THE 8 DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS

Wellness is a dynamic process of change and growth towards a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is defined according to The National Wellness Institute as a “conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.”

The 8 dimensions of wellness can be represented with the acronym POISE-F

P-         Physical Wellness

O-        Occupational Wellness

I-         Intellectual Wellness

S-         Social and Spiritual Wellness

E-        Emotional and Environmental Wellness

F-         Financial Wellness

PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Physical wellness involves the maintenance of a healthy body and seeking care when needed. It is attained through exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep and paying attention to signs of illness and getting help when needed.

OCCUPATIONAL WELLNESS

Occupational wellness is about loving your job, enjoying your career and appreciating your contributions. It is the ability to achieve a balance between work and leisure time and addressing work place stress and relationship with co-workers. It focuses on your search for a calling and involves exploring various career options and finding where you fit. It also encourages personal satisfaction and fulfillment in one’s life through work.

INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS

Intellectual wellness involves having an opened mind when you encounter new ideas and continuing to expand your fountain of knowledge. It requires being a lifelong student of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The ability to keep learning, keep growing, keep expanding our minds contribute to our well-being and good health. Intellectual wellness promotes active participation in scholastic, cultural and community activities.

SOCIAL WELLNESS

Social wellness helps us perform social roles efficiently and comfortably and creates a support network. This dimension of wellness allows you not only to develop encouraging relationships with intimate partners but also cultivate enduring relationships with others.

Social wellness involves intentionally building healthy, nurturing and supporting relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you. Our relationships can offer support during tough times. Conscious actions are crucial in learning how to balance your social life with other aspects of your life.

Having good social wellness enhances your emotional intelligence, increases self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence. It enables you to create relationships that encourage trust, communication, growth and conflict resolution.

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

Emotional wellness encourages autonomy and proper decision making skills. It is a major part of overall wellness. As humans, we are 85% emotional and 15% logical. Being emotionally well grants us the power to express feelings without any fear or constraint. Consequently, we will be able to enjoy emotional expression and act on our plans despite fear and circumstances.

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS

Spiritual wellness helps you develop a set of values that help you seek meaning and purpose. Spiritual wellness allows you to appreciate your life experiences for what they are. When someone finds meaning in his life experience, he will be able to develop a harmony with his inner self and outside world.

Spiritual wellness can be defined through a myriad of factors. These are religion, faith, ethics, moral and values. It involves having a sound relationship with the Supreme Being. Spiritual wellness has a lot to do with our spiritual health. Spiritual wellness grants us harmony, strength and power to deal with the ups and downs of life. Study, teach and practice your spirituality.

ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS

Environmental wellness involves leading a lifestyle that is respectful of your environment. Environmental wellness also involves being aware of the limits of the earth’s natural resources and understanding the impact your actions have on the environment. It encourages you to respect the delicate balance between the environment and yourself. Respect other living things in our environment just as necessary as respect for the physical environment itself.

FINANCIAL WELLNESS

 Financial wellness involves learning how to successfully manage financial expenses. Money plays a big role in our lives and not having enough of it to take care of our needs sometimes impact health as well as happiness. Financial stress is repeatedly found to be a common source of emotional instability (stress, anxiety and fear of people).

To your good health!

PS: For questions on your optimum well-being and good health talk to us using the WhatsApp Chat boss.

Your Wellness Expert,

Pharm. Kareem