More and more often, people will tell you that a New Year’s resolution shouldn’t only revolve around weight loss and fitness. In recent years, this has become common thinking.
Your health and wellness depend on so much more than physical exercise. This year, try a more rounded approach by focusing on all the dimensions of life: your mind, your body, the world around you, and your spiritual world.
This is called holistic wellbeing, and it can make for a healthier, happier you in the new year.
Pillars of Wellness
The eight pillars of wellness are a great guide for your journey to wellness. When you are mindful of your daily habits, you can build a routine that not only helps you feel your best but keeps you feeling your best.
1. Physical
When people think of physical health, they tend to think about exercise and fitness. While these are important factors in your overall health, they aren’t everything. When considering your physical health, you also need to consider things like hygiene and quality of sleep.
Hygiene is never to be taken for granted. Oftentimes, oral hygiene is overlooked. Brushing twice a day only does you good if you do it the correct way. It’s best to have a timer with you and set it to two minutes every time you brush. A quick brush isn't as effective, so you want to make sure you are taking the proper time to care of your oral health.
When it comes to sleep, aim to get seven to nine hours; this is the recommendation for adults between the ages of 18–64. For better sleep, put away your devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime and consider a white noise machine and blackout curtains.
2. Nutritional
Physical wellness and nutritional wellness go hand in hand. Dietary needs are different for everyone, but everyone should incorporate fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy into their diets. To pinpoint your specific dietary needs, consult your doctor.
3. Emotional
Of the eight pillars of wellness, emotional wellness is one of the most important (and often, the most neglected). For too long, emotional health was overlooked, but current trends show an uptick in people getting serious about this crucial dimension of life. Journaling or therapy can be useful tools for good emotional health.
4. Social
Humans are social by nature. A healthy social life is positive — not just when it comes to fun times and positive interactions, but also for times of conflict. Those who maintain a healthy social life are typically better at conflict resolution.
5. Spiritual
Oftentimes, spirituality is thought of in regard to religion, but it is more wide-ranging than that. Spirituality is simply defined by the values in which people live. You can enhance your spiritual health through practices such as meditation or prayer. As is the case with social health, spirituality can also help in times of conflict.
6. Intellectual
Staying open to new ideas and new knowledge is a hallmark of good intellectual health. This can be practiced in myriad ways, from conversations with friends to reading or doing puzzles.
7. Financial
Money isn’t everything, but it certainly isn’t unimportant. Financial health is the ability to live within your means and plan for the future. Having stable financial health is crucial, as financial problems can cause stress, which affects both your physical and mental health.
8. Environmental
Simply put, environmental wellness is the people and places you surround yourself with. You can boost your environmental wellness by getting outside or volunteering to help clean up your favorite local park, or by joining an organization that offers you a sense of community.
Your Health and Wellness
Making plans for more exercise is great, but don’t forget about the other parts of yourself. It’s every bit as important to make time to keep in touch with your loved ones as it is to do push-ups or go for a walk. By focusing on your holistic wellbeing and all the dimensions of life, you can look forward to a healthy, happier you!
If you are ready to prioritize your health and wellness and want to learn more, get in touch today! We look forward to talking soon!