Most people have some sort of health or fitness goal – but do you have any wellness goals? Do you focus on taking care of your emotional wellbeing as much as your physical wellbeing? Do you aim to be healthy enough or do you want to thrive in all aspects of your life? This is the key difference between health and wellness – health is a physical state, and is just one aspect of life. Wellness refers to a lifestyle that nurtures many different aspects so you can thrive.
Paul Drago, MD is an ENT and Wellness Specialist. He has worked in the field for more than four decades, and works independently as a Health and Wellness Coach, creating individualised plans for his clients. Today he answers the question: how many dimensions of wellness are there?
Depending on who you ask, it could be anywhere from three to twelve, and what they actually are can vary. In general, it is good to focus on these areas of your life in order to improve your wellbeing:
1. Physical wellness – exercise, and nutrition
Physical wellness is the ability to maintain a healthy quality of life that allows us to get through our daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. It is the ability to recognize that our behaviors have a significant impact on our overall health and well-being and to make choices that support our physical and emotional health. Physical wellness involves the care of our bodies, including the awareness of physical fitness, proper nutrition, and the avoidance of destructive habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug use. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and preventive health care are some of the main components of physical wellness.
2. Emotional wellness – mental health management , stress relief
Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully manage your emotions and maintain a positive outlook on life. It involves being aware of and accepting your emotions, being able to express and control them in a healthy way, and developing ways to cope with stress. Emotional wellness also involves being able to build and maintain positive relationships with others and to feel connected to your community. Good emotional wellness is essential to overall wellbeing, as it helps with physical health, mental stability, and overall happiness.
3. Social wellness – engaging in community, having healthy relationships
Social wellness is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. It involves the ability to interact with others in an effective and meaningful way. It includes developing and maintaining meaningful relationships, having good communication skills, and being able to practice good conflict resolution. People with good social wellness are typically able to form and maintain healthy relationships, engage in meaningful conversations, and set boundaries when needed. They are also able to recognize and appreciate differences in others and have the ability to connect with others authentically. Social wellness is essential for developing meaningful connections with others and overall well-being.
4. Spiritual wellness – time for reflection, knowing your values, thinking about the meaning of life
Spiritual wellness is an important part of overall health and wellness. It is the connection to something larger than ourselves, our purpose and meaning in life, and how we relate to the world around us. It is the search for understanding and purpose in life, through exploring our beliefs, values and experiences. It encourages us to find ways to be in tune with our inner selves, connect with something greater than ourselves, and engage in activities that bring us joy and peace. Spiritual wellness can be cultivated through practices such as prayer, meditation, yoga, journaling, and nature walks. Cultivating spiritual wellness can help us to gain a sense of purpose and direction, and can bring us strength, peace, and joy in times of stress and difficulty.
5. Intellectual wellness – learning new things, reading, engaging your mind
Intellectual wellness is all about developing and challenging yourself to think, learn, and grow. It involves using your mental capabilities to maximize your potential, explore new ideas, and strive for personal growth and development. Intellectual wellness allows you to stay curious and open to new ideas, challenge yourself to think in new ways, and develop new skills and knowledge. It also allows you to stay critical and analytical when evaluating various information sources. Intellectual wellness is an important part of overall wellness, as it can help boost self-esteem and promote personal growth.
6. Environmental wellness – being able to feel safe and comfortable in your home, at work, in your neighbourhood
Environmental wellness is a state of being in harmony with one’s environment. It involves a conscious effort to promote sustainable practices and to preserve the environment. This could include reducing one’s carbon footprint, conserving energy, recycling, and reducing waste. It also involves being mindful of the natural resources around us and understanding the impact that our actions have on the environment. Environmental wellness is important to ensure that we are living in a healthy and sustainable environment. It is also important to understand that our actions have an impact on future generations and that we must strive to make positive environmental changes to ensure that our planet is able to sustain life for many generations to come.
7. Occupational or financial wellness – work-life balance, having the money to meet financial obligations
Financial wellness is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. It is the ability to budget, save, and manage money in a way that meets both current and future financial needs. Financial wellness is a process that involves understanding and taking control of one's current financial situation, setting financial goals, and making decisions that will help achieve those goals. It involves developing healthy spending and saving habits, planning for the future, and developing a financial safety net through insurance and other forms of protection. Financial wellness is essential for living a secure and stable life, and provides the means to achieve financial freedom.
