Why wellness? Why not just primary care? A brief introduction...
Dictionary.com tells us that primary care is defined as "medical care a by a physician, or other healthcare professional, who is the patient's first contact with the healthcare system and who may recommend a specialist if necessary". This is an ok definition, but it feels very impersonal to me. It was the Millis Commission report (1966) that emphasized the need to focus ''not upon individual organs and systems but upon the whole man, who lives in a complex social setting. …" (Millis, 1966, p. 35). Yes! This is also very in line with the International Council of Nurses' (ICN) definition of nursing that includes the prevention of illness, promotion of health and the care of the sick.
I took a class in college that opened my world to wellness. Wellness is much more than "how are you doing?" Well, thank you." Wellness is much more than just a word. This class introduced me to the six Dimensions of Wellness. From that moment, I knew that one day I would form some type of practice around wellness! The six Dimensions of Wellness were established by Dr. Bill Hettler, a co-founder of the National Wellness Institute, as intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, occupational and physical (1976). Taken from the NWI website:
The idea is that the six dimensions coexist in a balance of ebb and flow and by increasing the wellness of each, the individual lives a better, more fulfilling and healthier life. Without knowing exactly what those dimensions entail, pick one. For example, if you are not emotionally well, how does that impact your overall health?
Let's take a quick look at the Six Different Dimensions of Wellness.
Physical: Healthy habits. Eating well. Exercising/physical activity. Regular medical/dental/eye checkups and screenings. Preventing injuries.
Emotional: Feelings. Optimism. Self-confidence. Satisfying relationships. Exploring your emotions. How you handle stress.
Intellectual: An active mind. Ability to think critically. Ask questions. Be open to new ideas. Exploring new skills. Sense of humor. Curiosity. Creativity.
Spiritual: Moral compass. Values. Guiding beliefs. Principles. Transcends the individual. Love. Compassion. Empathy. Forgiveness. Joy. Fulfillment.
Social: Satisfying relationships. Mutual love and respect. Surrounded by supportive people. Good communications skills. Capacity for intimacy. Contributing to community, country, world.
Occupational: Work life balance. Feeling challenged in a healthy way at your job. Brings joy and satisfaction. Fair compensation.
These are the six original Dimensions of Wellness. Since their inception, there have been additional dimensions added such as Environmental and Financial. These are important too, but the focus of this piece is the original six as a good introduction to Wellness.
Thinking about your own life, does this help to define Wellness? Can you see how the dimensions are interrelated and can impact your overall health? How can you improve your overall wellness?
An activity!
Choose one of the dimensions of Wellness.
Write three things in your life that contribute to your Wellness of that dimension.
Choose one of those three areas.
Write threes things you can do to improve that specific area and a specific example of each if you can.
Example:
Physical
- What I eat/drink.
- Exercise/Movement
- Breast health (it's Breast Cancer Awareness month!)
How to improve how/what I eat/drink to improve my Physical Wellness:
- Drink enough water (two 32 oz nalgene bottles a day)
- Eat more vegetables (eat leafy greens somehow every day)
- Eat less sugar (keep something munchy on hand while at work instead of grabbing the candy jar)
Hope that helps! Your turn!
Please feel free to share in the comments!
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