In the United States, one in five adults live with a mental health challenge. Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 50% of all adults will suffer from a mental illness or disorder at some point throughout their lives.
Yet, that does not have to be the sad end of the story. People can have a mental illness and still lead a flourishing life. A person’s mental well-being is not accurately predicted by either the absence of, or presence of, mental illness. People can thrive with a mental illness, and people can languish without mental illness.
How do you flourish in life – with or without mental health challenges? There are 8 dimensions of wellness that make each of us whole and fulfilled. Focusing on these elements of wellbeing will help you lead a happy and healthy life. These 8 dimensions include:
- Emotional Wellness
- Environmental Wellness
- Financial Wellness
- Intellectual Wellness
- Occupational Wellness
- Physical Wellness
- Social Wellness
- Spiritual Wellness
Not every one of these elements needs attention every day, but they all should get attention frequently, as they are all connected in contributing to our overall personal health and wealth in life. The eight dimensions, if kept in healthy balance, generally predict higher levels of wellness.
Life is dynamic, and so are our dimensions of wellness. During challenging times, we may rely on our strong points to help carry us through. When too many dimensions are compromised, we may find ourselves struggling and find it difficult to handle things we easily could have in the past.
Below are some starter strategies for how to focus on each dimension of wellness:
1. Emotional Wellness
- Talk to someone
- Reflect
- Journal
- Read
- Do something artistic
- Cry it out
- Laugh
2. Environmental Wellness
- Take a walk somewhere nice
- Breathe in fresh air
- Enjoy the sun / moon
- Recycle
3. Financial Wellness
- Develop a practical financial plan
- Open a savings account
- Start saving
- Invest
4. Intellectual Wellness
- Read
- Listen to an audiobook
- Complete a puzzle
- Be mindful of the world around you
5. Occupational Wellness
- Train for a promotion
- Accept a promotion
- Polish your resume
- Apply for your dream job
- Take on a task you enjoy
6. Physical Wellness
- Work out
- Take a walk
- Eat healthy
- Go get your annual checkup
- Avoid drugs and alcohol
- Get 7-9 hours of sleep
7. Social Wellness
- Meet up with friends & family
- Volunteer
- Go out and have fun
- Engage in healthy social media
8. Spiritual Wellness
- Meditate
- Pray
- Reflect
- Do right by others
- Be mindful
- Consider your higher purpose
Self-care practices are important activities to do every day, because our Mental Health can change every day. Prioritizing our mental health leads to better overall health – in good times and in challenging ones.
For additional health and wellness resources, including mental wellness-focused continuing education opportunities, visit our landing page here.
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