What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about wellness?  It’s probably physical wellness which is just a part of it.  For complete wellness, the following 8 components must be in balance.

Emotional

• Maintain a positive attitude
• Have empathy for yourself and others
• Discuss your feelings
• Cope with stress

Environmental

• Keep a well-kept and uncluttered home and work space
• Only have objects that you absolutely love in your home, at your workspace and in your closet

Financial

• Live below your means – financial stress is a killer of both life and marriage
• Save 15% of everything you make
• Take a personal finance course
• Create an emergency fund of 3 – 6 months worth of expenses
• Learn about investing

Intellectual

• Keep learning!
  • Languages
  • Instruments
• Go to conferences and workshops

Occupational

• Do work that fulfills you
• Give great thought to what environment you want to work in and the type of people you want to work with; do you want to work in a small company or a large one? Do you want to work for a profit or not-for-profit company?  The more you know about what you love and what environment you prefer, the easier it will be to find work that is gratifying– then it won’t seem like work at all.

Physical

• Fitness is important, more important than people realize, especially as we age.  Ageing does not equal weakness.
  • Aerobics: Important to maintain cardiovascular strength and facilitate weight loss
  • Strength training: Keep those muscles!  Muscles are metabolically active and use up calories at rest and weight bearing exercises strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis.  You’ll also need them to:
    • stand up from a chair without using your hands;
    • get up off the floor.
  • Flexibility:  So very important. Being flexible can:
    • alleviate joint pain;
    • reduce injury;
    • improve balance and posture;
    • improve physical performance due to greater range of motion.

Social

• Find and cultivate your tribe!  This is important to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.  What are your interests or hobbies?  Join group, participate in a cause that is important to you.  This gives your life vibrance and meaning.

Spiritual

• Explore and develop your spirituality; be open to all cultures and religions
• Define what your values and ethics are
• Be kind.  Be thoughtful.  Be helpful.  Be loving