by Guest | Nov 1, 2022 | Being Well
If you’ve been following Tillamook County Wellness this year, there’s a good chance that you heard about our “This Way to Well-Being” map activity that we’ve been sharing the last few months. This map stemmed from many discussions of wanting to create something fun and engaging that highlights a broader range of wellness – where the focus is not just on benefiting our physical health, but also our mental and emotional health. (And as an extra bonus, we handed out prizes such as Hydro Flasks, county / state parks passes, fair tickets, and local business certificates to randomly selected participants!)
We created this map of local activities with no set starting point or finish line based on the idea that there is no “right” path to wellness. We all have different interests that motivate us (as well as different challenges that may create barriers) so this map was created to serve as a guide for ideas when thinking about what we find exciting and what we might want to try here in Tillamook County. The “This Way to Well-Being” map included local ideas for enjoying the outdoors, connecting with friends and family, trying new foods, prioritizing your mental health, and more. You can view the map here on the Tillamook County Wellness website.
But we also wanted to hear from participants about what we might be missing – What did you enjoy? And what should we add? The survey responses we received were thoughtful and energizing. Here are a few suggestions that we received about what could be added to the map:
“Create art”
“Start recycling / composting”
“Practice meditation”
“I’d like more ways to meet like-minded people. Perhaps something like sharing a meal with a new friend.”
“Maybe something about sleep, laughter, mental health?”
“Yoga practice. Fostering homeless animals for United Paws or adopting a cat or dog from the Tillamook Animal Shelter”
Not only do we want to thank our participants for their excitement and engagement, but also our community partners who helped spread the word about the “This Way to Well-Being” map. This wouldn’t have reached nearly as many people without the support of the Tillamook Family YMCA, Food Roots, Tillamook County Community Health Center, North Coast Recreation District, Rinehart Clinic, Tillamook Bay Community College, Tillamook Library branches, Tillamook Food Pantries, Kiawanda Community Center, and local worksites. These organizations shared our printed maps with community members and helped distribute prizes to those who were taking steps to prioritize their health. (For example, the picture with this article shows YMCA instructors Kelly Benson and Sarah Patterson awarding one of the prizes to Megan, a new YMCA member!)
Although we’re wrapping up our printed map and prize distribution at the end of October, we are planning on keeping the map up on our webpage and adding a section about the suggestions we received in the survey. We hope it can continue to be used by anyone in Tillamook County who is looking for a little inspiration in starting up their own journey towards a happier, healthier life.
Other wellness questions? Email us at info@tillamookcountywellness.org. For more local health and wellness information, visit www.tillamookcountywellness.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.
by Guest | Mar 30, 2022 | Being Well
Health is most often measured in numbers – our blood pressure, blood sugar (or A1c), cholesterol, weight, waist circumference, and so on. While these are important measures and they do tell us a lot about our risk for diseases (which we now know to be preventable by as much as 80%!), moving these numbers is harder than we ever imaged. The further away we get from our “ideal” numbers, the harder it is to achieve them.
This has caused a shift in how we approach health and well-being. While those numbers are important, they may be secondary to other key factors which we also know contribute to a person’s health; such as how we feel about ourselves, how equipped we are in life to pursue and attain our goals and how well we are able to maintain healthy relationships with others.
Interestingly, our biometric scores and our social and mental well-being are in fact interconnected. How we live our lives, what we eat, how we move our bodies, how much we sleep, the choices we make around our entertainment, our friend groups and use of tobacco, alcohol and other addictive substances, all determine those health numbers. Because each of those choices is serving a purpose in our lives, it can be very difficult to change those behaviors. Instead of “giving things up,” we may have more success adding something we value even more.
By focusing on positive, social actions we can take in our daily lives, we may actually have a better chance of moving our health numbers in the right direction. Exploring activities that bring us a sense of joy and fulfillment can be very motivating and contagious. It’s a great way to meet new people, build self-esteem and grow in our personal and professional lives. Our peer groups and associations influence our behaviors. When we join activities where people are modeling healthier behaviors, we are more likely to adopt them by default.
It is important to recognize that the path to wellness looks different for each person. We all have different interests that motivate us as well as different challenges or barriers that prevent us from sticking to healthy habits. By looking at the things we want to do, we stand a much better chance of getting on – and staying on – a path to well-being.
To help you navigate what that path might look like, we have developed a handy map of fun activities. We have many local options for investing in ourselves, connecting with others, exploring the outdoors, enjoying locally produced foods and more. You may even think of some things we haven’t included. The point is, there is no wrong path as long as it is leading toward a healthier, happier you.
As an added bonus, visiting points along the map gives you a chance to win prizes, such as movie tickets, hydro flasks, county and state parks passes, Tillamook County Fair tickets, gift cards to local businesses, and more. Winners will be selected at random from group events and activities April 6th through October 31st. This program is free and everyone is welcome to participate.
You are automatically eligible to win prizes for in-person activities such as walking groups and hikes, fitness classes, visiting Food Roots and attending local workshops. Sometimes we just can’t make classes or other activities fit into our busy schedules. Don’t worry – we have you covered too. Share a photo or post about what you’ve discovered along your wellness journey and tag us @TillamookCountyWellness on Facebook or Instagram to be entered to win. (You can also enter to win through a quick participation survey on our website here).
Are you ready to start exploring?
- Grab your free Way to Well-Being map at participating locations*, your local Tillamook County library branch or download it online (*Participating locations include: North County Recreation District (NCRD), Tillamook County Family YMCA, Kiawanda Community Center, and Food Roots.)
- Decide which activities you will explore and mark them on your calendar
- Invite friends and family to join you
- Share your discoveries at the Tillamook County Wellness Facebook & Instagram pages
- Explore your way to wellness from April through October 2022 to be eligible to win prizes
- Questions? Contact us at info@tillamookcountywellness.org
Annual Walking Group Launch April 6th
Let’s get things kicked off with our annual Walking Group launch on April 6th! Explore local walking routes and trails while meeting new people. Groups meet weekly, rain or shine. Drop-ins are welcome. Check out the full schedule here. Can’t find a group that works for your schedule? Feel free to start your own!
AUTHOR: Michelle Jenck, Director of Community Well-Being at Adventist Tillamook
Other wellness questions? Email us at info@tillamookcountywellness.org. For more local health and wellness information, visit www.tillamookcountywellness.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.
