The Seven Dimensions of Wellness in the Workplace

The Dion Marketing team triumphant after winning the escape room challenge!

It’s officially 2020 and the Dion Marketing team is ready to take its health and wellness by storm in the new decade. From group team-building activities like participating in an escape room which was lot of fun (kudos to Mind Bender Escape Room in Jacksonville Beach!), to taking lunch break strolls in the sun, we are taking small steps to increase our positive behaviors. With our dedicated wellness committee, we are enjoying numerous new activities this year that will bring the team closer and help us all strive towards optimal well-being together - which, in turn, will be reflected positively in our work.

Achieving peace of mind can be difficult in our current age of juggling numerous and sometimes conflicting priorities. Balancing personal and work life, in particular, is a challenge that almost everyone has to deal with.

On average, a person will spend 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime; clearly, your job can make a significant impact on your quality of life. So, what are the facets of wellness and what are some proven steps you can take to optimize your health and wellness in the workplace?

What is Wellness?

The World Health Organization defines wellness as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

It is generally agreed that there are Seven Dimensions of Wellness:

Social: Our ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with other people such as family, friends and co-workers.

Emotional: Our ability to understand ourselves and acknowledge/share feelings such as anger, fear, sadness, stress, hope, love and joy in a productive manner.

Spiritual: Our ability to develop harmony and peace by striving for consistency in our values, beliefs, and actions.

Environmental: Our ability to recognize our responsibility and have a positive impact on our homes, communities and the planet (air, water, land, etc.).

Occupational: Our ability to contribute to and gain personal fulfillment in our work, at home and within society as a whole.

Intellectual: Our ability to open our minds to new concepts and experiences to pursue lifelong learning which improves our personal skills, decision making and community interaction/improvement.

Physical: Our ability to maintain a healthy quality of life and recognize our behaviors have a significant impact on our health. Adopting healthy habits (balanced diet, exercise, proper sleep, etc.) and limiting destructive habits (drinking, smoking, drugs, etc.) contribute to this.

If you want to live a healthy and happy life with low levels of emotional and physical stress, you should aim to balance each of the Seven Dimensions of Wellness.

What Changes Can You Make?

The core of becoming a more mindful and healthy individual lies in behavior change. With the right information, support, motivation, and tools, people can change their behaviors and, in time, their habits.

Based on the dimensions above, there are small and/or large alterations you can make to your behavior in and out of the workplace that can lead to immensely positive results for your health in the long run. For example:

Social: Bond with those you work alongside through group activities and daily in-person communication.

Emotional: Take some time first thing in the morning or before you go to sleep to meditate, clear your mind and practice gratitude.

Spiritual: Create a company volunteer or giving back program - people oftentimes find meaning and purpose by helping others.

Environmental: Consider implementing sustainable practices into the workplace, such as minimizing the amount of paper you print and recycling soft plastics.

Occupational: Seek fulfillment in what you do, whether it be by finding pleasure in what you do, enjoying solving problems and creating new things, and/or appreciating accomplishing your goals.

Intellectual: Keep your mind open and continuously learn – read books, attend seminars, engage in challenging discussions, etc.

Physical: Strive for optimal physical wellness by eating well, exercising, paying attention to your body, and getting adequate sleep.

It may seem daunting to implement these changes on top of all the other demands on your time and attention, but it is possible to improve each aspect by making incremental changes to your current lifestyle. It is also crucial to note that everyone will find happiness through wellness with a slightly different approach – there is no one “right” way!

So, what are you waiting for? Make 2020 your most healthy year yet by building positive habits that satisfy the Seven Dimensions of Wellness!