People always associate wellness with physical health – the condition of the body from the absence of disease to fitness level. But wellness is more than just physical health; it is a holistic integration of physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health. Attention must be given to all aspects, as when any one of them is neglected will adversely affect the others.
About 40% of our daily life behavior comes from habits. So, the key to wellness is through healthy habits.
Healthy Habits for Physical Health
- Better food choices. Healthy eating reduces our risk of diseases and keeps our bodies in good health.
- Get active. Being active manages our weight better, reduces our risk of disease, strengthens our bones, and muscles, and improves our mood.
- Find a healthy weight. Keeping our bodies at a healthy weight may help us to lower our risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer that can result from being overweight or obese.
- Get Quality Sleep. Getting quality sleep lowers our risk for serious health problems like diabetes and heart disease.
Healthy Habits for Emotional Health
- Keep a positive attitude. This helps with stress management and reduces the risk of depression and other mental health issues.
- Get quality sleep. This not only helps in our physical health but also helps in reducing stress and improving our mood.
- Get connected. Social connections can lower anxiety and depression. It also leads to higher self-esteem and empathy.
Healthy Habits for Social Health
- Build healthy and meaningful relationships. Keeping healthy relationships lowers the rate of depression, improves our self-esteem, and may even lengthen our lives.
- Improve communication skills. Good communication improves relationships, both in our work and personal lives.
- Make time for friends and family. Spending times with family and friends boost our happiness and reduces our stress.
Healthy Habits for Spiritual health
- Meditation can give us a sense of calm, peace, and balance that can lower our levels of stress and reduces anxiety.
- Keep a journal. Journaling helps us explore our emotions, enhance feelings of happiness, reduce our anxiety, and ultimately get to know ourselves better.
- Take time for yourself. Taking some time alone to relax our minds and de-stress can mean an improvement in our moods, brain function, and memory.
Healthy Habits for Intellectual Health
- Read for fun. Reading for fun can increase empathy, creativity, and emotional intelligence, and ultimately mentally stimulate our brains.
- Learn a foreign language. Learning a new language allows us to train our memory to remember new words and make connections between them
- Play a musical instrument. Playing a musical instrument can stimulate our brains and can enhance memory. It also reduces stress and boosts our moods.
Final Words
The habits listed for each aspect of wellness are by no means exhaustive, but it provides you with a starting point for improving your wellbeing and quality of life.