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Good Nutrition Counts (gNc): 7 Elements of Wellness

WellnessWheel

PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Physical Wellness is integral for health and a part of the 7 Aspects of Wellness. Physical Wellness involves a variety of activities that support your physical well-being. Exploring Physical Wellness isn't just about trying to lose weight, although that may be a part of your specific Physical Wellness plan. For optimum Physical Wellness, everyone needs to practice good health habits that include eating a healthy diet, participating in regular exercise and physical activity, performing regular hygiene routines and getting adequate rest and relaxation. Physical Wellness fosters a healthier body that is able to run more efficiently, and it also helps you feel better physically as you explore your health in other wellness aspects.

Interaction of Physical Wellness and Other Elements of Wellness

The importance of Physical Wellness and the effect it has on our Emotional Wellness has been known for years, but few people realize just how important Physical Wellness is to a balanced life. Diet, exercise, and rest have a profound effect on how we feel emotionally. Exercise is also a great way for some people to connect to their Spiritual Wellness (e.g. practicing Yoga, Tai Chi, or another mind/body activity). Exploring Physical Wellness together can help people build healthier relationships for Social Wellness, and going for walks outside will increase your Environmental Wellness, too. Total health reaches far beyond Physical Wellness, but adequate Physical Wellness provides a good foundation for a whole and complete life.

For more information or resources about physical wellness:

For UNL campus resources about physical wellness:

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

Emotional wellness is being comfortable with yourself and self expression. It is paying attention to self-care, relaxation, stress reduction and the development of inner resources. Emotional wellness refers to the ability to learn and the ability to grow from experiences. Healthy decision making is important in developing and maintaining emotional health.

Suggestions for emotional wellness:

  • Emphasis is on awareness and acceptance of own feelings
  • Work on and develop positive thinking about self and others
  • Realistically assessing own abilities and limitations
  • Maintaining satisfying and healthy relationships with others
  • Choose to be a good friend to yourself
  • Laugh
  • Connect with others
  • To enhance emotional wellness you need physical, intellectual, occupational environmental, social, and spiritual wellness

For more information or resources about emotional wellness:

"Every good thought you think is contributing its share to the ultimate result of your life."
-- Grenville Kleiser

Information from: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hrb/hw/spiritual/

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS

Spiritual wellness is being in-tune with your personal growth. It enhances the connection between your body, mind and spirit**. Spiritual wellness involves:

  • A sense of purpose and meant in your life
  • Experiencing love, joy and fulfillment
  • Your ethics, values and code of living

You could increase your spiritual wellness by:

  • Yoga and meditation for a mind/body connection
  • Music and poetry to assist with your self awareness
  • Soul awareness
  • Mind calming for inner peace
  • Develop a personal philosophy to observe as a way of life
  • Nurturing yourself and others
  • Develop a spiritual journal

For more information or resources:

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.  The mind is everything.  What we think, we become.
-- Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

**Spiritual wellness may or may not be part of formal religion, but spiritual wellness and religion are not synonymous.

Information from: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hrb/hw/spiritual/

SOCIAL/CULTURAL WELLNESS

Social/Cultural Wellness is having the knowledge and ability of interacting with others on a normative basis. Constantly learning and growing from interactions with people and their cultures. Expanding the knowledge base of cultures other than one's own and vice versa.

Examples Social/Cultural Wellness:
Any program presented by University Housing. This could include:

  • Parties
  • Gatherings
  • Activities such as going to movies, eating dinner etc.

Websites for Social /Cultural Wellness:

Resources on UNL Campus for Social/Cultural Wellness:

  • Cultural Center
  • City and East Campus Union
  • Floor Communities
  • Residence Halls
  • Oasis
  • Trio Programs
  • Any specific group on campus could get someone involved creating a place for Social/Cultural Wellness.

Food Service Events and Social/Cultural Wellness:

  • History of Foods-Black History Month
  • Vegetarian Challenge-can you be a vegetarian for a week?
  • Taking the Alcohol out of Drinking (sparkling water idea)

Questions about Social/Cultural Wellness:

  • What is considered being social?
  • Name three holidays that are considered to have a cultural food attached to them.
  • What is a social activity that involves food?
  • Name two websites devoted to making connections between people? (Facebook, MySpace, any partner matching service like eharmony or match.com, LinkedIn)

 INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS

Intellectual Wellness is learning and challenging ourselves through trial and error of the world thus building a knowledge base of things that work, don't work and investigating ways that we can change them.

Examples Intellectual Wellness:

  • Understanding politics on campus
  • How to register for classes
  • Use information systems, i.e. blackboard, WAM!,
  • Where things are located knowing what actual opportunities are available to you
  • College in general striving for more knowledge
  • Learning to understand and achieve

Websites for Intellectual Wellness:

Resources on Campus for Intellectual Wellness:

  • Academic Advising specific to your major,
  • Wall postings around residence halls and campus
  • Different types of learning from online
  • Distance learning, to actual in class instruction
  • Career Services

Food Service Events and Intellectual Wellness:

  • Splash into Wellness
  • Nuts about Wellness
  • Swimmingly Smart Food Choices
  • Iron Out Your Memory Problems
  • Super Smart with Super Foods

 Questions for Intelligence Wellness:

  • How many hours of sleep does the average college student need in order to maintain optimal levels conducive to learning? (7-8hours)
  • True or False: Listening to music has been shown to make you smarter (T)
  • Name a food that is associated with high intelligence (Any fish, legumes, nuts, anything with Omega 3's, foods high in protein)

ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS

Environmental Wellness includes not only our relationship with the planet, but also with our surroundings. This means taking care of our possessions, homes, cars, and places of business so that we feel a sense of comfort and less anxiety. Environmental Wellness means that everyone needs to be aware of the earth's natural resources and the importance of understanding the impact our daily practices will have on the environment. Other aspects of environmental wellness include taking care of nature by reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Ways to have a positive impact on environmental wellness:

  • Maintain the correct tire pressure on your car
  • Take clothes you haven't worn for years to a consignment shop
  • Buy local - food, clothes, and other products
  • Recycle your newspaper, paper, aluminum, plastic, etc.
  • Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth
  • Reduce your use of disposable products

For more information and resources about environmental wellness:

http://lancaster.unl.edu
http://www.lincoln.ne.gov
http://recycling.unl.edu
www.earthtimes.org
www.envirolink.org

OCCUPATIONAL WELLNESS

Occupational Wellness is simply "the ability to achieve a balance between work and leisure time." Attitudes about work, school, and career goals greatly affect performance and interactions with others (Anspaugh, 2000, p. 494)

Are you engaged in the process of Occupational Wellness?

  • Do I enjoy going to work most days?
  • Do I have a manageable workload at work?
  • Do I feel that I can talk to my boss and co-workers with problems arise?

 If you answered "no" to any of the questions, it may indicate an area where you need to improve the state of your occupational wellness.

Some Questions to Ask Yourself:

  • What motivates you?
  • Which leisure activities do you find enjoyable?
  • What occupations interest?
  • Would you prefer working with others on teams; committees on group projects; or do you prefer to work alone?
  • Are you most interested in learning through reading and lectures or do you prefer practical and hands-on experience?
  • Would you describe yourself as a leader of a follower?
  • How comfortable are you with taking risks?
  • What is your fantasy job?

Signs of Good Occupational Wellness:

  • You have hobbies/interests/activities which bring you pleasure outside of your work/academics
  • You are comfortable with the direction of your future plans
  • You can accurately assess your strengths and weaknesses
  • You believe that you have the qualities of a valuable and valued employee
  • You are doing what you want to do with your life