Assingments % - Reflect on Your Current Mental and Physical Health

IMPORTANT: This weekly assignment is open Friday-Sunday (due date) only. During weeks with special due dates, see posting of open days/dates.
The focus of this Relational Communication Journal [5 points each] will be on your mental and physical health. How we feel both mentally and physically will affect our interactions with everyone around us, especially those who we consider significant others (family, friends, partner, spouse, etc.). So it is important to say in touch with how we are feeling both mentally and physically. The information posted in this Journal assignment is confidential. That said, please do not reveal anything you feel is none of the Professor’s darn business! The purpose of this assignment is to “try to provide an understanding of the multiple influences, such as culture, family, work, and politics, on your behaviors.” (Geist-Martin et al., p. 17).
Assignment Requirements:
This assignment requires that you speak in first-person, that is, use “I” and “me.”
Entry should be in proper paragraph format.
The content of your paragraph should be clearly connected to the prompt.
Do not include the prompt/questions in your post.
Spelling and grammar count, so proofread before you post!
Entry should be at least 250 words total.
Posting Your Journal Entry: Type or copy/paste your assignment into the text box. Make sure you “submit” your post! Each week you will address the following prompt:
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your mental and physical health right now/this week? Explain the number you have picked to represent your mental and physical health [i.e. “I am at a 7/10 this week because I…”]
Describe one behavior you engaged in this week that you believe contributes to or detracts from your health (e.g., taking or not taking vitamins, any form of exercise or sedentary activities, smoking, meditating, eating particular foods, feeling anxious or sad or depressed).
Explain why you do this behavior and how you believe it contributes to or detracts from your health.
Describe how communication was part of engaging in this behavior today (e.g., retelling the behavior to a friend or healthcare provider, talking with someone while engaging in the behavior, sharing your experiences with someone who also engages in the behavior). That is, how and who did you talk to about your week/behaviors?
Describe how you might ensure continuing this healthy behavior or reducing/eliminating this unhealthy behavior.
Relational Communication Journal [5 points] Before Posting the Assignment:Read and follow the instructions provided in the “RCJ Requirements [READ]”.
Do not put assignment questions into your assignment.
Spelling and grammar count, so proofread before you post.
Review each paragraph and make sure you have met all the requirements.
Posting the Assignment: Type or copy and paste your assignment into the submission text box.
Click on the Submit link.
Be sure and submit your assignment before the 11:59 pm deadline. Assignments sent via e-mail or Inbox [Canvas] or posted in “Comments” will not be accepted for credit.
Relax for a few minutes and bask in the glow of your genius.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Reflect on Your Current Mental and Physical Health

The first part of your journal entry asks you to rate your mental and physical health on a scale of 1-10. Reflect on how you’re feeling this week—both mentally and physically. Are you feeling stressed, anxious, or calm? Physically, do you feel tired, energetic, or unwell? Once you’ve reflected, choose a number that best represents your overall state.

Tip: Be honest and open with yourself. It’s important to focus on your current health state and not what you wish it was.

Step 2: Identify One Behavior That Affects Your Health

Next, describe one behavior you engaged in this week that impacts your health. This could be something that either contributes positively to your health (e.g., exercising, eating nutritious food) or detracts from it (e.g., smoking, not getting enough sleep).

Example Behaviors: Taking vitamins, meditating, exercising, eating unhealthy food, smoking, spending too much time on screens, feeling anxious, etc.
Reflection: Think about why you did this behavior. Does it happen out of habit, necessity, or choice? How does it either improve or harm your mental and physical well-being?

Step 3: Discuss How Communication Played a Role

In this part, reflect on how communication was involved in your behavior. Did you talk to someone about your health or the behavior you engaged in? This could be sharing your thoughts with a friend, discussing it with a healthcare provider, or even telling someone about your day.

Example: Did you explain your health struggles to a friend or partner? Did you talk about your exercise routine with a family member?

Step 4: Plan for the Future

Lastly, think about how you can continue or change this behavior in the future. What steps can you take to keep up a healthy behavior, or reduce/eliminate an unhealthy one? You could consider setting goals, developing new habits, or finding support from others.

Example: If you’ve been exercising regularly, how can you ensure you keep doing it? If you’ve been eating poorly, how might you make better choices going forward?

Step 5: Writing and Formatting Your Entry

Once you have your reflections, organize them into a well-structured paragraph. Keep your writing focused on the prompt, avoid including the prompt itself in your entry, and proofread for spelling and grammar.

Structure:
- Introduction: Start with your rating and why you picked that number.
- Body: Explain one behavior you engaged in this week, why you did it, and how communication played a role.
- Conclusion: Describe what you’ll do moving forward to maintain or change this behavior.

Final Tip:

Word Count: Make sure your entry is at least 250 words long.
Tone: Write in a conversational, first-person tone. This is about your personal reflection, so use “I” and “me.”

By following these steps, you’ll be able to create a reflective and thorough journal entry that is clear, organized, and thoughtful. Good luck!