Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Section 12-4 Strategies for Healthful Personal Development 313
What Contributes
to Quality of Life?
The following are some of
the factors people mention when
describing a quality of life:
•
Good health. Your health and
the health of the other members
of your family is very important.
Remember the last time you
were ill. Did you tell yourself
“if I can just get better,
everything will be okay”?
People often do not realize
how important their health is
until they lose it.
•
Environmental factors. Clean air and water, a safe neighborhood, and
access to recreational facilities are just some of the environmental
factors that can impact the quality of your life.
•
Emotional closeness. To feel you are loved and to feel love for
others is important to most people. Without this emotional tie to
at least one other person, life may not be as satisfying as it could
be. People who feel loved are usually happier, more enthusiastic,
healthier, less prone to illness, and generally live longer.
•
Social ties. Having friends and feeling like a member of a community
is part of a fulfi lling life. Those who feel isolated and alone are usually
less likely to be satisfi ed with their lives.
•
Educational opportunities. Everyone has the right to a good education
in a safe school environment. Qualifi ed teachers and up-to-date
classroom materials allow you to reach any educational goals you
set for yourself. A variety of educational opportunities are available
after high school. If you choose to pursue these, they can greatly
impact the quality of your life in the years to come.
•
Satisfying work. Wages bring buying power and essential needs,
such as nutritious food and health care. A work environment that is
free of hazards to your physical and emotional health is also important.
Being a productive member of a work group can give you personal
satisfaction.
You cannot always change the circumstances under which you live.
However, you can look for ways you can change your life to bring it closer
to the quality you desire. A positive attitude helps. Those who think of
their glass as half full will enjoy a better quality of life than those who
feel their glass is half empty.
Life Skills
Setting Personal Health Goals
Setting goals can help you achieve
and maintain good health. For example,
you need to include at least 60 minutes of activity in your
daily schedule. (Urge adults in your family to include at least
30 minutes of activity in their schedules.) You do not have to
spend 60 minutes all at once. To achieve this goal, you can
accumulate a number of 10 to 20-minute segments of activity
throughout the day. Talk to your doctor about your personal
health goals before making any drastic changes.
a nd
Living Living
Green Green
Reading is a good way to
enhance your personal
development. The next
time you have the impulse
to buy a new book to read,
borrow it from the library or
a friend instead of buying a
new copy. Sharing books is
a great way to reduce waste
and reuse materials.