Your Complete Guide to Health and Wellness: Achieving Balance and Vitality

Introduction

Health and wellness are intertwined in many ways, however, they are not the same. Health refers to an overall condition of physical, psychological, and social well-being. Meanwhile, wellness pertains to health, and it also goes beyond health to reflect other areas in life that are crucial to achieving full potential.

Health and wellness become very important for balance and vitality in life. They are not merely associated with the absence of an illness, disease, or disorder, but they are necessary to lead a meaningful, fruitful, and fulfilling life.

At the NuView Treatment Center, we take our clients’ health and wellness very seriously. Our comprehensive treatment programs for substance use disorders and other co-occurring mental health conditions are designed to keep not just relief in mind, but also to achieve overall health and wellness.

What is Health and Wellness?

As the awareness of healthy living is increasing and people are becoming more and more “health conscious” all over the world, health and wellness are certain terms that we keep hearing thrown around quite a lot, and sometimes even callously. Health and wellness are two important factors of life and well-being, so it is important to understand them first to achieve them.

Health, in the era gone by, was simply understood as the absence of an illness. Meaning, a person was considered to be healthy if they did not suffer from any ailment, either physical or psychological. However, the definition of health has now become broader to encompass different areas of life. It refers to an optimal state of physical, psychological, and social functioning. This involves healthy living as well, which means what one does to achieve health – a nutritious diet, exercise for the mind and body, and definitely, an absence of any physical or psychological conditions.

Meanwhile, wellness is more proactive. It involves leading a healthy lifestyle and achieving full potential. Wellness can be achieved even in case of health conditions. It focuses on the mind, body, relationships, career, and more. Wellness is important for healthy living, and it is also important for a fulfilling life.

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The Importance of Health and Wellness

Health and wellness are central to a happy and fulfilling life. Health involves a mix of physical, psychological, and social factors that lead to healthy life. Healthy life, in turn, leads to better life satisfaction. Life satisfaction is inextricably linked with happiness, meaning, and fulfillment in life.

Wellness goes beyond healthy living, it is how a person perceives themselves. While it involves health, it is not just about physical functioning; it involves self-esteem, healthy relationships, a fruitful career, and all those things that will lead a person to achieve their full potential. Health is a very crucial aspect of wellness, and in fact, it can be said these other things hinge on health to a great degree.

Health and wellness help thrive in life. More than just existence, they help achieve meaning and self-actualization, which is the term Abraham Maslow used to indicate achieving one’s full potential. 

What is the Difference Between Health and Wellness?

Health and wellness have been so intertwined that they are almost used interchangeably. The thing, however, is that while one affects the other, they are still different aspects of life.

Health indicates optimal physical, psychological, and social states. However, to be healthy also means an absence of a disease or disorder. Sometimes, this is not really in a person’s control, as genetics, aging, and environment also play a role.

Meanwhile, for wellness, perfect health is not something mandatory. In fact, unlike health, wellness is under a person’s control, as it means being proactive toward personal growth and well-being. In other words, partaking in activities or leading a lifestyle that helps achieve an optimal state of functioning. These involve:

• Eating a nutritious diet.

• Exercising – not just of the body, but also of the mind.

• Mild to moderate alcohol intake, as heavy drinking can lead to a cascade of health troubles like the increased risk of liver damage, heart conditions, stroke, and even cancer.

• Keeping away from smoking and drug use.

• Not engaging in high-risk activities, as they can lead to severe injuries and life-threatening circumstances.

In the end, health cannot be separated from wellness and vice-versa. Health is in some ways the first step to wellness, but wellness is also a more proactive and broader term than health.

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Dimensions of Wellness

There are seven dimensions or pillars of wellness. The seven dimensions of wellness are holistic and engage the body as well as the mind. Even other aspects of life. To achieve wellness, all these dimensions must be focused upon.

• Physical Wellness – It relates to all the aspects of the body’s health and functioning, like nutrition, hydration, exercise, disease prevention, and so on.

• Mental Wellness – This wellness pertains to the different aspects of mental health and functioning, like cognitive functioning, knowledge, skill set, emotional intelligence, resilience, and others.

• Social Wellness – It is one of the dimensions of wellness that pertains to social life and well-being, like interpersonal relationships, social connections, privacy, and more.

• Spiritual Wellness – Pertains to the search for meaning and fulfillment of the mind and body. It can be related to religion, a belief in a higher power, the search for a higher purpose, and so on.

• Financial Wellness – Encompasses different aspects of financial life, like healthy finances, financial knowledge, and sound financial planning and management.

• Occupational Wellness – It relates to all aspects of a career, including job, job satisfaction, career growth, and a healthy professional life.

• Environmental Wellness – Focuses on the impact of the environment on well-being, and includes leading an eco-friendly lifestyle, making eco-friendly choices, engaging in sustainable living, maintenance of a clean and green environment, taking steps to minimize climate change, conservation, and so on.

The Pillars of Health and Wellness

There are four pillars of health and seven pillars of wellness. The four pillars of health are nutrition, exercise, relaxation, and sleep.

• Nutrition refers to a healthy, balanced diet that comprises fruits and vegetables.

• Exercise refers to physical activities like aerobic exercises, yoga, and other techniques to maintain an active lifestyle and manage weight. At the same time, it also involves engaging in mental activities to keep the mind healthy and active.

• Relaxation is a way to unwind and reduce the stresses of daily life. Deep breathing and meditation are good and healthy ways to relax the body and calm the mind.

• Sleep is vital for maintaining overall health and well-being; getting a good night’s sleep of at least 7 – 9 hours lowers stress, increases focus, and boosts the body.

The seven pillars of wellness focus on the different aspects of well-being and a fulfilling life. They are physical wellness, mental wellness, social wellness, spiritual wellness, financial wellness, occupational wellness, and environmental wellness. All these pillars of wellness are essential for an optimal state of health and living and are necessary to thrive in life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 7 pillars of wellness?

The 7 pillars of wellness are physical wellness, mental wellness, social wellness, spiritual wellness, financial wellness, occupational wellness, and environmental wellness.

What is health and wellbeing?

Health refers to physical, psychological, and social well-being. Well-being, also known as wellness, is the overall experience of health, happiness, and meaning in life.

How can I start a wellness routine?

To start a wellness routine, you only have to make small changes in life. A nutritious diet, exercise, hydration, limiting screen time, spending time with nature, and a good night’s sleep are the baby steps you can take to start a wellness routine that can last a lifetime.