Wellbeing is a multidimensional concept encompassing emotions, physical health, social connections and sense of purpose – using one subjective item will not provide sufficient insight into all its dimensions.
Help your clients enhance their wellbeing skills by selecting activities that match up with their self-efficacy and participation levels, increasing program adherence and enjoyment in turn.
1. Resilience
Life doesn’t always follow a plan and unexpected events or challenges can take an emotional toll, leaving us vulnerable in times of hardship. Building resilience can help us weather these times more successfully and emerge stronger afterwards. Hope can play an essential part in building resilience; be it believing things will eventually turn out well, or having a deeper appreciation for what matters to us personally.
Resilience used to be considered an inborn trait, but now we understand that anyone can learn resilience. A good place to start is by seeking support and reading books on stress management as well as building up strong support networks. Also remember to practice self-compassion and acquire skills that help regulate emotions.
2. Mental Health
Wellbeing can be determined by mental health, including your ability to manage stress and difficult emotions. Achieve satisfying relationships is also vital in order to maximize mental well-being.
Studies suggest that developing resilience can help individuals better handle life’s challenges and transitions, with having a supportive social network helping to decrease anxiety and depression levels.
Physical activity, healthy diet and adequate sleep can all play an essential role in your emotional well-being and mental wellbeing. Make sure you know yourself better and discover ways of expressing feelings through talking therapy or other means – these methods have been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms without creating unwanted side effects.
3. Emotional Health
Emotional health is a vital aspect of wellbeing that encompasses self-awareness, authenticity and coping skills. While mental illness is usually associated with specific disorders, emotional wellbeing can help build resilience while providing balance and contentment in daily life.
Emotionally healthy people still experience negative emotions like anger and stress, but are better equipped to channel these negative energies in positive ways that benefit both themselves and those around them. Furthermore, they know when they’ve become overwhelmed and when to seek professional assistance.
Imagine Sam has an active job as an ICU nurse at his local hospital and cares for his elderly mother on the side. Recently his romantic relationship was severed and now his company is moving him out of state.
4. Physical Health
Physical health involves living an active and healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of disease. This may involve participating in regular exercises, eating balanced diets, resting adequately and seeking medical advice when necessary.
Maintaining physical health typically makes people more energetic during the day, sleep better at night, and helps them reach personal and professional goals more easily. Furthermore, they’re less likely to suffer from health conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
Establishing and supporting increased physical health demands that countries and communities create more opportunities for people to be physically active, making it safe and convenient. This may include providing education on the benefits of exercise as well as examining barriers such as sedentary lifestyles or busy schedules that prevent people from participating. Furthermore, developing strategies which address local cultural and social factors which influence how often people get active is also crucial for overall physical wellbeing.
5. Social Health
Social relationships that support both physical and mental wellbeing have an enormous positive influence on an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing. Without an enduring support system in place, individuals may experience higher stress levels, increased depression and anxiety symptoms, increased heart disease risk factors or cancer diagnoses, premature deaths or premature mortality rates.
Social health encompasses any source of assistance that helps sustain wellbeing – instrumental (for instance housework or shopping help), emotional, informational or moral support (e.g. advice, money or caregiving services). These sources could include family, friends, neighbours, community groups or religious organizations.
Reevaluating and prioritizing relationships in your life can make a tremendous difference. One simple way of doing this is scheduling regular catch ups – coffee dates, gym sessions or simply sending them a text letting them know you’re thinking about them – for all the important relationships in your life.
