We can be physically fit without including wellness in our lives, but fitness is an essential part of wellness. That being said, many other aspects of lifestyle are important to address if we are to be “well”.
Wellness is the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal, and is often described as the integration of body, mind and spirit. I prefer breaking wellness down into more specific categories for the sake of clarity. This makes it easier to identify areas in life that need your attention to in order to propel yourself to a higher state of wellness.
Fitness can be categorized as Physical wellness, an important component of wellness which encompasses exercise and nutrition in the form of an active lifestyle and healthy eating. Many different options are out there for exercise such as running, bodybuilding, yoga, biking, crossfit, dance, to name a few. Numerous options exist for nutrition as well, depending on your individual goals, your metabolism, and your overall health and physiology.
Other areas of wellness include:
• Emotional wellness, which addresses your ability to cope with emotional challenges, and to express emotions in a healthy way. This area of wellness is also about maximizing positive emotions that spur you forward, instead of dwelling on negative emotions which hold you back and keeps you from reaching your full potential. I realize that is easier said than done for some of us.
• Intellectual wellness, because it is important to always remain teachable. Be open to new experiences and ideas, and you will continue to grow. This does not necessarily require taking a class or a workshop; to remain intellectually stimulated you can choose to read about a topic that interests you, explore new places, or simply change up your normal routine. You may notice or learn something new about yourself.
• Social wellness considers your relationships with others; supportive relationships affect your ability to cope with life’s challenges. The number of people in your life will depend on your personality; the quality of those relationships is what matters.
• Environmental wellness, because your surroundings affect your wellness. Environmental awareness can also be thought of as a two-way street: you affect your environment as your environment affects you. Make your environment a positive space, and make interactions with the environment positive …and in this context, positive should be interpreted as a supportive space that feeds your creativity, energy and well-being; this will be unique for everyone.
• Financial wellness concerns your relationship with money; money should not be the primary driving force of your life if you are striving for wellness. Be realistic about your finances, live within your means, and strive for balance between work, family, and other aspects of your life.
• Spiritual wellness refers to your search for meaning in life. There are many paths to spiritual wellness, and finding the right one for you should be an exciting and enlightening journey.
In general, if you are satisfied with where you find yourself in each of these categories, you probably feel that you are in a good state of overall wellness. If you have issues or difficulties in any of these areas, you may feel a high degree of stress in your life or feel you are stagnating.
None of these wellness areas need to be perfect; that is an impossible goal. You need only address each of these areas in your daily life to be in a state of wellness. In fact, wellness can be thought of as a journey rather than a definitive destination. Goals within each area change over time as we grow and change, and as our lives change. Each small step and healthy choice you make brings you closer to reaching your full potential.
Kristine Erickson, Ph.D.
Wellness Coach and Psychologist
Kristine@inspired-healthwellness.com