Generally, many people consider health as the absence of sickness or disease. This definition is not false. But it does not encompass the true essence of the variety of diagnoses and numbers involved in a truly healthy body and mind. Although modern medicine has its benefits, it has led people to approach health by viewing the body in sections of individual pieces and symptoms. Instead, it should be looked at as a whole system.
Holistic health and wellness are more than avoiding the flu every year. It implies that we need to view and support the whole body as the amazing system it is. In turn, this helps us to truly achieve optimal vitality in the spiritual, mental, and physical sense. Let’s dive into the what we define as holistic wellness, why it is so important and the five key pillars of holistic wellness that form the basis of your overall wellbeing.
What is holistic wellness?
The term ‘holistic’ comes from the holism theory. In turn, holistic health and wellness refer to a form of health that involves the entire person, mind, body, and spirit. Studies suggest that holistic wellness is the most effective method of achieving wellness due to its multi-faceted approach. It is when the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects of an individual are in perfect harmony and well-balanced.
Why is holistic wellness so important?
Thanks to technology and modern-day advancements in technology, people are living much longer today than they did a few years ago. But, they are also struggling with unhealthy ways of stress management, fatigue, improper diets, and potentially harmful chemicals through the water, air, personal care, and cleaning products. Thus, the need for holistic wellness.
Furthermore, the modern-day healthcare industry has failed patients living with undiagnosable symptoms and chronic diseases. Luckily, there is a whole-body and more holistic approach that can help in supporting and treating the health of all individuals on the planet.
By taking into account many environmental and other external factors that affect our overall health and wellness, holistic wellness provides a systematic manner of addressing health. It also considers how climate change is affecting the environment to provide healing solutions for the future.
The Five Dimensions of Holistic Wellness
As mentioned earlier, holistic wellness involves more than assessing the physical body. Instead, it combines the five pillars of health to allow people to live each day of their lives to their fullest and happiest. These five pillars include:
• Physical health
• Mental health
• Social health
• Emotional health
• Spiritual health
All these five aspects of holistic wellness work together, and if one of them is compromised, other areas will likely be affected as well. Take note that these pillars are by no means prescriptive as there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to wellness. As much as everyone is different, their journey to holistic wellness is unique as well.
Your personality, biology, and environment aid in determining what optimal wellness means to you. Thus, your journey should be personalized using a holistic approach. Without further ado, let us delve into each pillar and learn how to strengthen each of them.
1. Physical health
Physical health is what many people consider when talking about health. The reason behind this is that it is the body that displays the signs and symptoms of either sub-optimal or optimal health. It is also much easier to gauge and track physical signs and symptoms compared to non-physical ones.
Although the physical and psychological benefits of physical exercise have been well established, it is estimated that a quarter of adults are inactive, with few achieving the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days. Insufficient physical activity accounts for approximately 9% of premature mortality worldwide. Physical activity is highlighted as a safe alternative way, that is naturally rewarding and engaging, with various health benefits.
When supporting health in a holistic approach, there are a few key practices that you need to incorporate into your daily regimen. These practices include:
• Sleeping for a minimum of 8 hours every night to allow your body to truly unwind and repair
• Exercise for approximately thirty minutes every day
• Limit eating hydrogenated oils and processed foods
• Eat a nutrient-dense diet that is high in organic/pastured animal products and plant-based foods
• Balance your blood sugar by eating snacks full of protein, carbohydrates, and fats every 3-4 hours
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol
• Stay away from smoking
• Keep away from screens at least 30 minutes before going to bed
• Block out unnecessary noise and light when sleeping
2. Spiritual health
Spiritual wellness signifies the development of purpose and meaning of life.
Spiritual wellness is fundamental to our overall health and well-being and can have a profound impact on both the body and the mind. Developing a spiritual practice, holding on to core values and beliefs helps cultivate a deeper connection to ourselves.
Spirituality has historically been associated with religion, and, while religion is almost always spiritual, spirituality is not always religious. Spirituality can be viewed as an individual’s awareness of their position in relation to nature, society, the universe, and the unknown. Although they may overlap in a few principles and practices, the primary goal is to create an inner soul connection and relating to the world around you healthily. Among the ways you can support your spiritual health include:
• Setting sometime each day to meditate
• Spending some time in nature
• Practice your faith if you are a religious person
• Narrow down your top three values and reflect on them often
One significant element related to spiritual health is the sense of connectedness that spirituality offers; individuals who reportedly feel more connected are generally happier and healthier. Feeling connected to others can offer support during times of adversity and illness.10
3. Emotional Health
We experience many emotions in our daily lives and how we handle them is crucial to how you enjoy and live your life. As such, many people tend to overlook emotional health, forgetting that it could lead to detrimental effects. Not to mention the impact of negative emotions.
Generally, emotional health involves having a strong conscience and concern for other people when making decisions. Some ways to nurture your emotional health include:
• Seeking therapy when necessary
• Keeping a journal and recording your feelings, thoughts, and good memories every day
• Practice your faith if you are a religious person
• Practice healthy stress management tools and mindfulness as they can help you reduce the impact of daily stressors
• Create a list of people who support and how to best contact them. This list will come in handy when you are going through a hard time
4. Mental health
Although this dimension is likely to overlap with physical and emotional health, mental health focuses on how the brain operates. Unlike emotional health that involves our daily emotions and moods, mental health deals with our brain’s cognitive abilities. You can support your mental health to ensure optimal wellness by:
• Keeping your mind active by always seeking new learning opportunities
• Take up self-reflective activities, like journaling
• Visit your local library often or join a book club
• Avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol and other recreational drugs
• Keep your brain healthy by consuming nutrient-dense foods high in omega 3-fatty acids and antioxidants
5. Social health
As humans we are wired to connect. According to various research studies, the happiest people in life have a healthy connection with friends, family, and their community. Creating an in-person connection enables us to feel more integrated with the world. it’s important to make time to connect with people face-to-face. Physical touch and sharing space with others do wonders for both our mental and physical well-being. Some excellent ways to support your social health holistically include:
• Set some time apart for in-person connections and sharing
• Meet new people through volunteer services, social networks like Meetup.com, and community-based events
• Take part in your local community
• Create boundaries with people in your life with toxic energy or those who increase your stress levels
Conclusion
Every individual gives wellness a different meaning and discovering optimal wellness enables you to reach your personal goals. After all, when you care for your mind, body, and soul holistically, you can pursue and meet your goals effectively and with less hassle.
To find out your personalized approach to holistic wellness, you need to reflect on the five key dimensions mentioned above. Narrow down those which need the most attention and set out a plan to actualize each of the tips mentioned. Remember, strengthening every pillar creates a solid foundation for living your happiest and healthiest life.
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