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Writer's pictureRebecca Stone, LMHC

Ways to Care for Your 8 Dimensions of Wellness

Updated: Jul 10


How are you caring for your 8 Dimensions of Wellness Today

What are the Eight (8) Dimensions of Wellness?

  1. Emotional

  2. Occupational

  3. Physical

  4. Social

  5. Intellectual

  6. Spiritual

  7. Environmental

  8. Financial

Why are they important?

If any of your dimensions are out of balance, especially for a period of time, you're likely going to feel "off." It is important to try to keep your unique wellness needs balanced in order to maintain optimal holistic wellness.

What are some ways to care for your 8 Dimensions of Wellness?

Before jumping into the examples, it is important to know two things:

  1. The dimensions of wellness are not mutually exclusive. One example is that engaging in social activities (social) may also provide stress relief (emotional) and stimulating conversation (intellectual). You could similarly work out (physical) with a friend (social) and have the stress-relieving benefits (emotional) that come with exercise.

  2. There are lots of ways to care for your wellness. Below are some examples of how you can care for your dimensions of wellness, but they are certainly not the only things you can do.

Emotional

  • Manage stress

  • Practice self-care

  • Use coping skills and positive self-talk

  • Talk it out with someone

  • Take time for yourself

  • Seek therapy or medication, if needed

Occupational

  • Set goals

  • Create lists

  • Manage your time

  • Establish a routine

  • Set and respect work/life boundaries

  • Find a meaningful job or career

  • Work toward your next occupational step

Physical

  • Exercise or join a sport/team

  • Eat well

  • Get enough sleep

  • Have routine health checkups

  • Take medication or supplements as needed

  • Avoid or decrease substance use

Social

  • Set healthy boundaries

  • Use assertive communication

  • Spend time with family and friends

  • Join a club or organization

  • Do something fun

  • Utilize social support system

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help

  • Stay connected

Intellectual

  • Read a book

  • Watch a documentary

  • Have a stimulating conversation

  • Learn something new

  • Play an intellectually challenging game

Spiritual

  • Make time for prayer or quiet contemplation

  • Engage in mindfulness, meditation, or relaxation techniques

  • Connect with yourself and/or nature

  • Engage with your religious or spiritual group

  • Explore your values, beliefs, and life's purpose

Environmental

  • Clean up your space

  • De-clutter

  • Redecorate

  • Change your scenery (e.g., go outside)

  • Plant a garden

Financial

  • Make a budget

  • Meet with an accountant

  • Set up a retirement fund

  • Avoid unnecessary expenses

  • Reduce debt

I hope this has helped you reflect more on your wellness and has given you ideas of how you'd like to improve your overall wellness.

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