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It's a simple word that has crept into our everyday vocabulary in the last few years, yet it seems very difficult to define. People know what un-wellness is. Our world is filled with that on every level...obesity, cancer, and diabetes are all at record levels and increasing at an alarming rate. Despite the information we know about the dangers of smoking, more 18-24 year olds than ever before have started smoking. Suicide rates are up, especially amongst our senior citizen population. Depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction medications are all being prescribed at an unbelievable rate. People are stressed about finances and feel horrible about themselves. These things are definitely clear; we know when someone is not well. But how do we know when someone is truly well? We cannot simply define something as the lack of its opposite--there must be some optimal state of existence known as wellness that is its own entity.

Experts disagree exactly what wellness is. Does it mean that you are happy? Does it mean that you are free of medical problems? Does it mean that you have a high standard of living?

Wellness is the state of optimal well-being.  It's not simply the absence of illness, but an improved quality of life resulting from enhanced physical, social, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental health.

Illness-Wellness Continuum © 1972, 1981, 1988, 2004 by John W. Travis, MD.
Reproduced with permission, from Wellness Workbook: How to achieve enduring
health and vitality, 3rd edition, by John W. Travis and Regina Sara Ryan,

Wellness is a process, never a static state.

This model shows the relationship of the Wellness and Treatment

Moving from the center to the left shows a progressively worsening state of health.

Moving to the right of center indicates increasing levels of health and well-being.

Treatment can only take you to the neutral point, where the symptoms of disease have been alleviated. Wellness utilized at any point on the continuum, moves one towards ever higher levels of wellbeing

 Wellness is the product of healthy lifestyles just like fitness is the product of regular exercise. While many people think about "wellness" in terms of physical health only, it should be viewed as a full integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It is a complex interaction that leads to quality of life. In fact, research studies related to wellness indicate that individuals who make healthy lifestyle choices are healthier, happier, more productive, miss work less, and have lower healthcare costs.

Dimensions of Wellness

Physical

Physical wellness can be achieved through regular 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 checkups, and protecting oneself from injuries and harm. Developing healthy habits can add years to your life and enhance the enjoyment and quality of those years.

Tips for optimal physical wellness:

• Exercise daily

• Get adequate rest

• Use seat belts, helmets, and other protective equipment

• Learn to recognize early signs of illness

• Eat a variety of healthy foods

• Control your meal portions

• Stop smoking and protect yourself against second-hand smoke

• Use alcohol in moderation, if at all

Emotional

Emotional wellness is intricately woven into the other six dimensions. Being emotionally well is typically described as having the ability to understand ourselves and being able to adequately cope with life's challenges. Emotional wellness encompasses optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance, and the ability to share feelings.

Tips for optimal emotional wellness:

• Expression of emotions

• Cultivate an optimistic attitude

• Seek and provide support

• Intimacy

• Practice stress management techniques

• Accept and forgive yourself

Intellectual

The intellectual dimension encourages the utilization of critical thinking skills and the ability to make sound decisions. It is often characterized as an openness to new ideas, mastery of new skills, and a willingness to seek out opportunities for personal growth and social development. People who possess a high level of intellectual wellness have an active mind and continue to learn. An intellectually well person uses the resources available to expand one's knowledge and improve skills.

Tips and suggestions for optimal intellectual wellness include:

• Take a course or workshop

• Learn new things like language

• Seek out people who challenge you intellectually

• Read

• Develop a hobby

Social

Social wellness includes showing respect for others and yourself. This dimension often refers to our ability to interact successfully within our communities while still navigating the varied expectations and demands of our personal roles. Learning good communication skills, developing intimacy with others, and creating a support network of friends and family members, is a means to developing social wellness.

Tips and suggestions for optimal social wellness include:

• Cultivate healthy relationships

• Get involved and contribute to your community

• Share your talents and skills

• Communicate your thoughts, feelings, and ideas

Spiritual

Spiritual wellness is not focused on what religion, if any, that you practice. Rather, it 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. A spiritually well person may derive meaning or purpose through their relationships with others, community service, art, music, education, religion or meditation.

Tips and suggestions for optimal spiritual wellness:

• Discovering meaning and purpose in life

• Determining and exploring your morals, values and ethics

• 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

• See opportunities for growth in the challenges life brings you

Environmental

Environmental wellness consists of maintaining a way of life that maximizes harmony with the earth and minimizes harm to the environment. Always remember the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Tips and suggestions for optimal environmental wellness:

• Conserve water and other resources

• Encourage the utilization of environmentally sustainable activities and products

• Walk, ride your bike, or car-pool

• Turn lights off and unplug appliances when not in use

Occupational

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:

• Create a vision for your future

• Choose a career that suits your personality, interests, and talents

• Be open to change and learn new skills