The concept of health wellness is a growing movement that promotes an overall healthy approach to living. This includes a focus on the body, mind and spirit.
Many large software/tech companies offer wellness benefits to attract and retain top talent. These programs are a great way to increase morale and employee satisfaction while lowering healthcare costs.
Physical
Physical wellness involves a range of activities such as regular exercise, healthy eating habits, getting adequate sleep and taking care of your body. These healthy behaviors can prevent chronic illness and improve overall health.
It’s also important to practice safe sex with condoms and contraception, and make healthy alcohol, tobacco and drug choices that align with your values. Practicing these skills can improve your mental wellness, and vice versa.
It’s recommended that people engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five days a week for improved fitness and to maintain good health. It also helps to reduce the risk of many diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.
Mental
Mental health wellness can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It can help you manage stress, cope with emotions and improve your relationships.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “the state of mental, emotional and social well-being.” It includes feeling good, having a sense of purpose and control over your life, enjoying positive relationships, pursuing personal growth, and contributing to society or community.
According to the dual continuum model, individuals may demonstrate both mental illness and mental wellness at the same time.
Treatment for mental illness takes a psychological approach and can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and medications that can reduce symptoms and improve functioning. Some people can also make changes to their lifestyle, such as reducing alcohol use, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet.
Social
When we think of health, we often associate it with our physical well-being, but there are also other aspects of health that are less visible. They have a huge impact on how we feel and how we live.
For instance, when you are socially connected with people, you are more likely to be happier and feel better about yourself. You are also more likely to have relationships that benefit your life and help you navigate difficult situations.
The importance of social wellness has been recognized by researchers and doctors. They have found that loneliness and isolation increase your mortality risk by up to eight years, similar to a smoker who smokes 15 cigarettes per day.
It can be difficult to find time to improve our social wellbeing when we have busy work and family lives, but it’s important to set aside some of your time to nurture these relationships. Whether it’s scheduling lunch dates or joining a community group, there are lots of ways to engage in social wellness activities.
Spiritual
Spiritual wellness is the connection between the inner and outer worlds that help us to live our values and purpose. It can be cultivated through prayer, meditation, time in nature, deep listening and self reflection.
Research indicates that people who are religious or spiritual tend to cope better with stress, have fewer health worries, and feel more connected to a community. They also are more likely to volunteer in their communities and donate money to charity.
The link between spirituality and health is an active area of research. Despite the growing interest in this topic, there is still no consensus on what spirituality actually is.