YOUR INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS MATTERS!
CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO EXPAND YOUR MIND
2. Remove subjectivity. We view every situation with a pre-formed opinion or bias. The truth is our brains are wired this way to streamline thinking, but to be intellectually healthy, we must work hard to push past it. Remove subjectivity by learning a different way to perform a task or challenge yourself to understand (or simply read) the ideas of others. Be objective, even when you disagree with them. 3. Improve your critical thinking. Next time you’re engrossed in conversation, try being thoroughly engaged and think about what is being said. Ask questions to yourself and others, and hash out what you agree with and things you don’t. Work to keep your brain active in everything you do by finding a connection to everything around you.
These days, as taking care of our health becomes more important than ever, we hear a lot about our physical wellness and how to improve it using nutritious foods and exercise.
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Awareness of your core values Capacity to learn new things
How to Foster and Develop Intellectual Wellness Intellectual wellness differs from other types of well-being. You need to work hard and challenge yourself to stay intellectually healthy. If you’re looking to improve or nurture your intellectual wellness, here are three ways to do it. 1. Learn a new skill. One of the main components of intellectual wellness is working to acquire more knowledge. This doesn’t need to be physics or engineering but can be something as simple as cooking a new healthy recipe, learning to draw, or attempting a DIY home repair project. The important part is that mastering something new provides an information-based approach to the world around you.
But what about our intellectual wellness?
What is intellectual wellness? The University of New Hampshire defines
intellectual wellness as “being open to new ideas, thinking critically, and finding ways to be creative.”
FOR THE GOOD OF EVERYONE Essentially, this means thinking about the world around you with an open mind and putting energy into what you’re thinking, not just allowing your brain to run idly. Signs of healthy intellectual wellness include: • Ability to see an issue from all sides • Purposeful exposure to ideas, beliefs, and people who differ from yourself
Why Kindness Goes a Long Way
Everyone knows it’s nice to be nice — but it’s also good for you. Feb. 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day, which encourages us to do things for others “just because.” You never need an excuse to do something for someone else, but science has demonstrated plenty if you’re looking for a reason. You’ve probably gotten a warm and fuzzy feeling after helping someone else in the past, and you’re not alone. Researchers at the University of British Columbia call it a positive feedback loop. Being kind makes you happy. Because you’re happy, you’re more likely to do something else thoughtful. The cycle keeps perpetuating itself in the best way possible. It goes beyond you, too. When we’re kind to someone, they’re more likely to be kind to someone else in return. Other people witnessing the act of kindness are also more likely to copy it. The positive feedback loop can grow throughout your community and help make your corner of the world a better place.
than you may know. Researchers at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business conducted numerous studies where people were asked to engage in random acts of kindness, like giving away cupcakes. In surveys conducted with both the giver and the recipient, the person who received the act of kindness felt much more positive about it than the giver realized. In other words, we underestimate how much our positive actions resonate with others. As this study proved, your acts of kindness don’t have to be grand or expensive to have an impact. Your small actions add up — like buying a stranger a cup of coffee, doing an elderly neighbor’s yardwork, or helping someone carry a heavy object. You also don’t have to confine your good deeds to people you don’t know. You might consider making a meal for a sick coworker or writing a letter to a family member saying how much you appreciate them. A little kindness goes a long way — especially when the recipient least expects it. When you see an opportunity to help someone or make them smile, take it! You’ll be doing yourself a favor.
The impact of your kind actions on other people’s lives is also more significant
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