Strategic Wellness Planning – Your roadmap to wellbeing
If you are setting out on a journey to get to a new destination, would you do so without checking a map?
How about going to a supermarket – do you do so without taking a list, or at least having a good idea of what you have in the cupboards?
So why do we have a tendency to do exactly this in relation to our own wellbeing?
If we don’t have a clear picture of what is and isn’t in our wellness cupboards, and what our destination is, we’re pretty much going to be shooting in the dark when it comes to figuring out what actions will most effectively enhance our health, vibrancy and wellbeing.
This may sound obvious, but one of the truths about wellbeing and psychology is that the obvious is not always what we actually do!
Coaching is certainly one way to develop a clear picture of what is working well in your life, and what isn’t. In fact, that’s the place that any good coach starts with a new client. The support of a coach can often help a great deal in getting clarity about your starting point, and your destination.
However, you can set yourself a good foundation by doing a little self-coaching.
Try out the following simple foundation of a strategic wellness plan. You are likely to get more benefit from doing so if you take a few minutes to write out on paper your answers to these questions:
What is my starting point?
Part I
* So what is in your wellness cupboard? In other words, what is already working well in your life and supporting your wellbeing?
Could be related to family life, work, physical health, finances, or any other life area.
Part II
* What aspects of your life are not supporting your wellbeing?
* What is missing from your cupboard?
For example, could be stress at work, relationship issues, financial troubles, physical health, motivation, parenting, work-life balance, spending too much time watching TV etc.
What is my destination?
So looking at the areas for improvement that you’ve identified, what would go on your shopping list?
* What do you want more of in your life?
Could be financial security, harmony in family life/relationship, more of a sense of ease and relaxation at work, vibrant physical health and energy etc
Some people like to set some specific goals, like “make X amount of money by X date”, which can certainly be useful.
What is my route?
So now that you’ve identified what areas of your life you want to improve, and made a shopping list, what can you do to best achieve these goals?
* What actions will most effectively support improvement in these areas of your life?
If you struggle with insomnia, and sleeping well is an item on your list, you might want to research information on therapies that can help. If it’s work-life balance and time-management, you might want to find yourself a coach. If it’s tension and stress, how about booking that massage or learning to meditate? If you’re looking to express your creative side, could you join an art class or singing group?
It's important to point out at this point that just like route planning, this step is about the shortest route to improvement in your life. And that means prioritising. Decide what are the most important actions that you can take to support your wellbeing.
Who do you want along for the ride?
So you’ve oriented yourself with where your starting point is, checked the cupboards, written a shopping list, set your destination point and identified a route.
The last section of this simple strategic plan is about who can help you on your journey. What relationships in your life can support you in your wellness journey, or in certain aspects of your plan? Or what new supporting relationships would you like to find?
You could be going through a painful divorce and have a friend who has also been through a similar thing and come out well the other end. Could you get in touch with them and talk about what got them through? Could professional support in a certain area be an investment in your wellbeing – whether it be from a financial adviser, coach, counsellor, massage therapist or tap-dance teacher!
You get to pick your team.
Then its time to buckle up, sit back and enjoy the ride!
About the Author
Laurence Davies is a Life Progress Coach, specialising in confidence, emotional wellbeing & self-belief, and life organisation, time-management & life balance. He offers one-on-one coaching as well as group coaching classes and courses. See www.powerofperspective.org for more information.
He has training, qualifications and experience in Life Skills Coaching, Re-evaluation Co-counselling, Non-Violent Communication, Peer Support and Project Management, as well as a degree in Philosophy with Psychology.
His own wellbeing journey took off in earnest a decade ago following a time of personal crisis and has led him to study and practise a wide range of self-development philosophies and techniques, including: martial arts, yoga, meditation, buddhism, taoism, gnosis, peak states and more.
**Laurence is offering a free 20 minute initial telephone consultation to anyone who has read this article! Contact him to claim (contact details on website). Subject to availability**
