Posted in: Articles, Uncategorized | No Comments | Posted on December 12, 2011 by Jessie Rose

This article has been reprinted with permission from 123feelbetter.net:

For those of us looking to be more in balance, we often struggle with where to start. More than being the huge statements of change, balance is found in the more subtle changes that take hold. How can I achieve balance in just five minutes, you ask? Keep reading for some small actions that can make a big difference.

Emotional Wellness: Journaling is perhaps the single most important action in an Emotional Wellness plan. Even if you only have a few moments in a given day, taking a little time to check in with yourself and what you’re feeling will help you to gain self-awareness. Making time for journaling is also an act of self-care. When you practice regular self-care, you instantly feel better because you’ve let yourself know that you matter.

Physical Wellness: Some days you just don’t have time to exercise. Unexpected events can take up time and make working out less of a priority, even if it’s only for that day. If you don’t have time for a full workout, allow yourself five or 10 minutes of stretching, crunches or even just a simple walk. When you really don’t have the time, though, you can still support your Physical Wellness. Focus on drinking enough water and eating healthfully at every meal.

Occupational Wellness: Make a to-do list when you get to work. Organizing your tasks in this simple way will give you clarity and help you get done what needs to get done. It will also prevent the anxiety that can come with feeling disorganized and lost as to what to do next.

Environmental Wellness: Every time you use a dish at home, wash it and put it away, or rinse it and put it in the dishwasher. You may not be able to clean your whole house every day, but if you rinse every dish immediately after using it, you’ll avoid dirty dish build-up. This will make cleaning easier when you do have time for it, and you can feel good about not creating more mess to deal with later.

Spiritual Wellness: Read a daily meditation every morning. Whatever your spiritual philosophy, there’s a daily meditation book to suit your style. Find one that fits your spiritual beliefs, and set aside a few minutes to read a short entry before launching into your day. This will center you and give you perspective. This small investment of time can help you maintain Spiritual Wellness in practically no time at all, making spirituality an integral part of daily living.

Intellectual Wellness: If you work at a computer, take a few minutes to scan the news online each day when you sit down to your desk. If that’s not an option, pick up a newspaper, and read the headlines. This will keep you abreast of what’s going on in the world, and regular reading helps strengthen your cognitive skills.

Social Wellness: Spend a few minutes every day catching up with a loved one. Talk to your kids or spouse about what happened that day, call up a friend for a chat or meet a new acquaintance for coffee. Making quality time for your loved ones, even if it’s only five minutes, will strengthen your relationships and help facilitate better overall Social Wellness.

Because there are so many small pieces, this may seem like a lot, but these actions create a stable foundation of balance in our lives. They only take a few minutes each per day, and many of them can slip right into with the routines we already have inplace.

You’ll find, as you make small efforts toward a more fulfilling life,,that other enriching opportunities will begin to appear, seemingly out of nowhere. Action opens you to more action, and more opportunities. All you really need is that initial choice in favor of wellness. This is how you create everyday wellness, by making wellness a lifelong, day-by-day choice.

About the Author

The 123 Feel Better company provides resources for people seeking to change their lives. With a focus on overall health and wellness that centers around the 7 Aspects of Wellness, or 7 major life areas that comprise a full and complete life, the 123 Feel Better company helps individuals acquire the tools necessary to affect positive change and accomplish their goals.