What is wellness?

I spend a fair amount of time understanding wellness so that I can help my clients achieve it. It’s worth pointing out that there are significant differences between fitness, health and wellness. My favorite explanation of wellness is that it is an ‘an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth’.

Why do you care?

Wellness matters because it is critical for a higher quality life. Wellness has dimensions:

· Emotional- Developing skills and strategies to cope with stress.

· Environmental- Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being.

· Physical- Recognizing the need for physical activity, diet, sleep, and nutrition.

· Financial- Satisfaction with current and future financial situations.

· Intellectual- Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills.

· Occupational- Personal satisfaction and enrichment derived from one’s work.

· Social- Developing a sense of connection and a well-developed support system.

· Spiritual- Search for meaning and purpose in the human experience.

I really like thinking about wellness as a process of making good choices and knowing that those choices can evolve over time as you move toward a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. Wellness is a goal for life but also a process you can start now and work on every day.