10 Wellness Factors You Should Never Ignore - Ajit Patel Goldshield, Ajit Patel Wemet, Ajit Patel UK

Your wellness depends on balance in all aspects of your life. Use our checklist to identify which areas need your attention to avoid a wellness melt-down.

1 Health: What is your body trying to tell you? Don’t ignore persistent or recurrent symptoms, such as discomfort, pain, cough, indigestion, blurred vision, infections, difficulty swallowing, bloating, hoarse voice, sore throat, change in bowel habit, shortness of breath, unusual lump or thickening, unexpected blood loss, or an ulcer or skin blemish that fails to heal. If a symptom is getting worse, or not going away, seek medical advice.   

2 Emotions: Are you happy? Do you sleep well and wake up feeling refreshed? Or are you irritable, moody and depressed during the day? Do you find it difficult to concentrate? Is your memory letting you down? Do you crave sweet foods and comfort eat? Boost emotional wellbeing by bringing more humour into your life.  Laughter releases endorphins – feel-good brain chemicals that lift mood instantly. Read a joke book or watch a funny film.  

3 Wealth: Are you in control of your finances, or are they in control of you? Whether your credit cards are maxed out, you’re overdrawn at the bank or struggling to meet repayments, it’s still possible to turn things around. Seek financial advice to identify your assets and liabilities. Draw up a personal budget, monitor your outgoings and slash expenses. Consolidate loans into one with a better interest rate, and start saving towards your future. 

4 Stress: Is everything getting on top of you? Do you feel as if you are no longer able to cope? Or are you relying on alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to see you through? Consider your work/life balance, negotiate longer deadlines, delegate appropriate tasks and don’t judge yourself too harshly. Avoid being too much of a perfectionist, and accept you are doing your best. Build regular breaks into your day. You are more efficient when refreshed.

5 Relationships: Do you spend enough quality time with those you love, doing things you enjoy? Plan more time together, sitting chatting, going for walks, exercising together, planning and preparing healthy meals, romantic weekends away. Start at the beginning and date all over again to rediscover what first attracted you to each other. Talk about where your relationship is going and make plans for the future.

6 Leisure: Do you make time for all the activities you love doing? Designate at least one evening a week as ‘Me Time’ to do exactly what you like – meet friends, escape into a book or the latest blockbuster film. If necessary, organise a baby-sitter to cover for you. Enrol in an evening class to learn a new skill: acting, sculpture, painting or even life drawing. If you no longer enjoy your job, retrain for something else. Or use the time for exercise by joining a yoga, T’ai chi or salsa class. New hobbies shift you out of a rut and get you meeting new, exciting people.

7 Nutrition: Do you eat a healthy diet? Nutritionally balance is vital for emotion, physical and physiological wellness. Do you choose quality foods as close to their natural state as possible? Do you select organic foods to reduce your exposure to pesticides, weed killers, artificial fertilisers and other agricultural chemicals (see page X)? Do you get at least your five-a-day- fruit and vegetables (See page X)? Do you eat vegetables raw or lightly steamed rather than boiled to death? Do you use a microwave (see page X)? Do you eat something every 3 to 4 hours to maintain blood glucose levels? Do you make time for breakfast? Visit  www.yourwelness.net for great eating tips from YourWellness nutritionist Francine White.

8 Hydration: Do you drink enough water? If you’re male, 60% of your body weight is water – a total of 40 to 50 litres. For a female, the figure is 55% (33 to 35 litres). Water is vital for energy production, nutrient transport, waste disposal and the regulation of body temperature. Even mild dehydration leads to tiredness, poor concentration, reduced alertness, reduced short-term memory, headache and mood changes with increasing agitation, impatience and feelings of stress. Aim to drink enough fluids to maintain pale, almost colourless urine.

9 Exercise: Too busy to exercise? You don’t need to do it all in one go – three bouts of brisk physical activity lasting 10 minutes each are just as good for you as one 30 minute session. Physical activity speeds your metabolism, maintains heart and lung fitness, resets the ‘fight or flight’ stress response back towards ‘rest and digest’ – and also lifts your mood. Try cycling to work, the shops, meetings and friends’ houses instead of taking the car – it’s good for the environment and good for you.

10 Relaxation: Do you remember how to relax? Improve sleep quality by meditating at the end of the day. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Visualise a favourite colour on which to focus and try to clear your mind of intrusive thoughts. This becomes easier with practice. If your mind wanders, just return to focus on your colour. When you feel ready, bring your mind slowly back. Stretch and enjoy the sense of calm energy and refreshment that flows through you. Scenting your bedroom with relaxing Lavender essential oil aids sleep quality, too.

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Ajit Patel UK, Ajit Patel Sanda, Ajit Patel Wellness, Ajit Patel Wellbeing, Ajit Patel Goldshield, Ajit Patel Wemet