Well, it’s the magic month of January when thoughts turn to getting fit, giving up meat, new resolutions and getting away, somewhere where the daily cares of managing work and home can be left behind for a week or two and batteries can be recharged bodies and minds refreshed yada, yada, yada but can you just do that or does it need a teeny bit of a plan?
Wellness is generally used to describe a state beyond the absence of illness, it’s been an area that has been ripe for quackery over the years – it isn’t new, the concept of treating the ‘whole person’ started in the 19th century and has a sound, logical basis. It got all caught up with pseudo-scientific health inventions along the way but at its core it’s a good idea. Look at it this way. Your body is a machine; a bit of robotics, a bit of computing, quite a lot of bio mechanics etc etc. Like any other machine it needs occasional maintenance to be kept in good order so this is the maintenance piece. And August, when large chunks of the world are going absent is a good time to do it. And, most importantly, this shouldn’t be a chore, another thing to do. This should be some serious ‘me time’. So enjoy it.
Wellness is commonly viewed as having seven dimensions. Each dimension contributes to our own sense of wellness or quality of life, and each affects and overlaps the others. At times one may be more prominent than others, but neglect of any one dimension for any length of time has adverse effects on overall health – that came from The Grand Rapids Community College in the USA, to whom I am indebted for some of the other observations that follow but here they are:
Being well in a holistic sense means balancing all parts of the machine. Wellness is often thought of as physical alone. Whilst that’s an important part of being well it’s only a part of it. The other dimensions of our being need attention too.
The reality of our lives is that automation and computerisation have resulted in those of us in managerial and leadership roles no longer going to work. Work now comes to us, wherever we are and if you’re in a global business like travel, hospitality, meeting and events whenever it chooses. Planned and scheduled downtimes don’t happen any longer. We’re ‘always on’ and that will wear any machine out in time. Equally the pace at which we now work doesn’t always allow time for reflection and thought. Responses are needed so quickly that often as not they‘re automatic and pre-programmed. It’s easy to lose the skill of inquisitive and curious thought in the rush to clear an inbox by any means as it is to forget to talk to the people behind the issues at the top of your inbox today.
So, here is the definitive guide to being well this summer brought to you:
Physical wellness encompasses a variety of healthy behaviours including adequate exercise, proper nutrition and abstaining from harmful habits such as drug use and alcohol abuse. It means learning about and identifying symptoms of disease, getting regular medical check-ups – men in particular, we are so much worse than women at doing this, as well as protecting yourself from injuries and harm. Developing such healthy habits today will not only add years to your life but will enhance the enjoyment and quality of those years.
Tips for optimal physical wellness:
Emotional wellness is a dynamic state that fluctuates frequently with your other six dimensions of wellness. Being emotionally well is typically defined as possessing the ability to feel and express human emotions such as happiness, sadness and anger. It means having the ability to love and be loved and achieving a sense of fulfilment in life. Emotional wellness encompasses optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance and the ability to share feelings.
Tips for optimal emotional wellness:
The intellectual dimension encourages creative, stimulating mental activities. Our minds need to be continually inspired and exercised just as our bodies do. People who possess a high level of intellectual wellness have an active mind are curious, interesting themselves because they continue to learn. An intellectually well person uses the resources available to expand his or her knowledge and improve their skills. Most of our intellectual stimulation comes from work but that shouldn’t be the end of it. Having a thought through view on current events and developing a skill in things you find of interest are all worthy candidates.
Tips and suggestions for optimal intellectual wellness include:
Social wellness refers to our ability to interact successfully in our global community and to live up to the expectations and demands of our personal roles. This means learning good communication skills, developing intimacy with others, and creating a support network of friends and family members.
Social wellness includes showing respect for others and yourself. Contributing to your community and to the world builds a sense of belonging.
Tips and suggestions for optimal social wellness include:
Spiritual wellness involves possessing a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that help give direction to one's life. It encompasses a high level of faith, hope and commitment to your individual beliefs that provide a sense of meaning and purpose. It is willingness to seek meaning and purpose in human existence, to question everything and to appreciate the things which cannot be readily explained or understood.
A spiritually well person seeks harmony between what lies within as well as the forces outside.
Tips and suggestions for optimal spiritual wellness:
Environmental wellness is an awareness of the unstable state of the earth and the effects of your daily habits on the physical environment. It consists of maintaining a way of life that maximizes harmony with the earth and minimizes harm to the environment. It includes being involved in socially responsible activities to protect the environment.
Tips and suggestions for optimal environmental wellness:
Occupational/Vocational wellness involves preparing and making use of your gifts, skills, and talents in order to gain purpose, happiness, and enrichment in your life. The development of occupational satisfaction and wellness is related to your attitude about your work. Achieving optimal occupational wellness allows you to maintain a positive attitude and experience satisfaction/pleasure in your employment. Occupational wellness means successfully integrating a commitment to your occupation into a total lifestyle that is satisfying and rewarding.
Tips and suggestions for optimal occupational wellness include:
