Top 8 Ways To Measure Your Well-being

 

(c) Google Images

How are you feeling today? Good, I suppose. But how well are you doing? I was intrigued to discover the eight dimensions of wellness as depicted in the image above. Glancing over the list, I agreed it pretty much covers it. So I would like to share my thoughts on the eight attributes. I hope it inspires you as it does me.

1. Physical

When someone asks how you’re faring, we mostly answer according to how we feel physically. To be wholly fit, we need to take care of our physical health. Paying attention to our diet, having enough exercise and rest are essential to our physical wellness. Sometimes we neglect one aspect and overdo another to make up for our deficit which doesn’t really work. To ensure we are healthy, we must live a balanced life. How well are you in this category?

 

2. Social

I’m sure you’ve heard it several times that we are social beings and thus can’t survive living like islands. I need you as much as you need me to survive. Due to the busyness of modern day life, there’s little to no time to socialize with others and cool off except holidays. As much as we all like to mind our own business, spending time with people we care about does wonders for our wellbeing. During the inevitable up and down times of life, we need people to share such moments with us. God was so right when He said that it was not good for man to be alone. Take a few minutes once in a while to check up on family and friends you hardly hear from and find out how they are doing. You might never know, they may be in need to talk to someone about a pressing issue. How well are you socially?

 

3. Emotional

This is a very delicate part of us which needs to be catered for intimately. Some people are very good at hiding their emotional troubles and they surprise with their out-of-the-blue outbursts and worst scenario-suicides. We are human and it is okay not to be okay sometimes. And we don’t have to deal with our troubles by ourselves all the time. Whatever it is bothering us be it heartbreak, disappointment or betrayal, it is not the end of the world. Forgive when someone hurts you and spare yourself the resentment pangs. Are you taking care of your emotions?

 

4. Financial

Money makes the world go round, they say. It is important that we manage our finances wisely. Things are not getting any cheaper and earning money requires more effort these days. To ensure that you have enough for future use and unforeseen eventualities, you need to make saving/investment a priority. Get what you need and hold on with what you merely want. You can choose to pamper yourself with a few goodies as a reward for some goal achieved from time to time but ensure you have more than enough in savings. Are you financially sound?

 

5. Intellectual

When caught in the usual 8 to 5 routine, it is likely that we don’t find time to sharpen our mind intellectually. For some, the last time they ever read something was during their exam years ago. All they care about is the job they are in now. It’s unfortunate how much we underutilize our brains. No matter our age, we can still keep our heads sharp and remain relevant in our fast-changing era. Read books, articles, blogs about topics far from our comfort zone and educate yourself some more. No matter how much you think you know, there’s always room for more knowledge. Keep your brain young, will you?

 

6. Vocational

They say the devil finds work for the idle hands. It’s important to find something doing even if you’re unemployed. There’s something you know how to do well. Work on it and master your craft. Practice makes perfect. Things are evolving now. Discoveries about being more efficient in our daily routines are being made every day. Give yourself the opportunity to upgrade not just for pay or promotion but to add more value to yourself.

 

7. Environmental

We can only be healthy when our surroundings are clean, right? As much as we are cutting down trees to make way for settlements, we should do well to preserve the limited oxygen we have around us. We should strive to pollute our environments as little as possible. When we neglect the environment, we are risking our physical health. Why not avoid diseases which have no business troubling us till we invite them in?

 

8. Spiritual

We are spiritual beings and we were created in a way that we need something bigger than us to validate our existence. As a Christian, I depend completely on God to help me make meaning of my life here on earth. With Him in me, I am assured of physical health, social presence, financial provision, emotional support, intellectual ability, vocational skills and environmental awareness in order to live a fulfilling life. Without God being at the center of my life, all other things will not hold no matter how hard I try to do so on my own. If I neglect my relationship with God, I feel it affecting every area of my life. When I nurture it, I feel my life blossoming even in the midst of challenges. How seriously do you take your spiritual life?

 

After considering these dimensions, how would you rate your wellness? What does wellness mean to you and what steps are you taking to ensure you are well? Kindly share your thoughts.

 

© Josephine Amoako 2016

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