By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being
Last month’s health and well-being blog focused on adopting a whole-person mindset that positively impacts athletic performance. The Wellness Compass tool was shared as an easy-to-use method for assessing overall well-being.
Now, let’s take a deeper dive into the benefits of completing this resource and following it up with the SMART Step Worksheet. The Worksheet guides you in creating a well-being goal, which can help you in reaching your Senior Games personal best. Both resources are linked at the end of this post.
Understanding the purpose behind an assessment is essential. Many people feel uneasy or resistant when asked to complete tests or evaluations. The Wellness Compass encourages personal growth without judgement.
It highlights your strengths and provides an opportunity to select an area for improvement in a supportive way. The assessment is simply a snapshot of where you are right now, offering encouragement and insight into your potential for growth.
Benefits of Using the Wellness Compass
Taking time to slow down and complete the assessment can increase self-awareness and help you focus on healthy changes. According to the designers of the tool, additional benefits include:
- Scores are not labeled as “good” or “bad”
- Promotes self-awareness and insight
- Identifies areas of well-being that may need more attention
- Shows how different aspects of wellness are interconnected
- Reveals opportunities for growth
How the Assessment Works
The Wellness Compass explores eight areas of wellness. After responding to all the questions in the digital tool, your results will automatically tally and generate a visual summary. You can also manually add your scores if using a printed version.
Take Action with the SMART Step Worksheet
The SMART Step Worksheet helps you choose an area to improve. Enhancing one area positively impacts others. A practical approach is to select an area you feel motivated to work on within the next 30 days. Applying the SMART Step process helps you create goals that are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-Limited
This process also asks you to consider potential roadblocks and to identify an accountability partner to support your progress.
Completing the Wellness Compass assessment and making a change in just one area will increase your whole person well-being. Put yourself on the best path to a Senior Games personal best performance by using the Wellness Compass and the Smart Step Worksheet links.
