Wellness is a holistic concept that encompasses physical, mental, social, spiritual and emotional aspects of our health. These areas include diet, exercise, sleep, mindfulness and stress management.
Many studies show that practicing healthy habits can help to improve the outcome of each of these aspects of your life. This can improve your overall wellness, which in turn will help you perform better in PE.
Physical
In addition to promoting wellness, physical education also helps students develop social skills, such as the ability to work cooperatively with others. This can help students develop a positive peer culture and make them more confident in their abilities.
Moreover, studies have shown that physically active students tend to be more alert and successful in class. This is due to their better hippocampus and ganglia capacities, which support cognition and memory.
The NYC DOE has developed a Wellness Policy that is intended to ensure that schools can provide children with physical and health education instruction as well as environments and opportunities for them to practice healthy behaviors throughout the school day. This policy also encourages the development of a school-wide School Wellness Council that works to promote and review wellness policies, programs, and practices in schools.
Mental
A recent study of students in physical education classes has shown that participants who are physically active have improved mental health. This is in part because students learn more about their body and how it functions and also develop coping skills to better deal with stress.
However, the study is limited in its findings and the relationship between physical activity and mental wellbeing is still unclear. Further studies with longer duration and higher sample sizes are needed to fully understand the association between physical activity and mental wellbeing.
Social
Whether it’s helping students through hard times or offering them a shoulder to lean on during a difficult school year, social education plays an important role in educator and student relationships. It’s critical that educators prioritize self-care and social wellness in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
As an educator, you’re constantly building and nurturing relationships with your students. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle, especially if you’re not prioritizing self-care and social wellness.
Luckily, it’s easier than ever to connect with other educators striving for similar goals through networking opportunities online. You can join closed Facebook Groups and Twitter chats that connect you to a community of like-minded people who share the same goals as you do.
Spiritual
Spiritual education, which is often associated with physical education (PE), has been shown to be an important element of health and wellbeing. It can help to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety, and can improve one’s sense of self-worth.
Moreover, it can also contribute to the development of character and disposition. It enables people to understand themselves and their core values, so that they can be consistent in their behaviors and live with integrity.
Spiritual education is an integral component of school curriculum and has long been a statutory duty in the UK. However, it is often overlooked by scholars and remains under-researched.
Emotional
The emotional dimension of wellness is a critical component of the wellness movement. It focuses on recognizing and managing feelings, coping effectively with stress and life challenges and adapting to change in order to achieve goals.
It involves being sensitive to the emotions of others and developing a greater level of empathy, understanding, compassion and humor. This can help you communicate well with others and build strong relationships.
Emotional well-being is important for mental health and can promote physical wellbeing, according to NIH research. It also contributes to positive decision-making, improved interpersonal relationships and enhanced self-efficacy.