Wellness - A State Of Complete Physical, Mental, And Social Well-Being!
According to the World Health Organization, wellness is defined as 'a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'. Maintaining an optimal level of wellness is important to living a high-quality life. It is essential because everything humans do and every emotion they feel is related to their wellbeing and vice versa. It is a vicious circle. Therefore, it is vital for everyone to achieve optimal wellness so that stress can get eliminated. Also, wellness can help reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.
Statistics
According to the World Health Organization, 1.4 billion people are classified as overweight, and 500 million people are classified as obese. Obesity is the fifth leading cause of death. In Brazil, Russia, and China, obesity rates are rising very rapidly. The chronic disease prevalence is expected to rise by 57% by the year 2020 as per the World Health Organization.
Dimensions of Wellness
Each dimension of wellness is interrelated with another. Each dimension is equally important to maintain complete wellness. One can reach an optimal level of wellness by understanding how to maintain it. There are eight dimensions of wellness, and they are as follows:
- Emotional wellness: It relates to the understanding of feelings and coping with it. It can be achieved by doing meditation, yoga, and aerobic exercises.
- Environmental wellness: It can be maintained by taking action to protect it, by promoting forest development, and by making people aware of it.
- Financial wellness: It involves the process of learning successful management of the financial expenses. Financial stress is the leading cause of stress, anxiety, and fear.
- Intellectual wellness: It involves having an open mind while encountering new ideas and continuing to expand the knowledge.
- Occupational wellness: It is about personal satisfaction and being happy with it.
- Physical wellness: It relates to the maintaining of a healthy body and seeking healthcare when needed. It can be attained through exercise, good diet, and getting enough sleep.
- Social wellness: It helps perform social roles and also involves creating a support network to spread the awareness.
- Spiritual wellness: It allows the development of a set of values, which will help every individual seek meaning and purpose of life.
Summary
So, according to the wellness dimensions mentioned above, the mind and the body are not separate entities. Therefore, the physical health can affect emotional well-being and vice-versa. Also, the person who is not taking adequate nutrition may struggle more with psychological issues and chronic illness. Thus, wellness is an active process, which involves becoming aware and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.