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You're probably familiar with the two best-known areas of wellness: physical and emotional wellness.
It may come as a surprise that there's actually six more, according to Dr. Peggy Swarbrick.
When you're feeling a little off balance, reflecting upon all eight areas of wellness can be helpful in determining which area of your life may need more attention. Since they're all interconnected, neglecting one area is likely to impact all the others, too.
1) Social Wellness
Definition: "Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system."
Social wellness refers to having meaningful relationships and establishing connections with others; but it goes beyond having a supportive network of close friends and family.
It also means being aware of your own social and cultural background -- and those of others.
It means embracing diversity, showing up in an inclusive way, and actively improving the various communities you are a part of.
2) Financial Wellness
Definition: "Satisfaction with current and future financial situations."
Financial wellness refers to your relationship with money; and in particular, money management.
It's important to have the financial resources to meet your practical needs. To be financially well you should be able to live within your means, make informed financial investments, and know how to handle both your short-term and your long-term financial needs.
In addition to that, it's having awareness around the fact that each person has unique financial circumstances and needs, that may be very different from your own.
3) Vocational Wellness
Definition: "Gaining personal satisfaction and enrichment from one's work."
Vocational wellness is at its peak when the work you do is aligned with your core values and personal goals. It's when your work is meaningful to you and has a sense of purpose.
If this currently is not the case, you ought to take a proactive approach to reassess what type of work may be better suited for you, and take intentional steps towards that vocation.
If the type of work you do does provide you with personal satisfaction, vocational wellness also invites you to monitor your performance and reflect upon potential next steps towards growth within your vocation.
4) Environmental Wellness
Definition: "Occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being."
Environmental wellness means being and feeling physically safe in our environment, as well as living in a way that's respectful of our surroundings.
It's awareness around the dynamics between mankind and our natural environment. It's recognizing our responsibility for the quality of air, water and the climate that surrounds us; as well as understanding how our environment, in turn, affects our well-being.
In addition to our natural environment, there's also our social environment (e.g. the country, society, and communities you live in), as well as our built environment (e.g. proper living conditions and resources) that impact our environmental wellness.
5) Spiritual Wellness
Definition: "Having a sense of purpose and meaning in life, as well as a sense of balance and peace."
Spiritual wellness does not have to involve religious activities or beliefs, but it can.
It's about finding meaning and a bigger purpose to work towards in life. It includes striving for a balanced life and inner peace. Spiritual wellness also means showing up in a way that aligns with your beliefs, morals and ethics.
It involves practicing gratitude, seeking harmony, and offering compassion to both others and yourself.
6) Intellectual Wellness
Definition: " Recognizing one's creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills."
The aim of classic education, for example, is to foster intellectual wellness. However, supporting intellectual wellness is not only done in a school environment. Any opportunities for critical thinking, brainstorming and decision-making will help improve your intellectual wellness.
Examples include playing stimulating games; listening to podcasts; practicing old skills, learning new skills; or simply having intellectual discussions with friends or peers.
Creativity, curiosity and life-long learning are at the center here. If you're seeking opportunities that stimulate your mind and challenge your ideas and perspectives, you are taking care of your intellectual wellness.
7) Physical Wellness
Definition: "Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep. Also, preventing illness and injury, or managing chronic health conditions."
Physical wellness is about creating and maintaining healthy habits that stimulate physical well-being. Among them we find habits like ensuring healthy nutrition, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and going for necessary medical check-ups.
Physical wellness also includes awareness around the impact of risky behaviour on your well-being. Examples of potentially harmful habits are (surprise, surprise) smoking, alcohol and drug consumption, and unsafe sex practices.
8) Emotional Wellness
Definition: "Coping effectively with life, having a positive sense of self, and creating satisfying relationships."
Emotional wellness is all about expressing your feelings in a healthy way, coping with emotional challenges and potential traumatic experiences we may face in life.
It includes emotional self-regulation, doing your inner work independently; as well as co-regulating with others and maintaining healthy relationships.
Signs of emotional wellness are a healthy self-esteem, self-respect and self-compassion. It shows in taking responsibility for your actions, learning from your mistakes, a desire for growth, and having a good level of emotional intelligence and maturity.
Which Area Of Wellness Needs Your Attention?
Life is basically a balancing act.
It's unlikely that all areas of wellness will be at 100% at any given time.
That being said, we should not neglect any area of wellness for too long, and allow it to slip too far for comfort (or in this case, health).
Which area of wellness needs your attention right now?
What impact does its current state of "un-wellness" have on you?
What impact would improving this area of wellness have on you?
What is one small step you can take towards improving it?
If there's more than one area that requires your attention and you feel overwhelmed with where to even begin, reach out for support.
Schedule a free 30-minute session with me to explore your wellness needs and pitfalls, and let's discuss how coaching can serve you in balancing your Wheel Of Wellness.
And as always, please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
I'd love to hear your experience with the different areas of wellness, and how you're managing (or struggling) to balance them all.