Have you ever heard of the dimensions of wellness? If not, I’ll tell you a bit about them, specifically ones I incorporate into my daily life. There is a toss-up about how many dimensions there are. I’ve seen 6,7, 8 and even 9, but to quell all the confusion, I will focus on the ones I practice. Spiritual, Physical, Mental and Social.
The first dimension of wellness I practice is Spiritual. If my spirit is not settled, the rest of my being is not. Nobody wants that. I’ve been a Christian all my life, went to church, prayed etc. However, looking back at it, I didn’t know what it meant to have a relationship with God until I got a bit older. When I went through depression over five years ago, I relied on him. Those moments of darkness were pivotal for me. Prayer, worship sessions, keeping a prayer journal, reading my bible and devotional, are all the things I do to improve and maintain my relationship with God.
The second dimension is Physical. I’d be lying if I said that this one is easy for me😩 only because it involves working out. The older I get, the more I’ve realized that my energy depletes faster than ever. In the upcoming year, I would like to rejoin the gym. However, to prepare, I will start small by doing home workouts. These are some things you can add to your daily routine to ensure staying physically healthy.
The third dimension is Mental. As I have shared before, I have generalized and social anxiety disorders. My mental health is a top priority for me. I also believe that it is just as important as your physical health. Lots of physical issues can stem from your mental health being in shambles. I have experienced it, so I know it to be true. This year I have boosted my self/mental health care. The are a few things I do that have helped me tremendously, in no particular order.
- Journalling
- Bubble baths
- Guided Meditation (breathing & sleep)
- Yoga
- Putting my phone on DND/ I have 95% of my notifications turned off
- Prayer & worship sessions
- Professional massage
- Colouring
- Reading
- Cuddling on the sofa and binge watching my favourite shows
- Quarterly digital detoxes
- Listening to classical/jazz music
- Getting enough sleep
- Brain dumps
The fourth dimension is Emotional. We live in a society where it’s somewhat taboo to show emotions, much less be in touch with them. We’re all humans and have been showing emotions since our birth. Trying to stifle them to show you’re “tough” can and will wear you out. We’ve got to be aware of our emotions. However, most importantly, we have to be comfortable with them. Remember, you have control over your emotion. They do not control you.
The fifth dimension is Social. Social wellness is a vital part of being a human being. We all need companionship and friendships. I’m not talking about a watered-down version of the two but solid, genuine, edifying relationships. I had a lot of friends growing up; however, the older I got, the more I realized a lot of them were just acquaintances. Every person is not your friend. These days, people throw around the word friend so casually that the meaning sometimes gets lost. Also, you don’t need 50 people to say you have friends. I have been made fun of for “not having a lot of friends” the fact is, I do not want nor need “a lot” of friends. The few I do have, I appreciate and love them, and they are each important to me in their way. Take a closer look at your circle, making sure everyone is a genuine friend. Also, make sure you are the friend that you.
If you haven’t already, you can add some of these into your routine but the bottom line is to do things that bring you joy and peace.
Feel free to leave a comment about what you do to ensure your whole being is being taken care of😊
Your story is so relatable. Thank you for sharing with such vulnerability and authenticity! One thing I’m trying to make a habit of in this new year is “self-care Sunday”. I want to be intentional about taking time for myself each Sunday evening, whatever that needs to look like that week. Reading, quiet time, a movie night cuddling my dogs, relaxing bath with a glass of wine, face mask, etc. And making sure my week is planned out each Sunday gives me so much confidence going into the week!
I love self-care Sunday’s 💕this year, I’m honestly planning on having self-care moments every day, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. It’s really important that we carve time out of each day to take care of you