Wellness Tips: More Ways to Expand Your Knowledge and Skills

In a recent blog, we covered what it really means to be an intellectual. That it has less to do with what you know, but rather the constant pursuit to know more.

We went over a list of actions you can take to expand your knowledge such as creating art and getting to know more about the world. We also provided some questions to ask yourself in order to gauge your eagerness in this subject like “Am I curious to know how things work?” and “Do I think critically?”

READ: Recognizing Your Abilities and Expanding Your Skills

Now we’d like to continue with more ways you can expand your skillset. This is what being an intellectual is all about! Pursuing knowledge is an ongoing effort, not an occasional one.

Let’s dive in.

How do I increase my intellectual wellness?

This is a great question, but not a simple one. Some people would probably answer with “read more.” It’s true, reading is a way to stimulate your intellect, however, there are many other ways to boost your brain power and here are just a few suggestions:

• Board Games
  Gather the family to play a board game. It can be a fun and entertaining way for you, friends, and family to boost your brain power together. No one at home? No problem. There are some board or card games you can play alone, as well as many online apps that support solo play. By yourself or with a group, you can make game play a way to get your mind pumping.

• Crossword Puzzles
  Don’t think twice about grabbing one of those books with crossword puzzles the next time you are waiting in the grocery checkout line. These mind-bending puzzles can improve your mood while sharpening your memory and critical thinking skills.

• Journal
  Dive deep into your mind with routine journal writing. Jotting down your thoughts will help you get to know yourself better and can lead to a deeper understanding of your feelings. Some people have a hard time expressing their emotions to others. Analyzing your thoughts on paper first may help make those interactions easier and more comfortable. Journaling can also be a relaxing and soothing way to welcome in some much needed “me time.”

• Helpful Resources:

  • 5 Ways Board Games Are Good for Your Mental Heath
  • 6 Benefits of Crossword Puzzles
  • Eight Steps to Increase Your Intellectual Wellness

Pass down healthy habits

If you are a UMA student as well as a parent of school-age children, it is never too early to start supporting your child’s physical, social, and emotional skill development. Supporting their intellectual skills falls into some of these buckets.

Of course, you want to encourage your young ones to express themselves positively and choose healthy eating habits, but let’s not forget to add some ways to help develop them intellectually. Here are two important ones:

• Take a trip to the library
  For a fun, no-cost educational way to support your child’s intellectual growth, take a visit to your local library. From picture books to chapter novels, you will not run out of options to flip through with your child and expand their knowledge. Some libraries have calendar dates for different activities and reading circles for families to join. A library can be a great resource for your child’s learning and a way to get in some quality time with them.

• Limit screen time
  These days it is not odd to see a toddler navigating an iPad or cell phone better than an adult. School-age kids cannot get enough of watching YouTube and playing video games. As a parent, it is good to monitor your child’s time on electronic devices. Even though your child’s screen time could be supporting them educationally, or socially, it may be limiting other ways in which they could be increasing their own intellectual wellness. Try for a healthy mix of activities that can include outdoor play, arts and crafts, as well as responsibilities around the house.

• Other Helpful Resources:

  • How to Encourage Physical, Emotional & Intellectual Development in Kids
  • Libraries: Making a Difference in Early Childhood Brain Development
  • How to Limit Your Child’s Screen Time

Make time for your wellness

With all of these tips and activities, it’s hard to manage the one big obstacle — time. We all have specific tasks we must tend to and deadlines to meet during a day, a week, or even a month. From being a parent, to working full-time, to pursuing a degree, time management is something that becomes critical.

If being more organized is something you want to improve, there’s no shame in that! Here are some tips for getting on track when you have a busy schedule. These efforts can keep your time in check so that you can free your mind for more positive development.

• Make a to-do list
  The good old-fashioned, handwritten to-do list makes it easy to check off tasks as you complete them. You can list your tasks by priority, deadlines, or from biggest to smallest. This list can put your to-dos visually in front of you for quick reminders. If you do not check off every listed project, no worries. Simply make room to manage it on your list for the next day. It’s an easy way to stay on track with completing necessary duties.

• Set reminders
  Most people use their cell phones daily for communication and information gathering. We use our phones to talk, text, access the internet, and post on social media. Since our mobile devices come out of the box already loaded with a calendar icon, why not also take advantage of this tool to manage time? The calendar is great for tracking any activity. Setting reminder notifications is an easy way to stay on top of events.

• Learn to say no
  Hearing the word, “No,” could have started early in your childhood. “No, don’t touch that,” or “No, you can’t have that” might have been common things to hear as a youngster. As an adult, we may still not like to hear the word, “No,” but we do need to become comfortable saying it, especially if it respects the dwindling free time on our schedule. Telling someone, “No,” does not mean you do not care about their need. It means you do not have the bandwidth to take on a request. Feel empowered to kindly step back from doing things that will jeopardize you from meeting established deadlines.

• More Helpful Resources:

  • 10 quick to-do list tips for better time management
  • 20 Time Management Tips to Super Boost Your Productivity
  • 10 Timeless Time Management Techniques

UMA Support

UMA knows that many students juggle work and family life while going to school. That’s why we have a built-in support system. Our Learner Services Advisors are here for you. Call 888-216-0544. We encourage you to reach out with questions and concerns.

UMA Cares

UMA Cares handles important student issues that may need to be addressed with special attention. UMA Cares takes all inquiries seriously and responds in a timely manner. Visit UltimateMedical.edu/uma-cares/ to make your voice heard.

UMA does not endorse any vendors, products, or services presented in the UMA Wellness Blog Series, and UMA bears no responsibility in any capacity as it relates to such vendors, products, or services. The information on wellness or related services is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional financial advice. Please contact the vendor or service provider for answers to questions regarding its content, products, or services.