Health & Wellness

Oftentimes, people make the mistake of not realizing just how complex the concept of wellness really is. For some may be knowledgeable of a few out of the eight, but not the full amount. As a result, they end up missing out on crucial points that can impact their overall health should they choose to recognize them and learn what each one means.

Each one may affect one’s health differently, depending on how he/she is doing in that one category, as one category may be weaker than the other and vice versa. That’s why it’s important to know what each category means so that each individual is able to better relate it to their lives, by figuring out how it applies to them. In turn, the eight categories are as follows; “financial, intellectual, occupational, social, physical, environmental, spiritual, and emotional.”

First and foremost is financial wellness which is defined as “a feeling of satisfaction about your financial situation.” Second is intellectual wellness which is “when you recognize your unique talents to be creative and you seek out ways to use your knowledge and skills.” The third is occupational wellness which is defined as “a sense of satisfaction with your choice of work.” Fourth is social wellness which is “a sense of connectedness and belonging.”

Fifth is physical wellness which is “affected by physical activity, healthy nutrition, and adequate sleep.” Sixth is environmental wellness which is “related to the surroundings you occupy.” Seventh is spiritual wellness which is “related to your values and beliefs that help you find meaning and purpose in your life” Eight is emotional wellness which is “an ability to cope effectively with life and build satisfying relationships with others.”

In terms of finance, this can cause a lot of people to become ill if they aren’t careful about managing their money and the stress that comes with it. This can then overlap with emotional wellness because it can cause one to begin to feel anxious, which can even go as far as affecting one’s physical wellness depending on their emotional response – and/or emotional wellness. In addition to this, social wellness, intellectual wellness, occupational wellness, and environmental wellness can all overlap as well.

You may feel as though your intellect/talents are overlooked while at work which can cause problems for both your occupational wellness and intellectual wellness. This can also cause environmental wellness and social wellness to overlap if you feel disregarded by certain people at your job which can make you feel as though you’re in a hostile – and/or uncomfortable – environment. Fortunately, paying attention to all eight of these categories can impact one’s life for the better by helping them take notice of what he/she needs to change.

When one thinks of wellness, he/she normally thinks of the state in which their body is in, whether that be physical, mental, emotional, etc. In turn, wellness itself “refers to not just physical health but emotional, spiritual, and social issues also.” In other words, it covers the overall health of a person, instead of just narrowing in on one specific area, and/or part, of that person’s being. In contrast, health and wellness “generally refers to promoting good health and reducing the risk of disease with a holistic approach.” This also considers a wide range of factors that stray away from just the physical. The biggest difference, however, between the two stems from the fact that one takes a more preventive measure by “promoting good health”, while the other refers to the issues themselves.

As a result, there are eight dimensions of wellness that help us to get a better understanding of what wellness is, in addition to the kind of topics that it focuses on. This helps us to not only narrow in but to see just how big a part that wellness plays in each and every area of our lives. These eight categories are listed as follows; “financial, intellectual, occupational, social, physical, environmental, spiritual, and emotional.” When individuals focus on each of these, it can have a major influence in a person’s overall health. But the disadvantage takes place when the individual focuses on one since that leaves room for other categories to go astray. That’s why it’s important to have a balance between all eight and be able to recognize which areas are beginning to falter so that necessary changes can be made; this is where health and wellness come in.

Health and wellness focuses more on implementing the necessary steps and/or putting forth the right amount of action towards each category. In other words, one can’t just expect change to take place on its own. Instead, they have to be ready and willing to put forth the effort; doing so brings about a plethora of health benefits. One example of this can be seen when one adds beneficial nutrients to their diet, all while making sure it’s well balanced, and full of the right foods – to help aid in healthy digestion. In turn, health is “a state of being” while wellness is “a state of living a healthy lifestyle.” As a result, when you put the two together, you aren’t just focusing on the state at which your body is already in, or the kind of lifestyle that you’re living; instead, you’re focused on both, making for a happier and healthier you, that you not only recognize but actively pursue.