Seven Dimensions of Wellness Wellness is an active, lifelong process of becoming aware of choices and making decisions toward a more balanced and fulfilling life. Paying careful attention to each of the seven dimensions of wellness will allow you to achieve academic and personal success in life. Affected by culture: people act like the people around them

Wellness Combines 7 dimensions of well-being into a quality way of living. The ability to live life to the fullest and maximize personal potential in a variety of ways. It’s the responsibility of the individual Is a matter of self-evaluation & self-assessment. We’ll spend time discussing each dimension then assess how you are doing in each area

7 Ways to Wellness Physical Intellectual Emotional Social Occupational Environmental Spiritual Originally 5 dimensions of health=physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual. Then 6 dimensions=emotional, intellectual, occupational, physical, spiritual and social. Now 7 dimensions=6 + environmental. Some people use 8=7 + multicultura

Physical Wellness A healthy body maintained by good nutrition, regular exercise, avoiding harmful habits, making informed and responsible decisions about health, & seeking medical help when necessary 30 or more minutes daily, every day; diet of less than 30% fat with only 10% saturated fats, practicing abstinence, know how to relax, comfortable with your sexuality, maintain a healthy weight

Tips to Optimum Physical Wellness Exercise Daily Get adequate rest Use seat belts, helmets, protective gear Learn to recognize early signs of illness Eat a variety of foods Avoid smoking and alcohol use If sexually active, practice safer sex. Exercise = flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance (aerobic)30 or more minutes daily, every day; 8 hours of rest a night, avoiding risky behaviors, getting regular medical checkups, avoiding fast food, diet of less than 30% fat with only 10% saturated fats, not dependent on drugs or alcohol, practicing abstinence or avoid unwanted pregnancy or STD’s you know how to relax

Intellectual Wellness A state in which your mind is engaged in lively interaction with the world around you. Involves unbridled curiosity and ongoing learning. To be able to apply what you have learned, that you can create opportunities to learn more, to be able to think critically and being open to new ideas, don’t believe all you see on TV or internet

Tips for Optimum Intellectual Wellness Learn to think critically Take a course or workshop Stay up to date on current events Seek out people who challenge you intellectually Read. Participate in activities that arouse the mind, researching information, keeping to budget to keep debt in check, can see more than 1 side of an issue

Emotional Wellness (Feelings) The ability to understand your own feelings, accept your limitations, achieve emotional stability, and become comfortable with your own emotions. Emotional wellness is a dynamic state that fluctuates constantly, having the ability to love and be loved, having a sense of fulfillment in life, have people in your life that care about you,

Tips for Optimum Emotional Wellness Tune-in to your thoughts and feelings Cultivate an optimistic attitude Seek and provide support Learn time management skills Practice stress management techniques Accept and forgive yourself. Includes optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance and the ability to share feelings, you can say no without feeling guilty

(Family, Friends, Relationships) Social Wellness (Family, Friends, Relationships) The ability to relate well to others, both within and outside the family unit You value diversity and treat others with respect, you value your time alone, you’re aware of the social concerns in your community and are involved in helping solve community problems, involved with community service

Tips for Optimum Social Wellness Cultivate healthy relationships Get involved Contribute to your community Share your talents and skills Communicate your thoughts, feelings, ideas. It’s about giving and receiving support to family and friends, interacting with people of other cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs, seeks positive interdependent relationships with others, works in harmony with others, joins organizations

Occupational Wellness (Career, Skills) Preparing and making use of your gifts, skills and talents in order to gain purpose, happiness & enrichment in your life You have hobbies, interests, activities that bring you pleasure outside of your work or school, you are doing what you want to with your life, you are comfortable with the direction of your future plans

Tips for Optimum Occupational Wellness Explore a variety of career options Create a vision for your future Choose a career that suits your personality, interests, and talents Visit a career planning office Be open to change and learn new skills. You are in a “well” work environment that is safe, supportive, and encourages personal growth

Environmental Wellness (Air, Water, Food, Safety) The capability to live in a clean and safe environment that is not detrimental to your health Ranges from your immediate surroundings to the wider world, process of making choices that will sustain and improve the quality of life in the universe

Tips for Optimum Environmental Wellness Stop your junk mail Conserve water and other resources Minimize chemical use Renew your relationship with the earth Reduce, reuse, recycle. You’re aware of the limits of earth’s natural resources; you enjoy, appreciate and spend time outside in natural settings, you avoid 2nd hand smoke

(Values, Purpose, Intuition, Faith) Spiritual Wellness (Values, Purpose, Intuition, Faith) The sense that life is meaningful and has purpose; the ethics, values and morals that guide us and give direction to life A lot more than religion, a set of values, beliefs and principles that guide your life; willingness to appreciate intangibles that cannot be readily explained, by acceptance of your own mortality and by minimizing destructive behaviors.

Tips for Optimum Spiritual Wellness Explore your spiritual core Spend time alone/ meditate regularly Be fully present in everything you do Listen with your heart and live by your principles Allow yourself and those around you the freedom to be who they are. You have a clear sense of right and wrong and act accordingly, you are comfortable with your level of involvement/non-involvement with a religious community, you have dreams and goals in life

To score your own wellness… Click on http://definitionofwellness.com Scroll down the page to locate the different dimensions of wellness and complete a self-evaluation Check out some of the other resources and consider your presentation using your Modality assessment result (are you a visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner?)