Wellness and Wisdom: How Health Fuels Your Learning (Based on Episode 8)

Holistic Health + Learning: The Unbreakable Bond You Didn’t Know You Needed

Let's play Family Feud! Here's your question: Name something you think of when you hear the word "health"? The top five answers are: doctor, exercise, diet, nutrition, and mental. If the question were: Name the six elements of holistic health, it would be harder for citizens of the world to answer. When discussing health it SHOULD ALWAYS include what we, your podcast hosts, like to call the terrific trio; physical, mental, and emotional health. People believe health has to do with your physical vessel, but in actuality, just like learning, it's deeper than that. We should be considering all elements of our health.

Holistic health means focusing on your physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual health. Why do people not implement this every day you ask? There are a lot of reasons. Despite the concept of holistic health becoming more widely known it's not implemented and encouraged in our day to day lives. Ours and other government, health care systems, places of employment, sources of entertainment, etc. do not support or foster our holistic health. If society as a whole does not value something, I hope you're feeling more encouraged by us that it's important to start questioning and challenging the status quo.

Health isn’t just something to tick off after "finish this blog post." In truth I am very aware that I do not do a fantastic job of prioritizing my holistic health. I know it’s central to everything, and yet it's still a challenge every single day. Our brains are part of our bodies, so if our bodies (aka the terrific trio) are out of sync—whether it’s from stress, lack of sleep, or poor nutrition—our brain checks out too. No one is going to ace a job interview or a calculus test on no sleep, copious amounts of stress, and a breakfast of Red Bull and regrets.

Maslow Was On to Something

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs illustrates these concepts in a very sensical way. If you haven't seen this before and you have young learners in your life, do yourself a favor and print one off to hang up somewhere you'll see it every day to remind you and your young learner(s) of the importance of what it represents so you can prioritize your health and learning and theirs!

If your basic needs—food, water, sleep—aren’t met, forget about giving a perfect presentation or learning a new language. The same applies in everyday life: if your physical, mental, or emotional health isn’t in check, your capacity to learn and grow is limited. But when these needs are met, growth becomes possible. The hierarchy is a ladder for all learning and living! Maslow’s ideas apply to everyone! For some, they don't eat breakfast in the morning, for some it's because they can't afford food. If you’ve ever seen a child who isn’t secure, safe, or doesn’t have consistency in their life, you can immediately tell from their lack of communication or behavior. Basic needs should be met for everyone, but there are hundreds of thousands of people who are homeless in America. If those basic needs aren't met how can they possibly focus on their psychological needs?

Food for thought: Where are you today on Maslow's Hierarchy?

Try for today: Where might five people you encounter today—whether they are known to you or strangers—fall on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? Try selecting individuals of different ages for variety.

Checking in on your health is important. It's also important to check in on the health of loved ones too. Not just their physical, but their holistic health. Be curious!

The Power of Community: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Health is a team sport. Yes, you read that correctly! We need people around us who get it, who remind us to prioritize our well-being holistically. Having a supportive community makes it easier to maintain and improve our health, which in turn, supercharges our learning.

A community can be two or more people with a common goal or characteristic, so you don't need to go out and find a crew of 500 people. Your community could be a friend encouraging you to rest or a mentor offering guidance. It could also be a yoga or spiritual retreat with your friends, or going to a concert with the group of people you met at kickball last week.

Here’s a challenge: think of an activity you can do with your community (no matter the size) that encompasses all six elements of holistic health—physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual. I'll post my idea in the comments section!

Genetics, Hardwiring, and Expectations: Navigating Your Unique Path

We all have unique bodies and brains—our genetics and hardwiring influence our health and learning capacities. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck or that it always comes naturally. Understanding your unique needs allows you to craft a personal learning strategy that works for you. Maybe that means taking more breaks or focusing on mental health practices. Self-awareness is your best tool here. To help you think a little more about personalized strategies for prioritizing and improving your holistic health take a look below for some fun!

Classic Tales and Holistic Health: They Go Together

Sometimes, the path to life-changing transformation becomes clearer when we connect with familiar stories. Let’s reimagine the key concepts of holistic health through the magical lens of classic fairytales, best-selling novels, and beloved children’s books.

1. Cinderella’s Balance (Mind, Body, Spirit) Cinderella’s transformation at the ball shows how balance in mind, body, and spirit leads to real change. Cinderella neglects herself, working endlessly for her stepmother and stepsisters. But with her fairy godmother’s help, she finds balance and transformation. Holistic health is like this: tending to your body (the dress and shoes), mind (believing in your worth), and spirit (the magic of purpose). Without self-care, like Cinderella’s glow, our inner light can fade. We all need moments of self-care and restoration to balance work with joy.

   
   

2. Winnie-the-Pooh’s Picnic (Nutrition, Movement, Rest) Winnie-the-Pooh loves his honey! He also loves his "up down touch the grounds" and naps. Holistic health is like Pooh’s life: enjoy the sweetness and balance of life. Too much of one thing, and you miss life’s simple joys. Savor the honey, move, and recharge!

   
   

3. The Fellowship’s Quest (Interconnected Systems) In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo doesn’t get to Mordor alone. The Fellowship (aka community)—each member representing strength, wisdom, courage, or support—works together. Your body’s systems are like the Fellowship: your physical health (Aragorn), mental health (Gandalf), emotional well-being (Sam), and social connections (Legolas) all have roles to play. If one member of the team falters, the quest is in danger. Holistic health teaches us to recognize when one "system" (like emotional well-being) is struggling it needs more attention. Don’t end up lost like Gollum, disconnected from yourself.

   
   

4. The Giving Tree’s Roots (Emotional Health) The Giving Tree gives all of herself—her apples, branches, and trunk—until she is just a stump to the person she loves. She forgets to care for herself, focusing only on the boy’s needs. Emotional health is knowing when to say “I need to take care of me” before you give too much.

   Holistic health means being like the tree but remembering that you need nourishment, too. If you only give without addressing your own needs, you’ll end up feeling depleted, just like the tree.

   
   

5. Harry Potter’s Patronus (Mental Health) In Harry Potter, when the Dementors threaten Harry, he uses the Patronus Charm, powered by his happiest memory, to fend them off. Your mental health is like this spell—it’s your internal defense against the stresses and “Dementors” of everyday life. You can build resilience by focusing on positive experiences, just like Harry taps into his happy memories.

   If you don’t work on your mental health, it’s like trying to fight Dementors without a Patronus—you’ll feel drained and defenseless. Holistic health builds your “Charms Toolbox” to stay strong when things get tough to help us face life's challenges with resilience and positivity.

   
   

6. Alice’s Wonderland Puzzle (Holistic Health Applied)

   In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice’s journey is full of confusing signs, tricky characters, and unexpected turns. Holistic health can feel a bit like Wonderland—it’s all about piecing together different parts of yourself.

   
   

   You’re constantly navigating through various challenges: the Queen of Hearts (stress), the Mad Hatter (chaos), and the Cheshire Cat (uncertainty).

   But just as Alice eventually finds her way, you too can achieve balance by recognizing that each piece of the puzzle works together to create the bigger picture of wellness.

The Happily Ever Beginning

Alright, you've got the tools, strategies, and information to go out there and start living your best life by prioritizing your WHOLE self holistically. By focusing on holistic health and its impact on learning, we unlock the potential for growth, balance, and a more fulfilled life. When we understand the deep connection between mind, body, and spirit, we become truly unstoppable. Wishing you a Happily Ever Beginning!