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ASDA’s Wellness Initiative encourages you to make well-being a priority with a focus on these five dimensions of your life. Wellness stems from finding a balanced way of addressing all of them, as needed. Click on each one to learn more and find related resources. 

Emotional Wellness

Emotional WellnessEmotional wellness concerns your ability to express your feelings, cope with stress, maintain satisfying relationships and deal with conflict. It encompasses optimism, self-esteem and self-acceptance. It involves cultivating a positive attitude, but being attentive to your negative feelings as well.

Dental school is stressful and can feel overwhelming. Whatever you’re struggling with, tell a friend, a family member or a professor about it. Reach out for help and you’ll find that there are resources available to get you excited about dentistry again.

What can you do?

Meditate or practice mindfulness | Learn to say no | Maintain realistic goals and expectations | Express your anger in a constructive way | Laugh freely | Surround yourself with positive people | Talk to someone when you struggle with your feelings | Practice your faith

Advice and insights from your peers:

Two issues of Mouth, ASDA's former magazine, both focused entirely on maintaining wellness while in dental school. Both issues, Winter 2014 and Summer 2016,  are available in our publication archives. The September issues of Contour always feature wellness extensively. 

Resources:
Physical Wellness

Physical WellnessPhysical wellness promotes proper care of our bodies for optimal health and functioning. It involves routinely carrying out behaviors that have a significant impact on our wellness (routine check-ups, a balanced diet, exercise, etc.) while avoiding destructive habits (tobacco, drugs, alcohol, etc.).

What can you do?

Eat homemade meals and avoid fast food | Add regular exercise to your daily or weekly routines | Get at least six hours of sleep per night | Take the stairs instead of the elevator | Get regular check-ups | Moderate your alcohol intake

Advice and insights from your peers:
Resources:
Intellectual Wellness

Intellectual WellnessIntellectual wellness encourages us to engage in creative and mentally stimulating activities. It involves actively participating in educational, cultural and community events and combining life lessons with those learned in the classroom. It’s about nurturing curiosity and lifelong learning.

What can you do?

Read books for fun | Play trivia and board games | Visit a museum or art gallery | Take up a craft or hobby | Listen to music or play an instrument | Take a new route home | Attend a lecture on a topic that’s new to you

Advice and insights from your peers:
Resources:
Occupational Wellness

Occupational WellnessOccupational wellness entails seeking personal satisfaction and enrichment while being fully engaged in your work. It refers to developing work-life balance, managing working relationships and having enthusiasm for your job. It also means constantly developing the skills required to do your work well.

What can you do?

Attend networking events with colleagues | Find a mentor or become a mentor | Practice the routines and postures of proper dentistry | Maintain open dialogue with colleagues | Explore volunteer opportunities that interest you

Advice and insights from your peers:

Resources:

Environmental Wellness

Environmental WellnessEnvironmental wellness refers to your relationship to your surroundings, both your immediate surroundings and the world at large. It’s about finding harmony with the natural world and understanding your impact on it.

What can you do?

Turn off the lights when you leave a room | Recycle glass, plastic and aluminum cans | Put things away after you use them to avoid clutter build-up | Donate items or clothes you don’t use anymore | Take shorter showers | Ask to be taken off catalog and junk mailing lists | Carry cloth bags to the grocery store | Walk or bike instead of driving to nearby locations | Sign up for paperless billing

Advice and insights from your peers:
Resources:

ASDA's Wellness Initiative is generously supported by: 

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