The Six Dimensions of Wellness
Physical Wellness
Move more. Eat better.
Physical wellness tends to show up at the forefront of any wellness regimen and encompasses everything from physical activity level and the nutritional value of your diet to the quality of your sleep. Optimal physical wellness directly impacts the way you think and feel. When you take care of your body in a physical manner, you are rewarded with better digestion, a clearer mind, a better sense of judgment, and a more optimistic attitude.
Your physical health extends beyond your body’s basic functioning. You can improve physical wellness with small changes in your daily habits, such as regulating the amount of alcohol you consume, taking supplements when necessary, or being more mindful of your meal portions. The idea is to try to minimize any potentially destructive habits that could become second nature.
Emotional Wellness
Practice gratitude.
Emotional wellness covers everything from mental health and self-esteem to intimacy and the healthy expression of emotions. As humans, we possess a complex set of emotions that equip us to connect with others, live with a sense of morality, and act as functional members of society. You can strengthen your emotional and mental well-being by turning to a support network of family and friends, finding time to meditate and stay calm, or committing to better understanding your emotions and thought processes. Positive self-esteem and optimism are powerful healers!
Relationships and connections with others are crucial in satisfying your social and emotional needs.When you safely express your feelings to others, you can better address your emotions in real-time, which leads to a better understanding of how to behave in future similar situations. This is key to healthy stress management and development of coping skills when things get difficult. The best way to stay emotionally healthy is to seek external resources, whether a therapist or a self-help book, to learn how to express your feelings.
Intellectual Wellness
Boost your brain.
You contribute to your overall intellectual wellness when you exercise your mind, stimulate critical thinking, and seek out people and experiences that challenge you intellectually. This type of wellness is achieved through embracing new concepts, improving your skill sets, and seeking new challenges.
You can challenge your mind and intellect by participating in creatively stimulating mental activities. This can include signing up for a new course or workshop, reading an autobiography or memoir, or learning about new cultures through museums or theater. Through these activities, you’ll gain perspective and learn new skills and ideas that can be applied to your daily life.
Social Wellness
Connect with others.
Social wellness refers to your relationship with your community and others. At its core, it’s the ability to communicate effectively and build positive relationships that extend to satisfaction in all areas of your life, such as friends, family, school, and work. This area of wellness is important as it directly affects the way you show up as an individual and contribute to your community.
You can enhance your social wellness by simply expanding your network of people. Try reaching out to old friends and sparking new connections with those who share common interests and values. When you build these connections, your life will feel fuller and more enhanced. You can further this practice by creating spaces for more socialization and interaction. If you enjoy reading or cooking, this could be an opportunity to set up a virtual club or meeting to discuss and interact with like-minded people. As humans, we thrive off social connection and the positive energy found within a group setting.
Spiritual Wellness
Nourish your soul.
Productive and healthy individuals seek meaning and purpose to nourish their lives. Spiritual wellness encompasses this idea, encouraging you to live by a guiding set of principles and belief systems that can help you approach life with a positive mindset. By aligning yourself with your spiritual and moral compass, you become more emotionally in tune with your own needs and the needs of others.
Spiritual wellness can be put into practice through daily meditation or prayer, a thirst to stay inquisitive, and a focus on listening to your gut morals in difficult situations. It is also an opportunity to allow for self-growth and introspection when it comes to the challenges that life may throw your way.
Occupational Wellness
Work with purpose.
In an effort to live a more vibrant and holistic life, your occupation should reflect your core values and overall mission in life. Occupational wellness is achieved when you can find a job or purpose in life that uses your gifts, skills, and talents. This wellness factor in your workplace will extend to feelings of satisfaction in all other areas of your life! If you find yourself leaving each workday drained of energy or dreading the next time you step foot in the office, you may not be on the right career path for achieving your best self. Devoting your energy to a rewarding career that speaks to your unique talents and gifts and aligns with your life goals is how you can achieve occupational wellness.
The idea of a career change can seem daunting and scary, but it’s an essential step toward finding your unique path and building a healthy vision for your future. Whether you have a knack for numbers or finances or an affinity for sales and public speaking, these vocational skills can be utilized by any company or business that speaks to your greater passions.
Occupational/Vocational wellness involves preparing and making use of your gifts, skills, and talents in order to gain purpose, happiness, and enrichment in your life. The development of occupational satisfaction and wellness is related to your attitude about your work. Achieving optimal occupational wellness allows you to maintain a positive attitude and experience satisfaction/pleasure in your employment. Occupational wellness means successfully integrating a commitment to your occupation into a total lifestyle that is satisfying and rewarding.
Integrating Wellness into All Facets of Your Life
The many areas of wellness we discussed permeate into every aspect of your life, from your morning routines and how you manage your work schedule to your relationships with your friends and family and what you put on your plate. By focusing on nourishing each of these dimensions of wellness, you can reach an optimal level of whole-body health and show up in your life as the best version of yourself.