It is generally agreed that there are eight areas of wellness and each area of wellness is interrelated with the others. Each area is equally vital in the pursuit of optimum health. You can reach an optimal level of wellness by understanding how to maintain and optimize each area of wellness. The eight areas are:
Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness refers to understanding your feelings and coping effectively with stress. It pays attention to self-care, relaxation, stress reduction and the development of inner resources that allow you to learn and grow from experiences.
Environmental Wellness
Environmental wellness inspires us to live a lifestyle that is in harmony with our surroundings. This area of wellness encourages us to live in harmony with the Earth by taking action to protect it. Environmental well-being promotes interaction with nature and your personal environment.
Financial Wellness
Financial Wellness involves learning how to successfully manage your financial expenses. Money plays a critical role in our lives and not having enough of it impacts your health. Financial stress is repeatedly found to be a common source of stress, anxiety and fear.
Intellectual Wellness
Intellectual wellness refers to having an open mind when you encounter new ideas and continuing to expand your knowledge. It encourages active participation in scholastic, cultural and community activities.
Occupational Wellness
Occupational wellness is about enjoying your work and appreciating your contributions through it. This area of wellness encourages personal satisfaction and enrichment in one?s life through work.
Physical Wellness
Physical wellness relates to maintaining a healthy body. Physical health is attained through exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep and paying attention to the signs of illness and getting help when needed.
Social Wellness
Social wellness helps you perform social roles effectively and comfortably, creating a support network. This area of wellness allows you to not only develop encouraging relationships with peers, but also intimate relationships with romantic partners.
Spiritual Wellness
Spiritual wellness allows you to develop a set of values that help you seek meaning and purpose. Spirituality can be represented in many ways, for example, through relaxation or religion. But being spiritually well means knowing which resources to use to cope with issues that come up in everyday life.
Let's explore each of these in more detail...