8 simple tips for total wellness
Making a few changes to the social, emotional, and physical aspects of your life can yield big results.
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You probably hear the term “wellness” all the time—in the news, at the doctor’s office, at work, and across social media. But what does it really mean to be well?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health and wellness as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Wellness encompasses several components. According to the Global Wellness Institute, six important aspects are your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual states, along with your social and environmental connections—that’s how you connect with your community and positively interact with the planet.
This sense of well-being can lead to fulfillment in your relationships, career, and your overall sense of purpose in life. Read on for examples of how you can improve your well-being and overall wellness in eight key areas of your life.
Sources: Global Wellness Institute. What is Wellness? Accessed May 27 + 12
- Global Wellness Institute. What is Wellness? Accessed May 27, 2022.
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Benefits of Physical Activity. Reviewed April 27, 2022.
- Lienert, Jeffrey, Marcum, Christopher Steven, Finney, John, Reed-Tsochas, Felix, Koehly, Laura. Social influence on 5-year survival in a longitudinal chemotherapy ward co-presence network. Network Science. 2017;5(3):308-327.
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- Hughes M. Helm, Judith C. Hays, Elizabeth P. Flint, Harold G. Koenig, Dan G. Blazer, Does Private Religious Activity Prolong Survival? A Six-Year Follow-up Study of 3,851 Older Adults, The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Volume 55, Issue 7, 1 July 2000, Pages M400–M405.
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- Williams LA, Bartlett MY. Warm thanks: gratitude expression facilitates social affiliation in new relationships via perceived warmth. Emotion. 2015;15(1):1-5.
- Algoe SB, Haidt J, Gable SL. Beyond reciprocity: gratitude and relationships in everyday life. Emotion. 2008;8(3):425-429.
- Wood AM, Joseph S, Lloyd J, Atkins S. Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. J Psychosom Res. 2009;66(1):43-48.
- Mills PJ, Redwine L, Wilson K, et al. The Role of Gratitude in Spiritual Well-being in Asymptomatic Heart Failure Patients. Spiritual Clin Pract (Wash D C ). 2015;2(1):5-17.
- Fuller, Richard, Landrigan, Philip, Balakrishnan, Kalpana, et al. Pollution and health: a progress update. The Lancet. Published online May 17. 2022.
- American Heart Association. How do I follow a healthy diet pattern? September 2024.
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