My health state – if evaluated from the traditional point of view – is relatively satisfactory in general. I am young, moderately in shape, and do not suffer from having any chronic or acute diseases. I get seasonal colds twice a year and come from a family without cardiovascular or cancer history. However, over the last few years, I have been experiencing fatigue, tiredness, bad mood, and low energy. Quite often, I find myself in states of anxiety and boredom that prevent me from being productive. Therefore, I would put myself in a state of false wellness that manifests itself in the absence of illness symptoms.
The reasons for the sensations that I am experiencing might originate in my lifestyle choices and habits. I often skip breakfast, indulge on fast food or cafeteria sandwiches, drink more than 3 cups of coffee a day, and at least five energy drinks a week to stay awake during classes. After coming home, I take long naps, which results in my inability to go to bed at a reasonable time as otherwise, I do not have time to do my homework and socialize. Since most of the time I feel tired and sleepy, I find it difficult to concentrate on things I am doing. Moreover, I find it hard to find time for regular workouts.
The realization that my lifestyle is not as productive as I would want makes me stressed and anxious. It feels that I miss out on many opportunities and could have done better if I were more disciplined and responsible. However, learning about the health-illness continuum made me think of measures that could be implemented to improve my well-being. Therefore, I came up with several solutions that would potentially help me.
To improve my state of health and get to the stage of excellent or optimal health, I need to concentrate on exercising regularly, eating healthier, and changing some of my other behaviors. Among them are irregular sleep cycles, lack of time management, and creating stressful situations for myself. Dealing with these issues would allow me to progress on the scale of wellness and develop conditions for illness prevention.
Starting from a neutral point of the health-illness continuum, I am determined to become more aware of my state, educate, and grow. Being already aware of the necessity to advance on the scale, I would want to learn more about healthy nutrition and find a better routine. Moreover, to normalize my sleep, I need to reconsider my other habits, such as procrastination.
Thus, my plan should involve several steps:
Sleep at least 8 hours per night;
Limit the caffeine intake;
Plan my days focusing on allocating time to studies, workouts, and rest.
However, this list is not complete, and I consider some other methods that would be potentially helpful. In addition to the measures mentioned above, I am planning on getting professional and peer support. I have already booked a consultation with a study counselor who will hopefully give me some useful tips on self-actualization. My determination is to reach the state of optimal well-being and live my life fully.
The health-illness continuum that focuses on the concept of well-being rather than treating symptoms opens opportunities for more effective healthcare. Going beyond addressing particular health issues and symptoms, allows healthcare practitioners to evaluate the state of their patients despite their illness status. Moreover, it provides useful insights for everyone interested in improving their life and concentrating on being not only disease-free but also a flourishing individual.
LeMone, P. (2017). Medical-surgical nursing. Volumes 1-3: Critical thinking for person-centered care. Melbourne: Pearson Australia.
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