What is Wellness?
“Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), wellness is “…a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Why Wellness Matters?
Wellness matters because everything we do and every motion we feel all correlates to our well-being. Our well-being directly affects our actions and our emotions.
Dimensions of Wellness:
Emotional wellness
- Requires self-care, relaxation, stress reduction and the development of inner strength.
- Remind yourself to stay positive
Environmental wellness
- Conserve energy
- Recycle
- Volunteer with environmental organizations
- Awareness of earth’s natural resources
- Spend time outdoors
Financial wellness
- Identify financial issues before they start
- Keep organized records of your finances
- Take advantage of student discounts
- Plan ahead & set budget goals
- Balance your other dimensions of wellness
Intellectual wellness
- Be open-minded
- Be a listener
- Choose a hobby
- Travel
- Explore different avenues of creativity
Occupational wellness
- Explore both paid/unpaid jobs that interest you
- Practice open communication
- Set realistic career goals
Physical wellness
- Engage in physical activity for 30 min each day
- Utilize stairs instead of elevators
- Eat a variety of healthy foods
- Control your meal portions
- Get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night
- Practice safe sex
Social wellness
- Keep in touch with supportive friends and family
- Practice self-disclosure
- Join a club/organization
- Participate in group discussions
Spiritual wellness
- Explore your inner self
- Practice acceptance
- Spend time meditating
- Look for a religious faith that you agree in
- Be curious
References:
https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/wellness/what-is-wellness
