Types Of Wellness

To various people, well-being and wellness mean different things. Likewise, if you ask people to describe their well-being, you will likely get a wide range of responses. “Health and wellness” doesn’t just mean not having a disease or being unable to do something. It also means being mentally, physically, and socially well.

Wellness encompasses a person’s ability to set and achieve objectives, meet needs, and alter and cope with the challenges of our environment, in addition to physical health. Wellness is a connecting point that includes a variety of characteristics that we term “types” or “dimensions” of wellness.

Wellness is a fluid notion that identifies the rules that enable people to thrive. The following are the nine wellness categories that will be discussed in this article:

Physical Wellness

The ability and persistence to take care of one’s overall health, safety, and quality of life by eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough rest and sleep, practicing good hygiene, avoiding bad habits, making good decisions, taking care of oneself, and getting medical help when needed are all examples of physical wellness. This involves the capacity to discern when we aren’t feeling well and take necessary action, as well as a comprehension of how our behavior affects our physical well-being.

The following are examples of physical wellness:

• Regular physical activity
• Drinking enough water and eating a nutritious diet
• Keeping a healthy sleeping schedule
• Keeping good personal hygiene
• Safe sexual behavior
• Avoiding bad habits and use of illicit substances
• Eliminating unnecessary harm
• Detecting and responding to sickness and disease
• Regular physical examinations
• Making use of safe forms of transportation

Intellectual Wellness

The ability to study, experience, and use intellectual capabilities through innovative and engaging mental activities with the objective of expanding one’s skills and knowledge is defined as intellectual wellness. Reflective practice, burning curiosity, problem-solving, contemplation, self-awareness, and creativity are all part of it. It also involves the ability to identify biases, useful and unhelpful thinking habits, as well as the ability to control one’s internal dialogue and negative ideas.

The following are examples of intellectual wellness:

• Having a progressive mentality
• Expression of creativity
• Short/long-term aims and goals
• Critical thinking ability
• Curiosity
• Academic aptitude and honesty
• Willingness to learn new skills
• Possessing the ability to inquire
• Willingness to try new things
• Skills in managing time

Emotional Wellness

The ability to identify, accept, understand, and assume accountability for all of one’s emotions and feelings, whether positive or negative, and to express and share feelings of fear, anger, sadness, or tension; optimism, happiness, affection, and pleasure in acceptable and productive ways, is defined as emotional wellness. This involves the ability to control and change emotional states, as well as the capacity to notice and evaluate other people’s and animals’ feelings and respond accordingly.

The following are examples of emotional wellness:

• Impulse management
• Determination/drive (motivation)
• Faced with a half-sad and half-happy situation
• Self-acceptance/Self-esteem/self-compassion
• Understanding, accepting, and managing one’s emotions
• Ability to communicate feelings to others
• Self-compassion/Self-confidence
• Trustworthiness in ourselves and others
• Being upbeat about the outcome
• Ability to identify others’ feelings
• Playfulness and humor

Relational Wellness

The ability to form and maintain meaningful relationships, partnerships, interactions, and ties with other people, groups, and organizations is referred to as relational wellness. Fostering true connections with those around us and relating appropriately to others both inside and outside the family structure. This involves valuing others’ needs, offering encouragement and support, and detecting and responding correctly to social signs.

Relational wellbeing includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Ability to communicate well
• Capacity for intimacy/connection
• Interpersonal conflict resolution
• Willingness to seek assistance
• Ability to form and maintain fulfilling relationships
• Creating a network of support
• Others’ welfare/encouragement
• Being an effective group member or team player
• Sharing appropriately
• Recognizing social cues and acceptable behavior

Vocational Wellness

The capacity to balance life with a rewarding job that matches our abilities and values, and encourages us to appreciate the importance of fulfillment, enrichment and meaning via our work is referred to as vocational wellness. Our desire to make a positive impact in our careers on the organizations we work for, our coworkers/professional relationships, and our society. Volunteerism and interests/hobbies to which one devotes substantial time and resources that bring fulfillment, purpose, and meaning but do not necessarily generate revenue are also included.

The following are examples of occupational/vocational wellness:

• Education/training
• Developing peer/colleague relationships
• Contributing to the achievement of objectives
• Looking for new ways to learn and be inspired and be challenged
• Providing a feeling of meaning and purpose
• Having fun in your field of study/work
• Social contributions/volunteering
• Feeling valued by instructors, supervisors, and managers
• Work/employment with meaning

Cultural Wellness

The ability to build and sustain a healthy, inclusive atmosphere that promotes inclusion and mutual benefit is referred to as cultural wellbeing. It also entails a strong connection to one’s home, school, community, organization, neighborhood, province/state, city, and country. A sense of awareness, understanding, and respect for diverse cultures, sexual orientations, genders, education/income levels, and other characteristics of a variety are all part of cultural wellbeing.

It also entails being conscious of and knowing one’s own cultural background, as well as respecting it. Avoiding harmful preconceptions and stereotypes, establishing a positive, inclusive, egalitarian atmosphere; speaking up for others in times of injustice, and regard for and obedience to rules and regulations, are all part of cultural wellness.

The following are examples of cultural wellness:

• Strong Citizenship (city, neighborhood, state/province, nation)
• Vibrant faculty circle
• An environment that is inclusive, positive, and equitable
• Understanding and respecting the law, cultures, customs, and differences (your own and others’)
• Developing ties with people from various backgrounds (inclusivity)
• In moments of injustice, taking a stand for/supporting others
• Preventing harmful stereotypes and prejudices
• Acceptance of people of different races, cultures, faiths, sexual orientations, genders, creeds, and other characteristics.
• Respect for laws and rules, as well as obedience to them.

Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual wellbeing is the ability to bring harmony and peace into our lives by following a system of beliefs, values, faith, ethics, and moral standards that give our lives direction, meaning, and purpose. It’s also a quest for purpose and meaning in life, leading to a desire to live in peace and harmony with oneself and others while balancing inner needs with the entire world. Compassion, altruism, forgiveness, optimism, and happiness are all qualities that can be developed through spiritual wellbeing. It can also refer to formal or informal spiritual experience, religion, or faith, as well as a feeling of belonging to something bigger than oneself.

The following are examples of spiritual wellness:

• Giving a feeling of direction and meaning
• Alignment with one’s own moral principles and values
• Being a part of something bigger than oneself
• Spiritual belief/practice
• Capacity for forgiveness
• Hopefulness and optimism
• Altruism and idealism
• Compassion for others, regardless of their circumstances
• Inner peace, contentment, and harmony
• Contributing to the common good

Financial Wellness

Financial wellness entails a fundamental awareness of one’s economic and tax systems, as well as the capacity to function within them. This includes routine aspects like balancing wants and needs in a manner that allows for the formation of short & long financial objectives, as well as the capacity to avoid any unnecessary loans, pay debts and bills on time, and live within one’s means. This involves decisions in behavior that ensure enough income, insurance, and healthcare benefits, as well as investing and conserving for future requirements. Financial security provides the capacity and possibility to support others (family/children, friends, and non-profit organizations).

The following are examples of financial wellness:

• Managing short-term and long-term financial objectives
• Budgeting and cost-cutting abilities
• Having a working knowledge of taxes and finances
• Adequate income/living within one’s means
• Paying debts and bills on time and avoiding unnecessary spending
• Emergency planning (savings fund) and retirement planning
• Knowing our own financial situation
• Being able to make a distinction between requirements and desires
• Donations to charity
• Insurance coverage/benefit plans that are adequate

Environmental Wellness

Environmental wellness refers to the ability and aptitude to live, travel, and study in a hygienic, secure environment that promotes and maintains clean air and water, nutritious food, suitable shelter, and personal protection. It emphasizes living a model lifestyle that prioritizes the individual’s interaction with our environment and community as a whole. This includes taking care of your own needs at work and at home, as well as partaking in bigger global and ecologic sustainability efforts like reusable and recyclable mugs and bottles of water, recycling, waste reduction, and water conservation, composting, toxic emission reduction, and ecologic clean-up programs.

The following are examples of environmental wellness:

• A clean and secure living/working/studying environment
• Maintaining long-term development
• A practical learning environment
• Space for recreational or social activities and hobbies in the community
• Recycling and proper garbage disposal
• Resources that are plentiful and clean (water and air)
• Making pollution and waste decisions with care
• Positive, psychologically secure environment