The 6 Dimensions of Health and your Personal Stress Profile

• Sleep:Sleep is an important but often neglected component of every person’s overall health and well-being. Sleep is vital as it enables the body to repair and be ready for the next day’s tasks.
• Nutrition: Nutrition is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Our immune system requires nutrients, essential vitamins and minerals in order to function optimally. 
• Exercise: Being active has many health benefits, both physically and mentally. It has shown to improve mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and stress.
• Healthy Relationships: As humans, the relationships we form with other people are imperative to our mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Healthy Thinking: Mental health is essential. It impacts our thoughts, behaviors and emotions. Healthy thinking can promote productivity and effectiveness in activities such as work or school.
• Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment. Research suggests this simple practice benefits both mind and body, impacting the heart, immune system, and cognition.

Personalized Stress Profiles (PSP)

Every person has a unique stress profile whereby stress manifests for them in a unique way. Feel like it takes you a long time to get things done? You may be scattered, tend to feel overwhelmed, making it hard to stay focused on the task at hand. Chase cravings when feeling stressed out? You may be a craver, fighting addictive behaviors when stress is intense. Have trouble sleeping at night? Perhaps you’re wired, feeling exhausted during the day with excess stress keeping you up at night. To find out your Personalized Stress Profile, take our free short test here.

Once you've taken the test to determine your personal stress profile, view our tips below on how to best integrate the 6 Dimensions into your life!

Sleep

Overwhelmed? Create a relaxing routine before bed, maybe draw a warm bath or put on comfy pajamas.

Scattered? Cut off all electronics at least an hour before hitting the sheets.

Craver? Put your TouchPoints on the purple (anger/agitation, designed for cravings) setting when you begin to crave something sweet. Maybe swap out candy for frozen grapes.

Hot? Breathe in lavender essential oils to help calm your irritation before bed.

Wired? Get active for at least 30 minutes during the day.  

Veiled? Sleep may come easier to you than most, but be sure that you aren't oversleeping as a way to escape stress. Limit daytime naps to no more than 20 minutes. 

Nutrition

Overwhelmed? Turn to comfort foods that provide nutrition and soothing effects such as chicken soup or lentils.

Scattered? When scattered, you tend to grab what’s available. Plan out nutritious snacks with portion controlled containers to avoid over-eating.

Craver? Swap sugary treats for healthier options such as yogurt and honey or apple nachos.

Hot? Practice mindfulness when prepping and eating lunch without multitasking.

Wired? If you need the caffeine, remove the sugar by going black or opting for tea for your afternoon pick-me-up.

Hot? Instead of that sugary cereal try a yogurt parfait with oats and berries.

Veiled? Make a list of your favorite foods and savor every bite when you get to eat the favorites. 

Exercise

Overwhelmed? Take 5-minute meditation breaks to take your mind and body away from the stress.

Scattered? Walks are the best way to start your day off with a clear mind. Aim for 15 – 30 minutes per session to get your steps in.

Craver? Cardio! Push your physical limitations on the stair master or with a solid bike ride around your neighborhood.

Hot? Take your stress out on the trails. Point the dirt with a trail run or hike.

Wired? Learn to calm your mind with daily yoga sessions in the outdoors.

Veiled? Try several different types of exercise. Thought about hiking or a dance class? Don't be afraid to switch up your exercise routine. 

Mindfulness

Overwhelmed?  Turn off your outside distractions and write out your list of things to do to hone in one thing at a time. .

Scattered? Speak affirmations out loud to be mindful of your goals.

Hot? Remove yourself from the stressful situation and go to a happy place in your backyard or bedroom to remove yourself from your place of irritation.

Craver? Start and end your day with 5-minute meditation practices to learn to breath through your cravings.

Wired? Create a mindfulness playlist to give yourself time and focus on your to-do list.

Veiled? Try a different form of meditation- start a thought journal. Take 5 minutes every day to jot down your thoughts. 

Healthy Thinking

Overwhelmed?  It’s okay to say no. Learn to deny requests  when you feel like you are committing to more than you can handle.

Scattered? Write out your list of accomplishments to realign your thinking to know what you are capable.

Hot?  Create a calming playlist to promote soothing sounds through stress.

Wired? Refocus your energy by creating a list of things you love about yourself.

Craver: Before reaching for your craving, state affirmations to remind yourself of your strength.

Veiled? Remember to voice your thoughts. Keeping your thoughts inside and not expressing your thoughts can be a hindrance on your path to self care. 

Healthy Relationships

Overwhelmed? Take yourself out on a date filled with things you love to do most.

Scattered? Bust out your organizer to plan a few get together a with friends and family.

Craver? Make time in your week to spend quality time with your partner.

Hot? Whenever you find yourself getting angry with someone else, take a deep breath. Make a list of the things that set off your anger. 

Wired? Get out and active with your friends by signing your group up for a challenge or through hike.

Veiled? Make a list of your favorite activities to do with friends and plan one a week.