journey – and a person who ponders their faith, their beliefs, and their values is on the right path.
Tip: Talk to your Zag about their spirituality and invite them to reflect on it regularly and to participate in one of University Ministry’s retreats.
Emotional: Working towards emotional wellness means that one learns to accept their feelings: anger, sadness, joy, anxiety, love, etc. A person who is emotionally well is able to manage their feelings and emotions effectively and optimistically. They are able to experience the emotions that life brings rather than denying them.
Tip: Check in with your Zag and ask them how they are feeling. If you sense they could use some extra support you can share resources like the Center for Cura Personalis or Health and Counseling Services.
By modeling the pursuit of wellness and by encouraging your Zag to consider these dimensions of wellness you will help them find balance. To learn more about The Eight Dimensions of Wellness Model visit http://www.samhsa.gov/wellness-initiative/eight-dimensions-wellness.