Wellness: Types, Strategies, and Importance

When we think of the term “wellness,” many different things come to mind for many different people. Wellness might mean physical health, exercise, an absence of disease or illness. It could mean a lack of stress, feeling happy, or flourishing. Wellness might also be viewed as a more general sense of wellbeing.

Wellness actually encompasses a broad range of categories. According to Pfizer, “Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you’re thriving.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” So, wellness is an umbrella term for many, many things, including exercise, nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, meditation, healthy habits, motivation, mental health, social connectedness, absence of disease, absence of stress, ability to cope with challenges, etc.

Regardless of the specific wellness area of focus, one thing is important across them all: wellness is a vital aspect of our ability to flourish. Too often, I see people push their own personal wellness by the wayside for their jobs, families, or in the face of hard times. But you’ve got to take care of yourself FIRST if you want to be there for others long-term. You’ve got to take care of yourself FIRST if you want to be at your best for yourself and others. And you’ve go to take care of yourself FIRST if you want to be a positive role model for others. Yes, we CAN make sacrifices for our loved ones and our careers while still making sure our basic wellness needs are met.

So, let’s take a look at some of the top wellness areas in terms of giving them our energy and focus.

1) Exercise: Sitting for long periods of time is the new smoking. Seriously. Our bodies weren’t made to be chained to a desk all day, hunched over a laptop. You’ve got to get your body moving every single day––no excuses. Go for a walk, a jog, lift weights, take the stairs, go to a yoga class, cycle––find what works for you and get your heart pumping.

2) Fuel: You wouldn’t skip filling your car up with gasoline (or charging it), or pump it full of really poor quality oil and expect it to be reliable or last very long. So why do so many of us do that to our bodies? You’ve got one body to get you through your whole life. Take care of it. Fuel it with healthy, nutritious foods. I won’t get on my soapbox about avoiding all meat, dairy, and eggs (I’m vegan), but I will say that the more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits you eat, the better.

3) Sleep: Do not, I repeat, do not skimp on sleep. You need 7-9 hours, period. Even if you get 5 hours and feel refreshed and well-rested, you still need 7-9 hours for your body to replenish itself for optimal functioning. According to the Sleep Foundation, “lack of sleep has been linked to a higher risk for certain diseases and medical conditions,” including “obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, poor mental health, and early death.” Whatever you need to do to block out 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, do it. Getting blackout curtains, turning the thermostat down to 64-68 degrees Fahrenheit (replicates the cave temperatures of our ancestors), and investing in a white noise machine can help. Also, no eating, alcohol, watching TV, or screen time for at least an hour before bedtime.

Additional top wellness areas to consider are meditation, mindfulness, forming healthy habits, learning healthy coping skills, and looking at ways to improve your life through positive psychology.

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