The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health not as “the absence of any diseases in the human body, but the physical, mental, and social well-being of an individual.” In contrast, wellness is the “ideal or optimal state of health of individuals and groups.”
Rohini Radhakrishnan, ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, “Health is a goal, and wellness is a constant struggle or steps we take to achieve that goal.”
A healthy lifestyle is a choice that leads to an individual’s well-being or wellness. Investment comes at the cost of making this choice to achieve a state of wellness. If you’re someone who thought that 2024 was the year to stop being toxic to yourself and start taking your well-being seriously, we got you covered with our 5 health and wellness tips to add to your life.
Let’s explore how we can smoothly integrate these physical and spiritual habits into our lifestyle to make each day count, just like we make each life count at Sam Sahotra Foundation through our Healthy Body and Progressive Life.
Dimensions of Well-being
As we discussed earlier, having no physical or mental injuries or diseases makes a person healthy. However, wellness cannot be narrowed down to one dimension. Various studies have been conducted on wellness being multidimensional. One of the popular ones by MedicineNethighlights 6 dimensions to wellness. Here’s a quick look into each:
- Physical
Individuals can start by making changes in this department to get closer to well-being. Let’s say to prevent cardiovascular disease, one can start doing cardio for 15 minutes every day. Or one can stop smoking to have healthy lungs. - Intellectual
Intellectual wellness inculcates the areas directly dealt with by our IQ. Per say, problem-solving, logical reasoning, and feeding curiosity through creative support. Being intellectually fit requires fulfilling the demands of those areas, which we will discuss in detail in a minute. - Emotional
Emotional wellness is very significant. A person who is emotionally well can tackle stressful situations, fight with their emotions, and take measures to prevent situations for others where emotional damage can be detected. - Environmental
This dimension of wellness makes an individual aware of the role they play in the environment’s well-being. They understand their position and use their power and wellness to prevent any natural or manufactured hazards to their environment. - Spiritual
Spiritual wellness is not about the religious faith of humans. Instead, it’s the call of spirit for its purpose in the world. The purpose of existence comes within a soul and its wellness and connection with itself. In the words of Paul Gaugin, the author of the famous book till date, Noa Noa explains it beautifully, “I close my eyes in order to see.” Similarly, if one is spiritually well, they don’t get into a crisis of existence, but they connect themselves to find meaning in the life they are given. - Social
It’s as simple as the concept of introvert and extrovert, which we’ve been categorizing since childhood. Someone who’s socially more interactive and loves to network and build new relations is accepted socially as-well.
5 Tips to Improve Wellness Dimensions
Now that we’ve discussed all 6 dimensions of wellness let’s find out what we can collectively do to add healthy habits to each dimension so we can achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Pay attention to the present
Living with the past can take your present away and a lot of energy, too. Living in the past induces unhealthy emotions such as guilt, shame, and regret. In order to build a lifestyle that focuses on the present, being mindful of where you are is important.
The Mayo Clinic describes mindfulness as: “Mindfulness involves being acutely aware of your feelings and sensations at any given moment, without interpretation or judgment.”
When you stay mindful of your social and environmental dimensions, it promotes your well-being. It contributes to the following areas:
- Less stress and better stress management skills
- Better mood because of fewer worries from the past and the future
- Stay focused on the work and stay less depressed and anxious
Be Physically Active
Did you know exercising thrice can elevate your mood and help with depression and stress? Studies show that moderate depression can be treated effectively by physical activity but without side effects. Start small if you want to reap all the benefits of exercise. A study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that walking or running 15 minutes a day for one hour can reduce the risk of depression by 26.
Adopt a New Skill or Habit
Adopting a new skill can help one contribute to the well-being of oneself. Plato, in his book Apology of Socrates epically said, “What I know is that I know nothing.” This refers to the philosophical aspect of not closing the doors of learning ever in life, and it also helps nurture a healthy lifestyle. Maybe if you’re a chef or love cooking, the next step can be learning baking. If you know how to drive a car, you can learn how to ride a bike.
Give to Others
Being generous feels excellent, but the question is, does it contribute to one’s well-being? The answer is a big yes! If you want to give away, start by contributing to the environment. Build a community, and maybe donate to organizations, including the Sam Sahotra Foundation, as every penny you give us counts.
Connect with Community
Connecting with people around you helps you socialize and build a community of people who can change the world. One human who interacts with a bunch of people creates an impact on their lives. Now, in many cases, that impact can be ever-lasting and boosts the confidence and self-esteem of a person, helping himself and others build a community.
Seamlessly incorporating these into your daily life helps you build a healthy lifestyle that contributes to wellness and nourishes your health.
Key Takeaways
In conclusion, health and well-being are more than just a “nice to have”- essential for our happiness and fulfillment as parents, employees, partners, and people.
In today’s fast-paced, often chaotic world, health and well-being can easily be compromised. There are many ways to improve our physical and mental health and promote well-being in our everyday lives. It all starts with understanding the factors that create well-being and how we can increase it.
We can improve our health and well-being by focusing on mindfulness, giving, moving, and learning. At Sam Sahotra, we are constructing a secure society for individuals dedicated to cultivating and making this world a safe place to live. If you are experiencing any difficulty in life, please do not hesitate to contact us or let your friends know about us. We are the ambassadors of peace and believe no one should fight their battles alone.
