HEALTH TIPS: Wellness not a 1-dimensional effort
Did you know that there is more to wellness than healthy eating and active living?
There are actually seven dimensions of wellness:
1. Physical — encompasses physical fitness and dietary habits, as well as sexual, drinking and drug behaviors.
2. Intellectual — involves a continual acquisition of knowledge throughout life.
3. Emotional— involves awareness, acceptance and management. Examples include ability to laugh, adjust to change and maintain intimate relationships.
4. Social — includes the ability to get along with others and appreciating the uniqueness of others.
5. Spiritual — involves the personal search for meaning and direction in life.
6. Environmental — deals with the preservation of natural resources, improving the quality of the environment, as well as the protection of plants and animals.
7. Occupational — is composed of personal satisfaction from your profession and maintaining a balance between work time and leisure time.
Achieving wellness is a continuous process and a choice to maximize one’s optimal well-being. Examine your life and determine which areas of the seven dimensions you may be lacking in and make an action plan to advance your wellness in those areas.
Here are some things you may consider to enhance your overall wellness.
Physical: Write down a behavior-change goal and action steps (healthy eating, physical activity, abstaining from high-risk behaviors) and put it somewhere you will see it often.
Intellectual: Try a new hobby, take a new course or workshop, or read for enjoyment.
Emotional: Make it a point to learn time management and stress-reduction skills.
Social: Consider volunteering or seek interaction with people of other cultures and backgrounds.
Spiritual: Practice engaging in regular spiritual study or reflection.
Environmental: Recycle or use natural cleaners without harmful chemicals.
Occupational: Explore career options and be open to learning new skills.
— Pueblo City-County Health Department