Embarking on a physical wellness journey is exciting, especially as you make progress toward your goals and start reaping the benefits of increased energy and improved health. However, it can be challenging to find time to exercise or make the best food choices when your days are spent serving others.
Community support is a powerful tool to keep yourself accountable and stay motivated. After all, we pray, worship and study together, so why not exercise and eat together to better equip ourselves for ministry?
Having a supportive group makes it easier to follow and maintain your wellness goals, stay active and share resources like fitness classes and nutrition tips. Building social connections helps reduce stress and loneliness to positively impact your overall health. Community support can help:
1. Find a Friend or Family Member
Where can you find support? Sometimes, it’s easiest to start at home. Do you have a spouse, sibling or parent who might want to team up with you? Or is another pastor or staff member looking for an accountability buddy? Ask if they can join you for a daily or weekly walk. Share your health goals so you can encourage each other, whether you hope to gain energy, improve cholesterol levels, manage stress or help control blood sugar levels.* The encouragement you’ll provide each other can help you stay on track.
2. Join a Class or Club
An organized class or club provides structure and engagement in your physical wellness journey. Find an activity you enjoy through a walking or running club, cycling meetup, pickleball group or another option to kick-start a healthy habit.
3. Create Church Fundraising Events
A ministry-sponsored fundraising event encourages physical wellness and benefits the community, so it’s a win-win. By hosting walk/run events, group workouts, fitness challenges and health workshops, the church can inspire members to be active together, foster fellowship and support worthy causes. Incorporating family-friendly or themed activities allows all age groups to participate, reinforcing a sense of community.
Social support can be emotional, practical or both.
Emotional support is when someone:
Practical support is when someone:
God has designed us for connection, and every step you take with a friend toward physical wellness makes the path a little brighter. At GuideStone®, we come alongside you with health plans and wellness tools to advocate for your well-being so you can fulfill your calling in ministry. For more information, contact us at Insurance@GuideStone.org or 1-844-INS-GUIDE (1-844-467-4843), Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
GuideStone welcomes the opportunity to share this general information. However, this article is not intended to be relied upon as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
*CDC.gov/physical-activity-basics/benefits/index.html
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