Wellness is a conscious process that involves the adoption of a series of key principles in varied life domains to lead to high levels of well-being and life satisfaction.
A holistic approach focuses on six dimensions of wellness including physical, intellectual, emotional, environmental, social and spiritual. Increasing your wellness can help you to feel your best day after day and add years to your life.
Spiritual
Spiritual wellness is a state of awareness and development that expands your sense of purpose and meaning. It can be rooted in many different forms, including religion, moral philosophy and an inherent sense of connectedness with something greater than oneself.
A spiritually well person focuses on their values and beliefs, and acts compassionately in accordance with those. They are aware that their values may shift over time, and they take care to re-adjust them as necessary.
Emotional
Emotional wellness is the ability to effectively handle your emotions. This includes dealing with change and overcoming difficulties.
It is a lifelong process that involves managing your reactions to your world.
Keeping yourself in the present moment, and looking ahead rather than backwards are important techniques for emotional wellness. They help you distance yourself from negativity and allow you to feel better.
Physical
Physical wellness is a state of being well-rested, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and visiting health care providers for annual check-ups.
People who prioritize physical wellness are less likely to develop chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.
Exercise helps boost blood flow throughout the body, which improves how your organs function. This increases your energy levels and keeps you alert and focused throughout the day.
Intellectual
Intellectual wellness is a way of living that promotes the ability to think critically and creatively. It consists of a devotion to lifelong learning and a desire to expand knowledge.
It is not limited to academic performance or IQ scores, but also includes social skills, personal interests and hobbies, community involvement, and cultural knowledge.
Being open to new ideas and experiences can expand your intellectual wellness by sparking curiosity and exploration. This leads to better mindfulness and a more well-rounded person.
Environmental
The environment in which we live plays a major role in our emotional and mental health. It also impacts our productivity.
Environmental wellness is the ability to maintain a safe, comfortable and connected relationship with our physical surroundings. This includes our immediate surroundings, larger communities, geographic areas and the planet.
It’s easy to improve environmental wellness through simple changes. These include increasing our awareness of how we use resources and the effect we have on nature.
Financial
Financial wellness is the state of feeling secure about money and having a plan to reach your goals. It includes having an emergency fund, no high-interest credit card debt, retirement savings and adequate insurance.
Studies show that people who feel financially stressed have higher rates of mental health disorders. These can include depression, anxiety and stress.
Occupational
Occupational wellness involves the ability to find a balance between work and leisure activities that promotes health, personal satisfaction, and financial reward. It also reflects a person’s values, interests, and beliefs.
It’s important for all of us to pursue a career that we enjoy and feel fulfilled with. When we settle for a job that doesn’t suit our interests or goals, it can lead to dissatisfaction and stress.
Social
Social wellness is about developing healthy relationships, a sense of belonging and a strong support network. It involves building communication skills, active listening, empathy and kindness.
It also includes understanding and accepting others – regardless of their background, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, life experience or socioeconomic status.
It’s important to build and maintain relationships because they help improve mental health, reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and other emotional problems, and boost physical wellness. They can even reduce the risk of dementia later in life.