The Wellness Wheel: 8 Dimensions to a Balanced Lifestyle
What is wellness? Wellness is something we can conceptualize, but is uniquely defined by each person. How do you achieve “wellness”? This can be answered in an infinite amount of ways.
Wellness encompasses 8 mutually interdependent dimensions: emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental, physical, occupational, and financial.
Use this wellness wheel to spark inner conversation to help determine what aspects of wellness you want to focus on, grow, or may have not thought of.
1. Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness refers to the development of a healthy emotional state. A healthy emotional state doesn’t drain your energy, cloud your decisions, or attack your self-esteem. When focusing on your emotional wellness, try looking into what has triggered you, what makes you happy, or what is draining your energy.
Reasons to focus on emotional wellness:
- Moody without reason
- Tired after social events
- Avoidance of confrontation
2. Intellectual Wellness
Intellectual wellness is not determined by IQ level, but by the effort put into expanding the mind. Ask yourself questions like, what did I learn today?, or what do I want to learn more about? Reading books, listening to podcasts, or being educated by someone else in some way are also ways to support your intellectual wellness.
Reasons to focus on intellectual wellness:
- Starting a new project
- Career curiosity
- Frustration with complacency
3. Social Wellness
The importance of having a community cannot be stressed enough. No matter how you make things happen in your life, who you are surrounded by plays a huge part in your overall well-being. Social wellness focuses on intentional connections with others, as well as the support they provide to you.
Reasons to focus on social wellness:
- Difficulty trusting others
- Unhappy in current environment
- Gives more support than receives
4. Spiritual Wellness
Your intentions are guided by your morals and values, and your spiritual wellness is affected by morals and values. Find what matters to you most, and don’t be afraid to stand up for your beliefs. When you focus on your spiritual wellness, you are guiding your actions by what you believe is right.
Reasons to focus on spiritual wellness:
- Questioning of your intuition
- Unsure of what you want
- Persuaded by the other’s opinions
5. Environmental Wellness
Along with who you are around, all parts of your environment play a role in your well-being. This includes: where you live, where you visit, what places take up your time, where you work, etc. Taking time to analyze your environment will help you see the solutions that will aid your efforts to create the best surroundings for your wants and needs.
Reasons to focus on environmental wellness:
- Negative emotions in certain places
- Difficulty concentrating
- Stress relief when you leave
6. Physical Wellness
Physical wellness is the wellness segment that is usually invested in the most due to physical appearance goals. Physical wellness includes your body’s inward and outward health. This can be analyzed in a scientific way, holistic way, and an intuitive way. Having self check-in’s, yearly physicals, slowing down, and letting yourself feel will assist in your efforts to create physical wellness.
Reasons to focus on physical wellness:
- Body aches & fatigue
- Constant headaches
- Dry skin
7. Occupational Wellness
If the social question, “So, what do you do?” causes stress, then focus on occupational wellness. This segment of wellness emphasizes the importance of harmony with you and your choice of work. Determine what you need out of work, and what your work will take from you. Many times, work takes up most of our existence, so find meaning in what you do.
Reasons to focus on occupational wellness:
- Puts work before well-being
- Scared of failure in a new position
- Uninterested in the current field of work
8. Financial Wellness
It’s been reported that stress levels have significantly increased since 2019, especially within Gen Z. Stress over finances and future income has shown to be a part of this increase. Financial wellness focuses on the positive state of your finances while aligning it with your personal, current, and future goals.
Reasons to focus on financial wellness:
- Stressing over every purchase
- Unable to enjoy the money earned
- Investment interests, but doesn’t invest
Each wellness segment has an importance, and the solutions are only defined by you. If you’re reading this, take time to find a moment of reflection. Choose a current life pain point. or high point, and see what that means to you. If you find it important, dig deeper, and trust in your ability to find your wellness.