12: Choose Your Own Adventure
- Page ID
- 131189
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The previous chapters have covered a variety of evidenced-based wellness activities. However, it would be impossible to cover ALL the options for wellness and self-care that are available in the world! The purpose of this chapter is to provide a transition space for you to follow the same structure as the previous activities, but to explore an activity that has not been covered yet. By doing this, you get to experience and learn about another activity of your choosing, but you also begin the evolution of continuing to explore your wellness without exact directions of what is required of you for that week.
How do you know what activity to consider this week? Perhaps there is an activity that you have been curious about or have considered trying. Or maybe there is something that you have never wanted to do, but now you feel ready to step outside of your comfort zone and do something completely different! This week, that choice is yours!
Activity
For each of the previous modules, we have included a foundation of evidence-based practice that shows the wellness benefits for the chosen activity. With modern technology, this might seem pretty easy, but sometimes the "ease" of information can actually make finding evidence-based information harder to discern. Not all evidence is created equal!
Finding good information begins with finding authoritative and credible research, often called peer-reviewed research. Peer-reviewed research is exactly what it sounds like - research that other scholars (or peers) in the field review to ensure that information and data is accurate. Research that goes through this process is considered higher quality and more credible than information that is not peer-reviewed. This does not mean, though, that you should avoid all non-peer-reviewed research when searching for evidence-based information. There are some really good and helpful websites that are not peer-reviewed. However, the majority of information around your activity should be strongly rooted in evidence-based practice.
There are a few ways you can go about finding evidence-based information. If you are a current college student, you most likely have access to research databases through your institution’s library. If you have never been shown how to access databases, don’t be afraid to ask your librarian for help! Biased opinion here, but I think librarians are pretty nice and a great resource when help is needed!
Some examples of subscription databases for finding wellness-related research could include:
- CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
- MEDLINE
- Cochrane Library
- OVID
If you are not a current student, don't worry! PubMed is a freely-available, online database that contains wellness-related content and is published by the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A basic search for "wellness" retrieved over 7 million results (as of 2025)! And the majority of it is peer-reviewed which makes it a good source for evidence-based information.
Alternatively, a public library may have access to academic information through some of their database content. Google Scholar could be yet another option, but not everything in the search results is peer-reviewed, so use caution if this is the direction you take.
Once you find a good source of information related to the activity you are considering, you might be ready to engage in the activity or you might find that it leads you to dig deeper into the research. Either way is okay. If you are digging deeper, you might try different databases or look into the references found in your first source.
This activity can be done individually, but if done in a class setting, it can also be a group project. For a group project, it is recommended that every member of the team be responsible for providing at least one peer-reviewed resource.
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Librarians can help you find evidence-based information. (Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels.)
- Computer with access to Internet to:
- Brainstorm wellness activity ideas
- Search scholarly databases
- Gather supporting resources
Once you have found some information supporting a wellness activity, it is time to act. Using the same structure as the other modules, it is recommended that you spend 1 hour learning and trying the activity as an introduction. If this is being done as part of a group project or class, adjust the time to fit the class schedule. For example, you might consider limiting each group to 10 minutes for introduction of the topic and class participation in a mini-activity session.
Since this is a choose your own adventure, the possibilities for alternatives and variations are nearly infinite. In case you are experiencing a bit of a block in trying to pick an activity, here are some possibilities to consider:
- Pet therapy
- Drum circle
- Using a sauna
- Aromatherapy
- Tactile stimulation (e.g., kinetic sand)
- Zen gardening
- Athletic competition
- Volunteering
- Trying a new hobby like crocheting
Incorporate the activity into your week for at least 1 additional hour.
Also, consider sharing your activity with the authors of this text. Feel free to contact them with the activity you chose! Maybe it could become a new chapter in the future!
Reflection Questions
- Describe any changes you noticed in the following areas when doing your activity this week:
- Emotional
- Environmental
- Intellectual
- Occupational
- Physical
- Social
- Spiritual
- What benefits did you feel with your activity?
- What, if any, barriers did you experience with your activity?
- Do you have any additional thoughts and/or future plans for for your activity?
- What are your current stressors and do you have a wellness goal for this week?