When you think about wellness, you are probably thinking about physical health. While it does include physical health, overall wellness encompasses so much more. Wellness, as a whole, is more than simply being free of illnesses. Wellness is a balance of mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and physical well-being.
Why Does Wellness Matter?
Being conscious of your overall wellness is important. Arming yourself with knowledge about the different kinds of wellness, and how they relate to each other can help you navigate your own personal well-being. Improving all aspects of wellness can make you generally happier, healthier, and better adjusted to deal with life’s issues.
Different Aspects of Wellness
Wellness is a broad topic that can be split into many different categories and subcategories. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll discuss 5 main areas of wellness; physical, social, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual.
Physical
Physical wellness is an area that many people tend to focus on, and for good reason. Physical wellness is more than simply being free of sickness. It is also being kind to your body, and doing as much as you can to keep it healthy and strong.
There are a few ways to make sure your body is as healthy and strong as possible. Among those are eating well, getting enough exercise, getting enough rest and sleep, practicing safe sex, and seeking help from a doctor when ill.
Emotional
Emotional well-being has to do with how you regulate your emotions. Emotional health is closely related to other areas of wellness, like social and intellectual.
Some ways to help improve emotional wellbeing are getting enough sleep, getting enough social interaction, developing healthy thinking habits, and seeking therapy for help with any past traumas. Learning to practice self-awareness and how to better control emotions is part of emotional wellness, too.
Social
Social wellness has to do with how we have relationships with others. How we interact with friends, family, peers, and co-workers is part of our social wellness. Ideally, all of our relationships will be healthy and supportive. Having good relationships with others can help prepare you for dealing with stressful moments in life.
There are several ways to improve your social wellness. Seek out relationships that are mutually respectful, supportive, and fulfilling. Make an effort to support those who support you. Find new friends by joining clubs or volunteer programs.
Spiritual
Spiritual wellness refers to your relationship with a guiding set of beliefs, principles, or values. Spiritual wellness can be related to a religion or spiritual practice. It can also mean simply contemplating life, your purpose, or your ethics.
One way to improve your spiritual wellness, as well as your mental wellness, is through meditation. It can be related to religious practices or not. Meditation is a way to practice mindfulness and reflect on your goals and values. It has been shown to reduce stress and have a calming effect.
Intellectual
Emotional and intellectual wellness are closely related, but there are differences. Emotional health deals with learning to manage your emotional responses, while intellectual wellness is about learning new skills, and tools, and challenging yourself.
Learning new tools, like time management, is part of intellectual wellness. Critical thinking, developing your own thoughts and opinions, and challenging yourself to learn new things, are all signs of strong intellectual wellness.
For more information on wellness and tips on self-care, visit our website. Contact us at the Wellness Center of Plymouth to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.
