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Body Wise*
*The
information contained herein is not intended to diagnose or treat ANY
medical condition.
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Exploring the Dimensions of Wellness
By Kate Fischer
Spiritual
• Seek meaning and purpose in life
• Find your own personal way to express yourself
• Co-exist peacefully with others who may or may not share your same spiritual beliefs
Physical
• Exercise regularly
• Incorporate cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility exercises
• Sleep sufficiently to rest your body
• Reduce stress; learn and integrate stress management practices
• Eat healthfully and mindfully
• Minimize use of drugs, including overuse of alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine
• Maintain a healthy weight
Emotional
• Learn to express your thoughts and feelings freely
• Learn to cope with negative emotions
• Identify how emotions influence other areas of wellness such as physical well-being (for example, emotional eating)
Intellectual
• Take part in lifelong learning
• Be curious, seek answers, and learn anew
• Develop your own informed view point on current issues
• Don’t be afraid to question what is presented to us in many forms of media
Social
• Contribute to your local community or neighborhood
• Build and maintain healthy relationships and maintain a strong support network
• Be conscious of the effect of your behaviors on others surrounding you
• Maintain consistency between your values and beliefs and your behaviors
Career or Occupational
• Balance your work with other areas of your life including family, social time, and exercise
• Learn new skills and keep knowledge current
• Seek jobs that provide satisfaction
Environmental
• Participate in the efforts to protect and care for the environment
• Recognize how your actions influence the environment, positively or negatively, and work to integrate behaviors that promote a healthy environment
1 Recycle and “pre-cycle” by avoiding excess use of packaging (buy bulk, use an in-house coffee cup or mug versus paper cup, bring cloth bags to the grocery store)
2 Conserve resources (choose energy efficient products, turn the lights off, put on a sweater and turn the heat down a degree or two)
3 Choose environmentally friendly products
Ride your bike or walk to work
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“Wellness” splashes headlines of newspapers, magazines, billboards, websites, and self-help books, providing infinite ways to eat better and exercise more. But do you ever stop to consider what is meant by wellness? We often see wellness in the context of physical well-being; exercising and eating right to stay well. Until several years ago, I, too, considered wellness primarily in the physical sense — perhaps due in part to the media focus on appearance and physical self. That was until I found a class entitled “High Level Wellness.” Like many others in the class, I started with a narrow view that centered on the physical self. Soon we were enlightened by Jane Jones, Ph.D and author of Simply Perfect, Perfectly Simple. We learned that physical self was merely the tip of the “wellness” iceberg.
Physical well-being is one of many dimensions that together form a wellness model. High-level wellness, or whole-self wellness, describes a state in which an individual achieves a balance of the dimensions, essential for an individual, but also influential for the health of the community and environment surrounding the individual.
Many models exist with slightly different dimensions, but the theme remains the same — we must be conscious of how different dimensions of wellness influence one other and influence our choices towards living a healthy life. This balance will change constantly throughout a lifetime; however, awareness and action will make healthier choices for you and those around you. One such model includes seven dimensions: Physical, Spiritual, Environmental, Intellectual, Career or Occupational, Emotional, and Social.
Ian Rubin, wellness coach and personal trainer, works with his clients to reintegrate these different dimensions of wellness in order to achieve what he terms wholeself wellness. Rubin explores the relationship of culture and cultural norms, emotions, family, work, and spirituality within his life coaching, training, and Healing Meals work. Rubin believes there is an “artificial separation” of these aspects of life with the physical state of health and works to reintegrate mind, body, and spirit in moving towards wholeself wellness.
Below you will find an exploration of the seven dimensions of wellness and behaviors that illuminate each dimension. Consider how each may apply to you, and question whether there are areas that are positively or negatively affecting your life more strongly than another. Holidays provide an obvious intersection of these dimensions — use this holiday season to explore your health and wellness.
As you continually move toward a healthier you, consider the multiple dimensions of wellness and how each interacts and influences others. Consider the interrelationship between your emotions and your eating or exercise behaviors or how your work life influences your health behaviors. Identify areas of wellness that may be less of a focus for you and explore how you can make healthier choices that move you towards a healthier and happier you.
The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point also provides an online assessment that provides a starting point for change. Visit www.uwsp.edu/HPHD/empwell/wellquiz to access this tool.
Kate Fischer, MS, RD, LD, is the co-owner of Alameda Fitness Center in Portland, OR. Kate can be reached at katefischer23@gmail.com or 503-548-4011. |
