The state of our wellness is an essential part of the growth we go through in our lives. It’s associated with the actions we take, the intentions we create and the choices we make in life that ultimately lead us toward an optimal state of wellbeing. Life is not just about surviving, it’s about thriving and actually enjoying the time we have here on earth. With that said, there are 8 dimensions of wellness that when fulfilled and taken care of, will lead you towards a very fulfilled life.
You might be thinking.. “8 seems like a lot!” and truthfully, I can see why you might think that too. But once we break them down and I give you some idea’s in which you can tend to each of those area’s and start creating more balance and habits for yourself, I hope it seems a little less overwhelming.
So let’s dive in, shall we?
What Are The 8 Dimensions Of Wellness?
The 8 dimensions of wellness are:
Your PHYSICAL wellness.
Your EMOTIONAL wellness.
Your INTELLECTUAL wellness.
Your SPIRITUAL wellness.
Your SOCIAL wellness.
Your ENVIRONMENTAL wellness.
Your OCCUPATIONAL wellness.
Your FINANCIAL wellness.
Each of these dimensions serve a big purpose and role in our overall health and wellness. Below explains what each dimension means as well as ideas you can take with you to start living a more balanced and happier lifestyle.
Physical wellness
Your physical wellness refers to your physical activity, proper nutrition, sleeping patterns, sexual health and substance use.
Ideas:
- Exercise regularly, make it a part of your daily routine. Whether that’s through cardio, daily walks or yoga, there are many ways you can move your body and enhance your physical wellness.
- Limit your processed food intake and increase your fresh food intake. You can do this by adding more fruits and veggies to your meals.
- Get a good sleep (create a night routine to help you wind down!).
- Educate yourself on the importance of minimizing substance intake.
- Minimize your daily sugar intake.
EMOTIONAL wellness
Your emotional wellness refers to all aspects of mental health and well-being including how feelings are processed, how you think, feel and behave. It’s essentially how you acknowledge and cope with situations.
Ideas:
- Practice mindfulness.
- Exercise, eat and sleep well.
- Prioritize your self-care and make time for you.
- Tune into your thoughts and feelings (try journaling them!).
- Begin practicing the power of positivity as a mindset.
- Show yourself self-compassion and love.
- Seek support from loved ones, community or a professional.
intellectual wellness
Your intellectual wellness refers to the stimulation of your brain through learning new things and encouraging creative and mental activities.
Ideas:
- Learn a new language.
- Take a course or workshop.
- Learn something new that excites you.
- Read more.
- Do crossword puzzles, word searches, sudokus etc..
- Go to museums to learn more about their histories there.
spiritual wellness
Your spiritual wellness refers to the search of meaning and purpose in the human existence. It’s your set of beliefs, principles, values and practices that give you a sense of direction in your life.
Ideas:
- Spend some time alone and tap into your inner self.
- Meditate and journal your thoughts.
- Connect with nature by going for walks and practicing mindfulness.
- See challenges you face in life as an opportunity of growth.
- Live authentically and by your personal values and principles.
- Remain true to yourself and who you are while allowing others to be who they are.
social wellness
Your social wellness refers to creating connections and relationships with others that positively impact your life. It also refers to the maintaining and development of those connections or new connections throughout your life.
Ideas:
- Find a balance between personal and social time.
- Create and maintain connections and relationships with people who bring you joy.
- Surround yourself with people who you share interests with.
- Seek out new opportunities through new people and new hobbies.
- Be open-minded to new people and experiences.
enviromental wellness
Your environmental wellness refers to how you care for the earth by protecting it’s resources. It’s understanding your personal impact on the planets environment, and learning how to maintain a way of life that has balance between maximizing harmony with the earth and minimizing harm on the environment.
Ideas:
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
- Avoid harmful chemicals.
- Conserve water (example: turn the tap off when brushing your teeth or doing the dishes).
- Opt-out of as much paper mail as possible (junk mail).
- Research how to minimize single-use products in the home.
occupational wellness
Your occupational wellness refers to your overall satisfaction with work-life balance and fulfillment. It’s about enjoying your chosen occupation and also being able to properly maintain your life outside of work.
Ideas:
- Be open to change and new ideas.
- Explore multiple career options.
- Consider your hobbies and interests and see if they can be made into a career that you’ll love.
- Create a vision for your career (like a vision board!).
financial wellness
Your financial wellness refers to the satisfaction of both current and future financial situations and/or making necessary changes to get you to a more satisfactory financial situation.
Ideas:
- make a financial plan that you can work with and brings you a feeling of ease.
- create a monthly budget and stick to it
- eliminate unnecessary spending habits to create space for more necessary and fulfilling ideas.
By taking care of these 8 dimensions of wellness and creating habits to adapt some of the ideas into your own life, you should start to see a positive impact on your overall wellness and how you feel on a daily basis. Remember, life is not meant to just survive, it’s about enjoying and embracing the journey along the way.
What idea’s will you begin to adapt into your own wellness journey? Comment below!
Tiffanie 🙂
Leave a Reply