Breaking Down Wellness: Truth About Holistic Health

When you hear the word “wellness,” what comes to mind? You might think about vitamins, healthy foods, workout routines and other tools that help you maintain your physical wellness. But the truth is that wellness has many facets and dimensions—it’s not just one singular thing. Wellness is a personal journey; the best way to achieve a balanced life is to take wellness one step at a time. 

There are around seven different aspects of life that most people need to maintain to stay healthy and feel balanced. These categories—emotional, intellectual, spiritual, social, physical, financial, and environmental—can be organized into a wellness wheel. The wellness wheel is separated into seven equal sections because one wellness category is equally as important as another. 

If one of your wellness wheel dimensions is lacking, you might find that the others begin to suffer. For instance, financial stress can affect your emotional wellness and the energy you might have to maintain your physical wellness. With so many categories impacting one another, deciding where to start your wellness journey can be overwhelming.

But it’s easier than it seems. You’re already starting your journey by just reading about the wellness wheel. Consider going a step further by printing out a wellness wheel worksheet for yourself. You can evaluate the seven dimensions and mark the ones lacking and affecting your performance in other areas. 

Are you so busy at work that you forget to make your bed and haven’t cleaned the house in a few weeks? Your environmental wellness may be lacking. You may be embarrassed to have friends over to your house and have difficulty focusing in an unorganized environment. That deficiency in environmental wellness is already affecting your social and intellectual wellness.

If your emotional wellness is lacking, you may have difficulty sticking to an exercise routine, socializing and getting enough sleep. You might consider seeking out mental health counselling if you have noticed changes in your mood that are impacting your other wellness areas.

After you identify which dimensions of your wellness wheel need the most attention,  you need to take that first step towards improving them. You can even mark your progress by shading in a bit of each section on your wellness wheel worksheet each time you take a step. Read on for some first steps to improve your emotional, physical, intellectual and financial wellness. Just remember that you have the potential to be your best self and live a fulfilled well-balanced life.

Emotional Wellness

If you want to improve your emotional wellness, tracking your mood changes in a journal and talking with a licensed therapist can be great ways to help. Give yourself a dedicated space to feel emotions that aren’t always positive, like grief and anger. Write about these emotions in your journal, or, if you prefer talking it out to writing, try out a voice diary. Even as you make space to express your negative emotions, make sure you also make space for the positive ones. Start your morning out with a little bit of positive self-talk or by writing down a list of things you’re grateful for.

Your feelings are like a wild mustang – beautiful, powerful, but sometimes ornery as all get-out. Here’s how to gentle ’em:

• Sit a spell with your thoughts, like you’re watchin’ a sunset on the prairie.
• Scribble down your feelings in a journal, like you’re sendin’ a telegraph to your future self.
• If your emotions are buckin’ harder than a rodeo bull, don’t be too proud to call in the cavalry (aka a professional).
• Talk to yourself like you’re your own best friend – kind words can soothe even the most riled-up spirit.
• Count your blessings like you’re countin’ sheep – it’ll help you drift off to dreamland with a smile.

Spiritual Wellness

This ain’t about preachin’, unless that’s your thing. It’s about findin’ what makes your soul sing louder than a coyote under a full moon. Might be prayin’, might be watchin’ a sunset, or helpin’ out at the orphanage. Whatever floats your boat down the river of life.

Your spirit’s like a compass – it’ll guide you home if you learn to read it right. Here’s how:

• Take a good, hard look at what you believe in, like you’re prospectin’ for gold in your own soul.
• Quiet your mind with prayer or meditation, like you’re listenin’ for a whisper in the wind.
• Spend time in nature, where the air’s clearer and the thoughts run deeper.
• Lend a hand to folks in need – it’ll make your heart grow three sizes, guaranteed.
• Ponder on your purpose, like you’re gazin’ at the stars and wonderin’ what stories they could tell.

Physical Wellness

Improving your physical wellness doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing journey. Start by doing a few exercises each morning, even if it’s just jumping jacks, lunges and squats. The morning is a great time to mix up your routine because it starts a new day. It might have been a while since the last time you exercised, but no judgement here. Once your body gets used to moving, you can figure out a more thorough routine that fits your lifestyle. And if you want to eat healthier, rather than jumping into a new diet, consider starting by drinking just a little more water and eating some fruits and vegetables with each meal. If you want to turn your life around, you must start small.

Your body’s the horse you ride through life – treat it right, and it’ll carry you far. Here’s how:

• Get your blood pumpin’ regular-like, whether you’re chasin’ cattle or doin’ jumping jacks.
• Fuel up on grub that’ll stick to your ribs and keep your engine runnin’ smooth.
• Hit the hay at a decent hour – beauty sleep ain’t just for the ladies.
• Drink water like you’ve been crossin’ the desert – your insides will thank you.
• Visit the doc for tune-ups, even if you feel fit as a fiddle.

Social Wellness

Humans are like prairie dogs – we need our clan. Gather ’round the campfire with your posse, swap tales taller than a saguaro. Join a square dancing group or a book club (yes, cowboys read!). Just remember to listen more than you yap, and know when to skedaddle if someone’s drainin’ your energy faster than a thirsty cow at a water hole.

Humans are herd animals, partner. We need each other like a cowboy needs his horse. Here’s how to tend to your social corral:

• Nurture your friendships like they’re rare desert blooms.
• Join up with folks who share your interests – birds of a feather and all that jazz.
• Listen like your ears are gold pans and every word’s a nugget.
• Set boundaries firmer than a fence post – good fences make good neighbours, after all.
• Reach out to old pals or rustle up some new ones – your social circle should be as wide as the open prairie.

Intellectual Wellness

You don’t have to start improving your intellectual wellness by busting out the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Instead, turn on a documentary rather than reality TV when you go to wind down for the night. Or read an article on a topic that interests you before you start your workday. Stimulating your mind a little bit right when you wake up or before you sleep can help prepare you for the intellectually challenging activities you might face throughout your day. 

Your brain’s like a trusty six-shooter – keep it clean and oiled, and it’ll never let you down. Try these tricks:

• Read everythin’ you can get your mitts on, from dime novels to scientific journals.
• Pick up a new skill, like you’re addin’ another tool to your belt.
• Jaw with folks who make your brain cells do a square dance.
• Tackle puzzles and brainteasers like they’re outlaws, and you’re the sheriff.
• Mosey on down to workshops and seminars – they’re like waterin’ holes for your mind.

Financial Wellness

You don’t have to be an accountant to set a financial budget for yourself and stick to it. Separate your spending into categories like rent, food, eating out, medical, transportation, travel, personal, home, gifts and fun. Start by tracking your spending and sorting each transaction into a category to see where you’re spending the most and where you can cut back. Rather than setting a budget for yourself that might be unrealistic for your current spending habits, look at how you can reallocate your funds towards purchases you want or need.

Once you take your first baby steps towards improving each area of your wellness wheel, you’ll find it easier to create and stick to a routine that works for you. Good luck on your exciting new journey of self-improvement—and self-discovery!

Your finances are like a herd of cattle – mind ’em well, and they’ll see you through lean times. Try these:

• Rope in your spendin’ with a budget tighter than bark on a tree.
• Set your sights on some money goals, like you’re aimin’ for the bullseye.
• Learn about dollars and cents like you’re studyin’ trail maps.
• Squirrel away some nuts for winter – and retirement, while you’re at it.
• If the numbers start to look like hieroglyphics, call in a financial trail guide.

Environmental Wellness

Your home on the range should be as neat as a new pin. Clear out the tumbleweeds, and make it cosier than a bear’s den in winter. Step outside and breathe deeper than a whale in the Pacific. And while you’re at it, treat Mother Nature like the lady she is – she’s the only one we’ve got!

Your surroundings shape you more than you might reckon. Here’s how to make your environment work for you:

• Tidy up your space like you’re expectin’ company – even if the only guest is your future self.
• Treat Mother Nature like the lady she is – she’s the only home we’ve got.
• Step outside and breathe deep – the great outdoors is better than any medicine.
• Make your workspace comfier than a well-worn saddle.
• Steer clear of things that’ll poison your well, figuratively and literally.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

We’ve corralled a whole heap of wisdom about the Wellness Wheel, and it’s time to ride off into the sunset. Remember, takin’ care of yourself ain’t just about dodgin’ rattlesnakes and polishin’ your spurs. It’s about keepin’ all parts of your life rollin’ smooth, like a well-oiled wagon wheel.

Don’t fret if your wheel’s a bit wobbly at first. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was the Grand Canyon. Take it one step at a time, celebrate the small victories, and before you know it, you’ll be ridin’ high in the saddle of life.

So grab that Wellness Wheel by the horns, partner. Your trail to a happier, healthier you is waitin’ to be blazed. Yeehaw and happy trails!