Wellness is an active process through which we become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence. It is multidimensional, encompassing positive choices in five key areas: psychologically, occupationally, socially and spiritually.
Practice a healthy diet by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and limiting junk food and soda. Exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes a day) and maintain a good sleeping schedule.
Physical
Whether your team is working in-office or remotely, taking care of their physical health is critical. This includes exercise, healthy eating habits and a good night’s sleep.
Developing and supporting activities that help employees take control of their own physical wellness can lead to better health, higher productivity and lower employee turnover.
This can be as simple as promoting a lunch time walk break or hosting team fitness challenges. It can also include nutrition seminars, cooking classes and other activities that teach participants how to make better food choices. These are the types of activities that are measurable, motivating and rewarding for people to engage in regularly.
Emotional
People who are emotionally well are able to fully experience and express their emotions. They understand and accept the full range of human feelings, including anger, sadness, fear, and anxiety. They can also cope with life’s challenges, change, and stress.
People with positive emotional wellness feel happy, confident, and secure. They can also maintain their physical wellness through self-care, relaxation, and stress reduction strategies.
It is essential to learn how to recognize and name emotions. This enables you to fully process negative emotions rather than becoming stuck in them. It can also encourage you to be open and honest with others about your feelings, which helps build relationships.
Social
Social wellness includes healthy relationships with family, friends and others in your community. It also encompasses fostering empathy, active listening and other social skills that can be developed at any age.
People who prioritize social wellness have a higher ability to weed out negativity and feel less overwhelmed by life’s challenges. Isolation is linked to lower energy, increased anxiety and stress levels, and can lead to health conditions like coronary heart disease.
In the workplace, employees can cultivate social wellness by encouraging peer acknowledgment of accomplishments or milestones. Organizing team events, such as icebreakers or “two truths and a lie,” can help foster stronger relationships with coworkers.
Spiritual
Spiritual wellness involves expanding a sense of meaning and purpose in life based on your core beliefs, values and morals. It may or may not involve religious activities, but is more about exploring your spiritual core in small ways like letting go of internal mind blocks, spending time with nature, expressing gratitude, detoxing and confiding in your spiritual allies.
Other activities include waking up before sunrise, practicing yoga and guided meditations, chanting spiritual mantras (such as OM), watering plants or reading sacred texts that nourish the soul. Adding these small habits to your day can make a big difference in how you feel and how others see you.
Intellectual
Intellectual wellness involves creative mental activities that expand knowledge and skills. It also includes a commitment to lifelong learning and growth.
Reading for fun (especially motivational books) is a great way to maintain your intellectual wellness. You can even work on a puzzle or two, like a crossword or sudoku, to challenge your brain.
Other intellectually stimulating activities include board games, card games and musical instruments. Even taking a walk through a new park, playing with your pets or exploring a local museum can help you increase your intellectual wellness. It is also important to stay up-to-date on current events and to be open-minded to new ideas.
Environmental
Environmental wellness is a sense of safety, comfort and connection with your physical surroundings. This can include your personal space at home and work, but also larger communities, geographic areas and the planet.
Some common activities in this domain include eating local foods and using non-toxic cleaning products. Another is the practice of forest immersion, a type of ecotherapy where being in nature lowers stress and improves mood.
Other activities can include reducing waste and recycling through bring-your-own campaigns for shopping bags, coffee cups and other items. During the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental wellness efforts may be more critical than ever. For example, taking steps to conserve energy and water can help reduce a community’s carbon footprint.