Dimensions of Wellness
Our Goal
We work to empower students to strive for health and wellness while maintaining a sense of balance. Achieving and sustaining wellness is an active and dynamic process which involves becoming aware of and taking steps toward a healthier, happier, and more satisfying life. The student wellness program focuses on Healthy Campus and the 8 dimensions of wellness to inform program offerings.
Through purposeful collaborations with wellness partners on campus, we are excited to provide resources, information, and programming for a diverse student population with unique needs.
Eight Dimensions of Wellness
Emotional
Emotional wellness relates to an increased awareness, expression and acceptance of a wide range of thoughts and feelings in yourself and others. It is important to pay attention to self-care, relaxation, stress reduction, and the development of inner resources so you can learn and grow from experiences. Optimal emotional wellness helps you to develop satisfying relationships, positive self-esteem, and resilience.
Action Plan: Take appropriate steps to cope with problems having to do with emotional wellness. Tune into your personal thoughts and feelings. Actively communicate your feelings. Create opportunities for valuable conversations and discussions.
Environmental
Environmental wellness inspires us to live a lifestyle that is respectful of our surroundings and encourages us to live in harmony with the Earth by taking action to protect it. Environmental well-being promotes interaction with both nature and your personal environment.
Action Plan: Engage in environmentally responsible activities, keep the company of healthy people, and maximize personal harmony with the Earth while minimizing harm to it.
Financial
Financial Wellness involves the process of learning how to successfully manage financial expenses. Keeping track of expenses, making a budget, and sticking to it are important skills to have in order to be financially responsible, independent, and well. Learning how to maximize your financial wellness now will help you feel prepared to handle potentially stressful financial situations in the future.
Action Plan: Take steps to become fully aware of financial state and budgets, save and manage finances in order to achieve realistic goals.
Mental
Mental wellness involves having an open mind when you encounter new ideas and involves lifelong learning. It encourages active participation in scholastic, cultural, and community activities.
Action Plan: Take classes offered in your community, and participate in something contrary to your strengths and comfort level.
Physical
Physical wellness relates to maintaining a healthy body and seeking care when needed. It involves respecting your body’s own uniqueness and diversity. Physical health is attained through exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep, taking steps to prevent illness and recognizing signs and symptoms of illness, and seeking out appropriate assistance in reaching optimal health.
Action Plan: Play with your kids, walk your dog, cook with friends/family, and train for an event.
Social
Social wellness is being aware of, and participating in, and feeling connected to your community. It helps you perform social roles effectively and comfortably, and create a support network. Social well-being is enhanced by establishing supportive social networks through meaningful relationships.
Action Plan: Make an effort to meet your neighbor or members of your congregation. Join or even form a club or team. Designate a night out with friends.
Spiritual
Spiritual wellness allows you to develop a set of values that help you seek meaning and purpose. Spirituality can be represented in many ways. It involves developing an inner connectedness and harmony between yourself and the universe.
Action Plan: aka “quiet time” to meditate, think or just breathe.
Vocational
Vocational wellness is inclusive of interests, hobbies, employment, and volunteer work and can be nurtured by matching these areas with your core values. As you uncover your talents and passion, you express yourself to the world.
Action Plan: Choose a career path that is consistent with your values. Explore career fields and academic courses to find opportunities to achieve personal satisfaction and experience the feeling of making a difference in your community and the world.
Wellness Reflection
Title
CampusWell
Explore wellness resources on CampusWell, an interdepartmental website that provides articles and videos about topics ranging from body image, nutrition, and mindfulness, to time management, substance abuse, finances, and more!