People often think of well-being in terms of physical health, nutrition, exercise, and weight management. However, wellness is much more than that. It is a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being that nourishes the body, engages the mind, and nurtures the spirit. A common principle of well-being is that your health is more than the absence of illness or injury; it is a holistic approach to health that encourages a long and meaningful life.
At UChicago Student Wellness, we take a comprehensive approach to well-being by focusing on seven key facets: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual. Each of these seven aspects of well-being promotes balance in our lives. Intellectual well-being involves actively engaging in creative and mentally stimulating activities in pursuit of lifelong learning. Spiritual well-being is about discovering the meaning and purpose of life and understanding the beliefs, values, and ethics that help guide your life.
Financial well-being is about understanding your current financial situation and planning for your future financial health. Emotional well-being includes optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance, and the ability to share feelings. Environmental well-being is an awareness of the unstable state of the Earth and of the effects of our daily habits on the physical environment. Occupational well-being means successfully integrating commitment to your occupation into a total lifestyle that is satisfying and rewarding.
Social well-being is about creating and maintaining healthy relationships and establishing supportive social networks. Being emotionally well is generally defined as having the capacity to feel and express human emotions such as happiness, sadness, and anger. Factors that influence individual well-being may include physical activity, a healthy diet, social ties, resilience, positive emotions, and autonomy. At UChicago Student Wellness we strive to provide resources to help students achieve balance in all seven dimensions of wellness. We offer a variety of programs such as nutrition counseling, fitness classes, stress management workshops, financial literacy seminars, and more. Our goal is to help students achieve a holistic sense of well-being that will last them a lifetime. The key to achieving holistic wellness lies in understanding how each facet contributes to overall health.
It's important to recognize that each dimension affects the others; for example, if you are physically healthy but emotionally unwell it can have an impact on your spiritual or financial wellbeing. Therefore it's important to focus on all seven facets in order to achieve true balance. At UChicago Student Wellness we understand that achieving holistic wellness can be challenging. That's why we offer a variety of programs designed to help students develop skills in each area. From nutrition counseling to stress management workshops to financial literacy seminars – we have something for everyone! Our goal is to help students achieve a holistic sense of wellbeing that will last them a lifetime.
