A person who is well has a deep sense of personal identity, satisfaction with life and positive functioning. This includes a healthy social dimension that enables people to build and maintain healthy relationships with others.
Wellness is a dynamic process that happens as life ebbs and flows. It requires ongoing action on each of the eight interconnected dimensions to promote a life of wholeness and fulfillment.
Intellectual
Intellectual wellness is the ability to engage in stimulating mental activities that expand your knowledge, experience, and personality. It includes academics, cultural involvement, community involvement and personal hobbies that enhance your skills.
It also encourages learning and exploration of ideas in order to become better rounded and more mindful of your own beliefs and the relationship between yourself, others, and the environment. Curiosity is another factor that can help develop your intellectual wellness.
It is important for everyone to develop their intellectual health, as it can have a positive impact on your overall well-being. It improves memory, allows you to express your thoughts, and combats the likelihood of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Occupational
Occupational wellness is the ability to reach a balance between work and leisure time, address workplace stress, and build relationships with coworkers. It also involves choosing a career that promotes personal satisfaction and fulfillment.
Many people believe that a successful professional life involves being financially satisfied, enjoying a satisfying and supportive workplace culture, and getting along well with their coworkers. However, not all of these things are equally important to overall wellness.
Some research has shown that individuals who incorporate occupational wellness activities into their lives are more productive, have a lower rate of absenteeism, and spend less on healthcare costs. Occupational wellness programs and sessions can also reduce employee turnover, saving companies money on recruitment efforts and training.
Social
The social wellness dimension of the wellness wheel involves fostering healthy relationships with friends, family, and the community. It also entails being concerned for the needs of others and humankind, while maintaining an interest in the environment and contributing to its betterment.
It involves building and maintaining a support network that allows you to feel confident, comfortable, and able to ask for help when needed. This may mean asking a friend out for lunch, joining a club or organization, setting healthy boundaries, using good communication skills that are assertive rather than passive or aggressive, being genuine and authentic with others, and treating them with respect.
It also means being culturally aware and accepting aspects of diversity, such as race, ethnicity, gender, age groups, religion, and socioeconomic status. Understanding and acknowledging the value of these factors in society is an important part of achieving social wellness.
Physical
The physical wellness dimension is primarily concerned with exercise, healthy foods and adequate sleep, as well as the prevention of illness and injury. It includes learning about and identifying the signs of disease, getting medical care when necessary and protecting yourself from injuries or harm by abstaining from drug use, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
Emotional wellness involves understanding and coping effectively with one’s feelings, as well as developing inner resources for a positive outlook and effective stress management. Spiritual wellness encourages the development of a personal spirituality, whether it be religious or not.
Intellectual wellness encourages lifelong learning by participating in a variety of experiences that expand one’s knowledge and stimulate thinking. Occupational wellness involves enjoying and appreciating work that is enriching and personally meaningful.
Each of these dimensions is a vital aspect of wellness, and neglecting any of them for any length of time can have adverse effects on an individual’s health and well-being. It is important to take a proactive approach to promoting wellness in these eight dimensions by making small changes that can be sustained over time.