How often do you think about your quality of life and what it means? Have you ever?!
What would your response be if I asked you how you rate your quality of life?
When I ask my client that same question when they embark with me on their fitness and wellbeing journey the answer often entails a reference to their physical health. And certainly Physical Health is part of the quality of life, however it is just one of many factor. Usually it does also get muddled into other broad terms such as wellbeing and wellness without taking time to explain or think about what that means. If we however want to improve our quality of life we need to understand what it means and what factors play a role. So lets dive a bit deeper.
The World Health Organization defines Quality of Life (QOL) as “an individual’s perception of their position in life, in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.” The most important word in this entire description is perception which highlights that it is truly subjective to each person. What you may deem as a good quality of life might seem awful to another person. It all depends on what you personally value. For instance, I don’t mind paying 50£ for a good massage as I know it helps my body to recover and prevent injuries. It helps me to relax and wind down. So I don’t mind the extra expense. However, someone else may look at that and think it is a ridiculous expense because they don’t get the same value. And that is ok. What’s important is to know what is important to you and what makes you happy.
During our transition to menopause, defining quality of life can become even more difficult because there are so many changes going on, both physically and mentally. Menopause symptoms can pose considerable challenges to everyday life, so thinking about your quality of life might not seem the top priority, but it needs to be! If you can identify what is essential to your quality of life, you can adapt better to the changes. You might ask yourself now how you can do that? Well, this is where I can give you a few tips from my experience as a Life Coach.
Find some quiet “me time” and get a cup of tea, coffee or drink of your choice. And the start by asking yourself questions and spend time answering them honestly and with detail. Both of those are critical. Sincere self-reflection is the key to seeing what makes you happy, what you may need to change, and what may be holding you back from achieving your best quality of life. Just going for the glossed-over easy answer can be the quick solution, it won’t get you to your result. The results are in the details. You won’t get to the moon by just saying that you want to get there. You have to define the steps that get you there. The same is true for quality of life.
To help you get started on this journey I will share with you some of the questions I ask my coaching clients:
- What or who puts a smile on your face? Why?
- What matters most to you? Why?
- What is an activity that clears your mind and makes you feel happy, at peace, or relaxed? Why do you find it so enjoyable?
- Do you enjoy how you spend your free time?
- If yes, what makes it so joyful?
- If not, why not?
- What gets you up in the morning?
- Do you enjoy your work?
- If yes, fantastic! What are some aspects of your job that make it so great?
- If not, why? Are there some parts you like but others you don’t?
- If you could change one/two things in your life what would they be?
These are just a few questions to get you started on your journey to self-reflection. No one has ever not benefited from knowing more about themselves. Sometimes, it can be hard to learn things about yourself, but it is a critical first step to take if you want to grow and be happier. Some answers might be scary, some might be joyful and some might be freeing but I promise you one thing…you won’t regret it!