Wellness consciousness is about consciously choosing small, consistent actions that contribute to both personal and planetary health. It’s about realizing that every little choice you make – from buying organic produce to walking to work – creates a ripple effect.
This study reveals that health consciousness has an indirect effect on home-based exercise through establishing health life goal and strengthening perceived behavioral control.
Spiritual Wellness
Spiritual wellness is the belief that your life has meaning and purpose beyond the material world. It includes a sense of connection to something larger than yourself – whether it be a higher power, community, or your own moral compass.
People who enjoy spiritual wellness typically have hope, a positive outlook, forgiveness/self-acceptance, a strong sense of identity and purpose, and a clear set of values. They often engage in religious or other spiritual practices to support their beliefs.
You can promote your spiritual wellness by practicing mindfulness, engaging in creative expression, or simply journaling to express your feelings. Intermountain Healthcare recommends combining journaling with meditation to uncover hidden insights. Another way to connect with your spiritual self is through nature. Spending time outdoors, especially at sunrise or sunset, can be calming and inspiring.
Physical Wellness
Physical wellness includes a healthy diet, proper sleep, regular exercise and other healthy activities. It also involves recognizing the importance of good health habits such as safe sexual practices and practicing personal hygiene.
While it’s important to recognize the different dimensions of wellness, it’s equally important to understand that wellness is interconnected. For instance, a person’s physical wellness can impact their spiritual, emotional and mental well-being.
Compared with previous studies, this study finds that health consciousness directly influences home-based exercise, and it has a significant impact on health behaviors via the chain mediation of health life goal and perceived behavioral control. Therefore, people should pay attention to their health consciousness and promote home-based exercise. Besides, they should also set a health life goal to further enhance the effect of their health consciousness on health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness includes healthy and constructive management of the positive and negative emotions that we all experience. It enables us to cope with stress and mood fluctuations and helps to establish strong relationships at home, work, and school. It also promotes physical health and wellbeing. Having poor emotional wellness can lead to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Achieving a state of emotional wellness requires mindfulness, stress reduction strategies, and a supportive network. It also involves fostering self-compassion and a sense of compassion for others. It is essential to prioritize emotional wellness and make time for it, as neglecting it can lead to burnout and poor mental health. Practicing gratitude, engaging in hobbies, and getting adequate sleep can also enhance emotional wellness.
Mental Wellness
Mental wellness is a broader concept than happiness, and it relates to a person’s ability to navigate life’s ups and downs with equilibrium. It also reflects a sense of meaning, purpose and fulfilment in one’s life. This can be achieved by practicing mindfulness and gratitude, engaging in positive social interactions, achieving a sense of achievement through goals, or participating in activities that stimulate the mind.
It is important to note that mental wellness does not negate or downplay the need for better methods of treating mental illness, but rather acknowledges that a more holistic approach to overall health can complement existing healthcare systems. Mental wellness relates to the spectrum of languishing, resilience, and flourishing, and can be enhanced through meditation, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress-management techniques like journaling.
Social Wellness
Social wellness focuses on having and maintaining healthy, meaningful relationships with family, friends and community. This includes having positive self-esteem and being able to learn to be assertive. It also involves having a sense of support and belonging, and being able to cope with and bounce back from life’s challenges. It also involves having a balanced social life, limiting isolation and over-commitment to social activities.
Cultivating social wellness can include prioritizing time with loved ones, making regular catch-up dates, joining a club or organisation based on your interests, and/or volunteering in the community. Having strong social connections is linked to healthier lifestyles and improved mental health, including less stress, lower blood pressure, and enhanced immune function and longevity. The eight dimensions of wellness are interconnected, and a change in one dimension can impact the others.
