Physical
Maybe you are already familiar with the quote from Thomas Jefferson: “A strong body makes the mind strong”. Physical well-being is defined as your health level, including sleep habits, nutrition, and exercise and your ability to maintain it by recognising the effect of our daily actions. When we feel physically fit, and have a good deal of rest, the nervous system is in a state of equilibrium (not in a fight, flight or freeze mode). This allows us to be more present, thus available for our life, including ourselves, others, new ideas, people, and experiences.
A healthy body gives rise to a state of care and joy, which overflows and extends not only to our closest people, but to strangers, our surroundings, to nature, to the whole planet. Physical well-being is like a stable foundation on which we can build meaningful relationships, satisfying career and a personal life. We all know that feeling of being ‘dog tired’: we tend to be more absorbed in ourselves, more likely to skip that social invitation, and might feel irritable or restless. This is the moment to PAUSE, acknowledge the situation and take the right steps. Otherwise, we would easily go down the spiral and fall into the trap of harmful behaviours like smoking, drinking too much or misusing social media. Quick fixes like grabbing one more coffee or this energy boosting sugary cookie will only drain us more. Yes, we all know it, but why not start practising a few good new habits now!
Click here for five tips on increasing your physical wellbeing.
Mental and emotional
We’ve decided to combine mental and emotional wellbeing since both include the ability to be happy, to experience positive emotions like love, joy or compassion, and to feel generally satisfied with life while coping with normal day-to-day challenges. This allows us not only to tap into our potential as human beings, but also to be fruitful members of society - to work productively and to contribute to one’s community. Emotional wellbeing is closely related to the so-called emotional intelligence (EI), which is defined by the capability to recognise one’s emotions and to adequately address them, as well as other people’s feelings. Are you ready to explore your own mind and emotional field? We invite you to take on an inner adventure with us.
Click here for five tips on increasing your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Social and relationships
We all know that as humans, we are social beings. Moreover, some theories state that our species evolved because of mutual support. Once upon a time being excluded from the “troop” had fatal consequences. Nowadays, social wellbeing - defined as positive, meaningful social relationships and contribution to the community - is equally important, especially during these challenging times, characterised by a pandemic, home office and a heavy social media impact. We seem to be more connected than ever, but are we really? A closer look reveals a troubling trend: many of us tend to focus more on our jobs, neglecting the importance of socialising. Furthermore, social media creates an illusion of connection, which leads to more superficial communication. Research shows clearly: developing, and sustaining REAL, purposeful relationships allows us to feel authentic and valued, and provides a sense of connectedness and belonging, which influences all other domains of wellbeing - physical, mental and emotional, professional and spiritual. Yes, it is all connected!
Click here for five tips on increasing your social wellbeing.
Spiritual wellbeing
Spiritual wellbeing is our inherent drive to connect to something greater than ourselves, to experience meaning and purpose. It’s not restricted to a particular religion or a teaching, but rather implies our potential to integrate all parts of one’s psyche while contributing to society. Being in touch with our heart might correspond to the fifth and final level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs: self-actualisation. This unfolding of human potential often takes place in a symbolic form or compassionate acts - through service, art, music, literature, connection to nature, but also could be in alignment with one’s professional role. Psychological research clearly shows that people who are in touch with their inner self and trust a higher power (no matter what we call it - Law of nature, God, Universe, etc.) are more resilient in times of change and stress. Last, but not least, spiritual wellbeing is a very diverse and unique aspect of wellbeing, but it might be crucial, giving context and meaning to all other parts of ourselves and our life experiences.
Click here for five tips on increasing your spiritual wellbeing.
Work and occupational wellbeing
Occupational wellbeing refers to feeling satisfied about the work you do. The question is about balance. Occupational wellbeing includes a safe, psychologically healthy environment and the ability to perform one’s duties without major obstacles. This leads to productivity, meaningful relationships with co-workers and a general sense of purpose and belonging. More than ever, responsible organisations should recognise the most important resources for their businesses is their people. Which is why caring for employees and their wellbeing.
Click here for five tips on increasing your occupational wellbeing.
