WRITTEN BY: Michelle Simmons, LPC
The World Health Organization defines self-care as: “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.” In other words, anything that you do for yourself that feels nourishing. Having a plan to address each of The 8 Dimensions of Wellness will put you on the path to success.
Emotional Wellness: inspires self-care, relaxation, stress reduction and the development of inner strength. It is important to be attentive to both positive and negative feelings and be able to understand how to handle these emotions. The social regulation of emotion is a key component of our relationships, whether we are the ones providing the emotional support or the ones seeking it, the 2 most common ways to help others regulate their emotions are through acceptance (showing empathy by validating their feelings) and reappraisal (helping others think about their situation in a different way)
Practical Application: journaling emotions, managing anxieties, expressing gratitude
Occupational Wellness: inspires us to prepare for work in which we will gain personal satisfaction and find enrichment in our lives. This allows you to explore various career options and encourages you to pursue the opportunities you enjoy the most. This dimension of wellness recognizes the importance of satisfaction, enrichment, and meaning through work.
Practical Application: establishing a good work/life balance
Intellectual Wellness: encourages us to engage in creative and mentally stimulating activities. These activities should expand your knowledge and skills while allowing you to share your knowledge and skills with others. It’s about learning how to learn. It’s about understanding your strengths, abilities, and opportunities for further growth. It’s about being aware of interests and hobbies that engage your brain in different ways. This dimension can be developed through academics, cultural involvement, community involvement and personal hobbies.
Practical Application: watch a documentary, join a book club
Environmental Wellness: inspires us to live a lifestyle that is respectful of our surroundings. This realm encourages us to live in harmony with the Earth by taking action to protect it. Environmental well-being promotes interaction with nature and your personal environment. Everyone can have a strong environmental conscious simply by raising their awareness.
Practical Application: Recycle, garden
Financial Wellness: involves the process of learning how to successfully manage financial expenses. Money plays a critical role in our lives and not having enough of it impacts our health. Financial stress is repeatedly found to be a common source of stress, anxiety, and fear. Learning how to maximize your financial wellness now will help you feel prepared to handle potentially stressful financial situations in the future. Money has a huge impact on our overall wellbeing and is one of the main determinants of health.
Practical Application: establish a realistic budget and savings plan
Social Wellness: refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others. Our relationships can offer support during difficult times. This involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around us.
Practical Application: volunteer, reach out to someone you have not connected with in a while
Physical Wellness: promotes proper care of our bodies for optimal health and functioning. There are many elements of it that all must be cared for together. Overall, this dimension encourages the balance of physical activity, nutrition, and mental well-being to keep your body in top condition. Obtaining an optimal level of physical wellness allows you to nurture personal responsibility for your own health.
Practical Application: prioritize sleep, schedule that doctor’s appointment
Spiritual Wellness: allows us to be in tune with our spiritual selves. This realm of wellness allows us to find meaning in life events and define our individual purpose. It can be defined through various factors including religious faith, values, ethics, and morals. Regardless of whether you believe in a particular religious faith, there is always something to be learned about how you see yourself in the world.
Practical Application: Combining favorite mantra or comforting scriptures with deep breathing
If you want to learn more about Michelle Simmons’ counseling & other mental health services, be sure to go to mrscounseling.com or check her out on Instagram @yourhealinginreach.
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