Holistic Student Wellness in Medical and Dental School

You’ve been accepted to graduate school and are ready to embark on your new adventure towards professionalism. You quickly fall into the swing of things and begin studying and learning an immense amount of information in a short amount of time. After a month of built-up stress, lack of sleep, and constant studying you decide you may not actually be cut out for this after-all. Well, I’m here to tell you that you are wrong and you do have what it takes you’re just not “balancing your equation.”

You survived years of chemistry, biology, and physics and were taught over and over again that for problems to work, everything must be “balanced;” balanced molecules, balanced units, you name it! Your life as a pre-professional student shouldn’t be any different. While your main goal is to get good grades and pass your exams, you can’t forget you must take care of yourself first. As future physicians and dentists you will be reminding your patients and clients that their bodies work as a whole, much like their own vehicles. If one part is out of whack, it can throw the whole system off. Now, why would you so passionately convey this message to your patients, yet not practice it yourself? You must also strive for health in all areas of wellness to learn and function optimally.

You can do this by focusing on seven areas of wellness:

Emotional

Constant studying and worrying about getting good grades can cause students to become stressed. This in turn takes a negative effect on your emotional health (Schuster, 2004). It’s important to de-stress often and take breaks. This will help you feel “normal” again and give you some time to reboot your emotions. Some activities you can do to give yourself an emotional break are reading, taking a bath, seeing a movie with some friends, or even just going for a short walk.

Physical

One of the most important aspects of overall wellness is your physical health; if your physical health is down it can negatively affect many other areas of your health. To maintain optimal physical health you should be physically active at least 30 minutes of every day and eat a well-balanced diet including 5 servings of fruits and vegetables (Cdc.gov, 2015). Now, everyone knows that working in physical activity and attempting to eat healthy can be a very daunting task, but there are ways you can make it more interesting and appealing. For example, try some new recipes if you don’t like eating raw fruits and veggies or make a smoothie and hide unwanted flavors. To get in enough physical activity workout as a group with some friends or try something new you’ve never done before such as hiking, a yoga class or canoeing.

Environmental

I know what you’re thinking, how does the environment have any effect on my health? Well I agree it seems a little far-fetched at first, but think about it, what’s going on around you has a huge impact on what you do, how you feel or even simply what you breathe in. Focusing on the environment around you not only gives you an emotional break from your studies, but helps you see that all aspects of life affect what you’re doing. If you find yourself at a standstill with your studies stop and assess the environment around you. Have you been stuck inside for too long and need some fresh air? Or maybe you simply need a fresh space to spike your thinking?

Social

Your social health also ties in with your emotional and environmental health. Being locked in your room for hours at a time studying can cause some serious mental exhaustion. Sometimes the best thing for you is to step away and meet up with some friends, have a beer or two, and just enjoy the company of others.

Professional

Many students often forget their growth as a professional is an important part of their schooling. Growth as a professional helps you build your social and connecting skills. Consequently, this will help build your confidence and increase your emotional health. Buy some new clothes, dress yourself up, and start connecting with other professionals. You never know what these connections may do for you in the future.

Intellectual

This one may seem like an obvious one, as how could intellect not play a part of learning? Well you might find yourself falling into a routine of worrying about the bare minimum of what you need to know and forgetting to think outside the box. Challenging yourself intellectually helps you better approach situations in real life. Strive to learn as much as you can, but be sure and understand all aspects and be able to apply what you’ve learned.

Spiritual

Sometimes when all else fails, getting in touch with your spiritual side, whatever that may be, is all you need. Think hard on your beliefs, morals, and your perception of this ultimate rat race. Contemplating your goals in life and why you’re doing what you’re doing is often the boost your health and emotional state need to continue chugging on. Visit your local church, talk with a mentor or quietly meditate at home. Do whatever you need to to improve your Zen.

 To see what A.T. Still University is doing for their students to ensure their overall optimal health visit 

www.atsu.edu/student_affairs/stillwell

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2015.

Schuster, T., Dobson, M., Jauregui, M., & Blanks, R. (2004). Wellness Lifestyles I: A Theoretical Framework Linking Wellness, Health Lifestyles, And Complementary And Alternative Medicine. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(2), 349-356.

Still-Well Student Wellness Program. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2015, from https://www.atsu.edu/student_affairs/stillwell/overview.htm