Wellness Wheel

I have a copy of this for the booklet.


The Wellness Wheel



PHYSICAL WELLNESS: a perception and expectation of physical health.
• Exercising regularly
• Eating properly
• Getting regular physical check-ups
• Avoiding the use of tobacco or illicit drugs
SPIRITUAL WELLNESS: a positive perception of meaning and purpose in life.
• Being open to different cultures and religions
• Giving your time to volunteer or participate in community service activities
• Spending time defining personal values and ethics and making decisions that complement them
• Spending time alone in personal reflection
• Participating in spiritual activities
• Participating in activities that protect the environment
• Caring about the welfare of others and acting out of that care
SOCIAL WELLNESS: a perception of having support available from family, friends, or co-workers in times of need and a perception of being a valued support provider.
• Being comfortable with and liking yourself as a person
• Interacting easily with people of different ages, backgrounds, races, lifestyles
• Contributing time and energy to the community
• Communicating your feelings
• Developing friendships
• Recognizing a need for "fun" time in your life
• Budgeting and balancing your time to include both responsibilities and relaxation
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS: possession of a secure self-identity and a positive sense of self-regard; also the ability to cope with and/or improve unpleasant mood states.
• Keeping a positive attitude
• Being sensitive to your feelings and the feelings of others
• Learning to cope with stress
• Being realistic about your expectations and time
• Taking responsibility for your own behavior
• Dealing with your personal and financial issues realistically
• Viewing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles
• Functioning independently but knowing when you need to ask for help
INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS: the perception of being internally energized by an optimal amount of intellectually stimulating activity.
• Learning because you want to - not because you are told to. Doing the work assigned.
• Learning through varied experiences - reading, writing, sharing and exploration
• Observing what is around you
• Listening
• Finding applications for material learned in the classroom
• Staying current with world affairs/news
• Questioning
• Exposing yourself to new experiences (e.g. arts, theater)

ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS: the positive perception of the environment that one works and lives in.
• Finding satisfaction and worth in your work
• Ensuring your work environment and relationships are comfortable
• Being aware of the natural environment you live in
• Recognizing opportunities that lead you to new skills and acting on those opportunities
• Working to ensure the stability and longevity of our natural resources

Wellness Wheel information retrieved from:
http://www.patientmedia.com/images/wheel.pdf http://www.wright.edu/admin/wellness/wellnesswheel.htm

Reasons for Stress in Northern Communities

Stress in northern school communities:
- little or no school wide socializing
- small or exclusive circles of friendship
- new staff members find it hard to fit in,
- established pattern in staff room
- change is met with resistance,
- little effort to connect with others during the day
- work long hours in isolation
- same job, fewer staff
- technological change without adequate funding and support
- increasing expectations of parents and community
- lower socio-economics

More Quotes

Rule 1. Don't sweat the small stuff. Rule 2. It's all small stuff.

If you can't fight or flee, then flow.

Man's troubles are rooted in extreme attention to senses, thoughts, and imagination.

Attention should be focused internally to experience a quiet body and a calm mind. - Buddha.

Every good thought you think is contributing its share to the ultimate result of your life. - Grenville Kleiser.

What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens. - Thaddeus Golas.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt.

Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. - Confucius.

An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out? - Michel De Saint-Pierre.

It’s not what you think you are; but what you think, you are. - Author Unknown.

When it rains, I let it. - Unknown.

We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality. - Marcus Annaeus Seneca.

People see the world not as it is, but as they are. - Al Lee.

No one dies from working too hard. But when people don't get any recognition in their work, the stress of that lack of control can kill them. - Barrie S. Greiff.

things to do checklist

Delete as they get done?

• evaluation form made and photocopied (typed already, just need to modify it)
• booklets (angelina)
• powerpoint (Rose)
• bingo cards photocopied (Rose)
• groups picked for the jigsaw (draw colours with numbers out of a hat? Angelina can do)
• list of links to include in the booklet
• reference list

Scenarios

There are 35 certified teachers-on-call in School District Z, a district in northern British Columbia. There are approximately 260 teachers in the school district. Whenever a professional development opportunity comes up, a limited number of teachers are able to attend because of the lack of TOCs. If a teacher is sick, teachers registered for a workshop must give up their pro-d opportunity if a sick teaching colleague needs a TOC. In times of flu season, cold season or other illnesses, the pressure to work increases on some teachers, as on some days, a TOC may not be available:
“Without enough TOCs, I simply work whether I’m sick or not.”
“It is so hard to get ready for a TOC, and then pick up the slack, that I go to school when I am sick.”
“If I get sick I just keep going because we lack enough TOCs.”

What could be causing stress in this situation?
How is this situation unique to a northern B.C. community?





Pat lives in a small community in northern British Columbia. The school district has a total of 12 schools: 10 elementary and 2 secondary. Most elementary schools have less than 300 students and a maximum of 12 teachers. Pat works in a rural elementary school with 98 students. There are five teachers on staff. Due to the small staff, teachers at this school must take on the same responsibilities as a staff of a school twice the size. Pat enjoys athletics and volunteers to coach basketball, volleyball, cross-country and track teams, is the school union rep, intermediate school-based team rep and the intermediate literacy rep. Pat is at the school until 4:30 pm on most days, 5:30 pm on days that coaching is involved. This doesn't include the marking and prep required. After seven years of teaching at this rural school, Pat is showing signs of stress.

What could be causing stress in this situation?
How is this situation unique to a northern B.C. community?


Jennifer’s school is in a small town in central BC. The largest industry is forestry and many of the school’s families work in that area. Two years ago the school calendar was changed due to pressure from parents and the community to bring students’ time off in line with "break up". Students now attend school year round, with a four week break in March, a four week break in July and three weeks at Christmas. A new class starts every August. The school administration has determined the new calendar a success – parents are happy, students are retaining more, heating costs are down! Jennifer and other staff members aren’t so sure.....

Becky’s school is located in northern BC, 45 minutes from the nearest town. There is snow in the area for 6-7 months of the year, and the road leading to the school is difficult to drive during the long winter months. To save on bussing and heating costs the school board and school community decided that a four- day week was the best solution. After a year of working in the extended day system, Becky’s not happy with her work life. She feels the day is too long for her and her young students.

What could be causing stress in this situation?
How is this situation unique to a northern B.C. community?

Songs to Survive Stress

Survivor Theme Song
We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
School's Out For the Summer - Alice Cooper
Don't It Make You Feel Like Dancin'? - Headpins
We're Here For a Good Time - Trooper
Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
Peaceful, Easy Feeling - Eagles
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Shout! - The Isley Brothers
Dancing Queen - ABBA
Lollipop - The Chordettes
Born to Hand Jive - Sha-Na-Na
Feels Like Home - Chantal Kreviazuk
Don't Give Up - Josh Groban
Relaxation sounds of Nature
Relaxation sounds of Panpipes
Shrek's Dance Party

Presentation Outline

6:00
- introduction to topic (quotes)
STRESS section
- handout booklets
- definition
- What stresses you? List everything. We won’t be sharing. This is your own personal reference. Sort under WORK, HOME, OTHER
- What stressors are directly related to being located in a northern community? Put a star next to them
- REPORTS/findings – data, BCTF
- Are YOU stressed? self-assessment/QUIZ

- Scenarios: jigsaw activity - three scenarios to discuss in three groups, then split into groups of three and discuss each one

7:00 Break
7:15
WELLNESS section -
- School wellness - What does it look like? Many companies are encouraging/promoting wellness. What about teachers? Some local unions have wellness committees and reps, others don’t.
- small groups: Do you think that wellness should be encouraged in the workplace? What has your school done to promote wellness? What would your wish list look like?
Quesnel has a wellness rep. Wellness medallion program. New EFAP provider starting Sept. 1, 2007 www.humansolutions.ca
- video from Teacher TV
7:45 – Break
Individual: Wellness wheel
Relaxation methods you presently use and/or wish to try:
- music - fun, relaxing, feel-good rock
- body breaks - exercise, yoga, relaxation breathing
- funnies - cartoons, "You know you are from the north. . ."
- comedy – Blue Collar Comedy tour

8:30 - Conclusion: Wellness is individual. You create your own plan. Take time to create your plan on the calendar in your booklet. Plan until December.