Take advantage of the OPS

I’m AMBITOUS! I read this book to my two-year old niece one day. It was packed with great messages that filled her with hopes and dreams of her potential success in life and how to take advantage of the OPS, which can be very opportune. What great seeds to plant so young for how to approach aspects of her holistic wellness.

Internal and external influences can shape our holistic wellness. The external influences, in particular, can affect our occupational, physical, and social dimensions (OPS); shifting this area of our inner balance in one direction or another. And while we cannot always control how these external influences impact us, we can surely be ambitious about the steps we take to balance the scales for ourselves and the world we live in.

Occupational Wellness

Work It Baby!

On average, we can spend over 2,000 hours a year working our full-time jobs. This represents one quarter of each year a person commits to the professional grind. It doesn’t seem like a lot. But when you think about it, time is one of the most valuable commodities you can have. If you’re going to dedicate this very valuable resource of yours to something, shouldn’t you enjoy it?

There’s good news—according to the Pew Research Center, over 60% of Americans surveyed said they were just as satisfied in their job during the pandemic, as they were before the pandemic. Yet as of January 2022, we are still in the midst of the Great Resignation. Hmmm….

If people are so satisfied in their positions, this makes me wonder why so many are leaving. There has been conjecture that the economy is on the rise and folks are taking advantage of the many job openings out there.

Well…if this is true. I say—GO FOR IT!! Level-up! There’s a difference between being satisfied and thriving. If a new position leads you to being just a little happier and more excited about your time on this planet, then why not give it a try?

Let your professional cup run over.

Professional growth and development is critical to occupational wellness. We may not all be so lucky to work in a job that directly aligns with our true passion or our calling. But it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t find some fulfillment in something we spend so much of our time on.

When it comes to occupational wellness…we want our cups to run over. A cup that is only half full may satiate you, but it doesn’t bring you the passion or the excitement that would have you dedicate 1/4 of your working life to. And if you’re feeling just ‘meh’ about a position—how will you ever feel balanced in this area?

What are some things about your job that you LOVE? If there’s nothing…maybe it’s time to re-evaluate….

Physical Wellness

Let’s get physical!

We all think about working out and eating healthy when it comes to physical wellness. These are both very important when it comes to improving in this area. And I talk about this quite a bit in my post “It’s OK to step away.” But what about sleep?!

Have you sat in meetings where you were ‘not quite awake’ or do you HAVE to begin your day with a cup of coffee to ‘get you going’? It is very likely you are sleep-deprived.

Sleep deprivation can lead to many different side effects that throw off the balance needed for our holistic wellness. This can affect our relationships with others, our work output, and our overall quality of life.

Here are just a few examples of the side effects from a prolonged lack of good sleep:

Memory issues
Trouble thinking
Mood changes
Accidents
Weakened immunity
High blood pressure
Risk of diabetes
Weight gain
Risk of heart disease
Poor balance
Low sex drive

Practice leads to improvement.

It has been recommended that we get 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. But with many of our external influences, it can be hard.

Technology has made it too easy to serve as the source of our bedtime stories. Tapping into your social media late at night or watching an exciting movie or tv show can keep your brain and the rest of your body stimulated when it needs to be at rest.

In order for us to have physical balance, we need to shift from the bad habits we’ve picked up along the way to better ones. I’d encourage you to replace any disruptive behaviors with supportive ones (i.e. turning off the tv and reading a book at bedtime or meditating instead, for example).

Though it may seem easier said than done, even taking small steps on a consistent basis can move you in the right direction.And like any behavioral change, practicing will improve your chances of that shift.

How many hours of uninterrupted sleep did you get last night?

Social Wellness: Party Like It’s 1999.

I think we’ve all felt a bit isolated while enduring this pandemic. Even introverts are over the whole ‘quarantine’ thing…and rightfully so! Though I am a firm believer in our collective health and safety, we need social engagement to feel connected to others, to elevate our awareness of the world, and to build a sense of community.

With platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok drawing us into countless discussions and interactive forums, it’s easy to forget how important in-person interactions are to our social wellness.

According to one study conducted by Statista, we spent an average of 145 minutes per day on social media in 2020. This accounts for nearly a 60% increase from 2012.

I get it—generally it can be a fun distraction and sometimes it’s easier (and maybe a little safer) to retreat behind our screens. But there are still ways to socially interact in-person while still being precautious that could be enjoyable.

As we emerge from our respective caves to expand our social networks, I encourage you to think about what kinds of interactions will reap the best benefits for your holistic wellness. Being more intentional about these interactions may facilitate the type of personal and/or professional growth and development you need to take you to the next level.

When was the last time you set up an informational interview with someone that taught you something new about an area you were interested in?

Summing It All Up

We can’t be ambitious about everything in our lives. If we were, I think it would be a bit overwhelming. But we can take steps in the occupational, physical, and social (OPS) realms to help improve our overall holistic wellness. And maybe some of these steps can be taken with a little more ambition than what we’re used. Though it may require you to get out of your comfort zone and try new approaches to your growth and development, you may like the end result.

As a reminder, there are 5 parts to this holistic wellness series. Be sure to check out the other posts in this series (titles listed below) and don’t forget to download the helpful PDF at the end of the series. It will be a great resource for you to discover key activities for you to incorporate regularly towards each of the 8 dimensions.

What's Up Next For the Series?

Disclaimer: The content of this blog and website is the sole opinion of the author and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice. Always seek counsel from a professional for these matters if you have questions or concerns regarding your specific circumstances.

Take advantage of the OPS