Wellbeing is the combination of feeling and being physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. It also includes a sense of fulfillment and meaning in life.
Wellness is a holistic approach to living that consists of eight dimensions: emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, and environmental. These dimensions are interconnected and each has a direct impact on the others.
Physical health
Physical well-being involves the normal functioning of your body, including your strength, flexibility and ability to move around. It includes eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep and taking medication when needed to manage chronic health conditions. It also means avoiding unhealthy behaviors like smoking and excessive drinking.
Regular physical activity has many proven health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. It can also help control blood pressure, maintain a healthy weight and improve mental health.
Many things determine your health, including your mood, relationships and your environment. But some of the most important factors are under your control, such as what you eat, how much you exercise and whether you smoke or drink. Check out the cards below for tips on how to develop healthy habits in these areas.
Mental health
Although optimizing one’s physical health is a major factor in enjoying a quality lifespan, mental health is equally important. A strong mental health allows people to build a positive self-esteem, cope with life’s stresses and challenges, and develop healthy relationships.
Mental disorders are common and contribute significantly to morbidity, disability and premature death. They affect all countries and are an important burden on national healthcare systems. They are often under-diagnosed and under-treated. This is particularly true in low-, lower middle- and high-income countries. The treatment gap is widest in countries with conflict, unequal wealth distribution and budget pressures to cut mental health services.
Just like the weather, our mental health can go through bright bursts of energy and dark times of fatigue. It’s important to pay attention to any changes and seek professional help when necessary. This includes talking therapy and medicine. It’s also helpful to have a toolbox of coping skills to draw from during rough patches.
Social health
Wellbeing is a complex concept that combines many different components. For example, happiness may be one aspect of it but not all of it, as other factors such as meaning, purpose, and goals can also contribute.
Social health relates to the quality of our relationships and how well we connect with others. It is a part of our mental health and can influence it, but it’s also something that we can prioritize and improve.
Having supportive relationships can help you cope with stress and anxiety and feel more resilient. People with good social health often have an easy time connecting with others, they’re open to new relationships and embrace a mutual give-and-take. They also value having fun and regularly make time for playfulness and activities with others. They’re also more likely to support organisations that work towards improving global health. This includes promoting healthy living, and the importance of having a safe place to live, nutritious food and positive relationships.
Emotional health
Emotional health is what helps you thrive during the highs and lows of life. It includes everything from your positive emotions to your coping skills.
An emotionally healthy person can still feel negative emotions like stress, anger, or sadness, but they know how to manage these feelings and move on. They also have an open-minded thought process and are curious about what caused the negative emotion in the first place.
A healthy emotional state can help you cope with stress and build relationships, which leads to overall well-being. You can also improve your emotional health by practicing positivity and focusing on what you’re grateful for. Here are a few tips to help you get started
