The Relationship Between Wellness, Environment, Spirituality & Fitness
“Wellness: a conscious, evolving and self directed process of realizing full potential.” Wellness is more than just fitness, exercise or good nutrition. It’s the full integration of mental, physical, and emotional well being. As such, it’s important for all of us to reach optimal well being in order to curb stress, reduce the likelihood of disease and ensure positive interpersonal interactions. For some, wellness comes naturally; for others, it may take some work and conscious effort to realize their optimal well being.
Achieving wellness includes engaging our body, mind and spirit through a variety of activities that foster health, well-being and mental clarity. Physical activities like regular exercise and walking are essential parts of wellness. However, a balance between exercise and activity is important as too much or too little of any one of these dimensions can cause negative consequences. Other activities that are considered important components of wellness include yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, and other types of exercise and meditation.
Mental wellness can be described as a state of one’s mind and spirit. This dimension of wellness is related to the quality of relationships one has with oneself and with others. In contrast to the intellectual or spiritual dimensions, a person’s mental wellness impacts their ability to function effectively within a work environment and society in general. There are four dimensions of mental wellness which include cognitive, interpersonal, internal stability and behavioral health. The dimensions of social wellness encompass aspects related to how people interact with others such as communication skills, social skills, and attitudes towards safety and security.
Achieving wellness requires maintaining a balanced mental and physical state. For many individuals, maintaining a holistic lifestyle means a complete change of lifestyle and diet to incorporate practices that promote wellness. Achieving a holistic approach to wellness requires a long-term commitment to change. Changing one’s lifestyle to include a healthier diet and a more active exercise program, a reduction in sugary foods, getting regular sleep and breathing techniques, and engaging in spiritual and religious activities can contribute to mental and physical well-being and promote the overall wellness of an individual’s life.
When individuals live a healthy lifestyle, they often report having greater emotional well-being and a higher level of happiness. They also tend to have higher levels of vitality, higher energy, fewer health complications, and lower chances of premature death. Wellness has been defined as a state of complete well-being, regardless of current physical health. Studies have indicated that there is a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and life-savedness and a lesser risk of mortality in those who have attained the optimal level of fitness and health. Achieving wellness requires both voluntary action and the investment of time, effort, and resources to achieve the optimal level of health and fitness for an individual.
Many individuals believe that environmental wellness is directly linked to wellness. Wellness must begin at home through a daily routine which includes resting, eating a balanced diet, exercising, and socializing. It is important to note that environmental factors like pollution, smoking, or general unsafe environment can have an impact on your well-being; therefore, you should take all safety precautionary measures to reduce your exposure to such harmful elements. In addition, a well-balanced lifestyle requires taking supplements and incorporating a good diet and exercise into your daily routine. A combination of these elements can have a significant impact on the quality of your life and contribute to optimum health and well-being,