What Is Health and Wellness?

 The Relationship Between Health and Wellness

Health and wellness are often used interchangeably, though the concepts do have some variances that deserve recognition. But what is the difference between health and wellness and how can you actively work to achieve both? Find out the pressing questions regarding wellness vs health here!

The Relationship Between Health and Wellness

When people think of health and wellness, they often combine and use them interchangeably.

However, the two concepts are quite variable, though you cannot really have one without the other. Here are some reasons why, but first, we will outline what each they stand for.

What Is Health and Wellness?

Understanding health vs wellness begins by isolating their respective definitions:

The Definitions of Health and Wellness

Health:

Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), health is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Furthermore, the primary determinants of health include social, economic, and physical environments, along with the person’s individual characteristics and behaviors without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.

Wellness:

Then, "What is wellness?" you may ask?

The WHO defines wellness as "the optimal state of health individuals and groups" and is also expressed as "a positive approach to living." And according to Merriam-Webster, wellness is "the quality of state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal."

Cohesively, wellness is an active and dynamic process of change and growth to reach one’s fullest potential and aims to enhance overall wellbeing. Wellness is also comprised of eight different components, including emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual wellness.

The Difference Between Health vs Wellness (and Why It Matters)

According to health and wellness definitions, wellness has a direct influence on overall health, which is essential for living a healthy, happy, and fulfilled life. The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is the goal and wellness is the active process of achieving it.

Knowing the distinction between the two matters for a number of reasons, including by recognizing while we cannot always choose the state of our health, we do have the conscious choice to make active decisions towards wellness. The following scenarios can help you better grasp heath vs wellness:

• Health: A predisposition to heart disease, diagnosis of type I diabetes at an early age, or an unexpected brain injury.

• Wellness: Making the choice to eat a balanced diet, exercise more often, and schedule regular doctor visits.

Furthermore, most people attribute achieving a set number on the scale dictates health, yet as previously highlighted, you cannot truly have health without first achieving wellness. So before setting your own goals for health, ask what you really want out of your new sought out transformation and consider:

• Why do you truly want to lose weight?

• How will making positive changes impact your life?

• Are you doing it for yourself or trying to satisfy others?

• Is this a short-term or long-term goal?

• Which areas in your life do you want to focus on?

• What sort of support system do you have?

Ultimately, knowing what you truly want from health and wellness can help drive a personal plan that works best for you.

Tips to Improve Health and Wellness

Whereas you can make a target weight loss and health goal, sustainability relies on actively improving within the different components of wellness. These tips can help nurture an ongoing basis:

1. Eat Whole Foods

While diet tends to be primarily viewed to impact physical condition, food has a well understood link between food and mental health, including boosting memory and improving mood.

A natural way to ensure adequate nutrients is by consuming whole foods rather than boxed and processed products. Comprise the diet of whole grains, fruits and veggies, lean and plant-based proteins, and healthy fat sources.

 A sure way to include whole foods in the diet, as each meal is balanced with adequate protein, complex carbohydrate and fiber, and healthy fat to not only support a healthy weight, but gift the body with nutrients it requires for optimal health support healthy weight alleviate the stress of meal prep.

2. Exercise Regularly

Exercise stimulates a healthy mind and body and the American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of physical activity weekly.

But you can also break away from the monotony of a structured workout regimen, as the highest importance is dismissing a sedentary lifestyle. Increase activity in your day by walking the dog, hiking with friends, and taking the steps over an elevator.

Walking and biking whenever possible not only emboldens both physical and mental health, but supports environmental wellness by reducing fuel emission. (And not to mention, saving on gas money!)

3. Embrace Mental Exercises, Too

Most people do not consider mental exercises when they are trying to get fit physically, but these types of activities can actually help you achieve your goals more sufficiently and boost brain power!

Tackling daily brain exercises helps support intellectual wellness, while practicing yoga or other combinations of mental and physical activities can help promote a better attitude towards weight loss.

4. Achieve Quality Sleep

Sleep is important for your mind and body, as it strengthens memory and concentration, lowers stress intensities, increases daily energy, diminishes cravings, and regulates hunger levels.

Sleep your way to such benefits by taking short power naps as needed and getting a full night’s rest on a regular basis. The National Sleep Foundation encourages healthy adults to sleep seven to nine hours of quality on a nightly basis.

If struggling to achieve the recommended hours of sleep each night, create a bedtime routine by staying consistent with bedtimes, powering down from electronics, evaluating your room environment, and practicing relaxation techniques.

5. Take a Day of Rest

In addition to achieving adequate sleep on a nightly basis, allow yourself days of rest and recovery.

Make sure to take one day out of the week to do something spontaneous or plan out a weekend trip you can look forward to, as doing so makes make the whole "dieting" process more enjoyable. (And life should be enjoyed!)

Even if you cannot get away every weekend, make sure you do small things that you love on your day off. This could be something as simple as going for a leisurely stroll, taking a walk in the park, or spending an evening relaxing to a movie.

6. Bask in Social Support

Social circles and support networks are invaluable for overall wellbeing and a sense of purpose.

A 75-year old study discovered good relationships keep us happier and healthier, though the data truly is not so surprising. We as human need to feel connected to others is one of our basic needs that need to be met.

Form and turn to your strongest supporters, including family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. You can likewise get them involved in your wellness journey by inviting them over for a home cooked meal or exercise class.

7. Enjoy the Journey

While you can make a target weight loss and health goal, sustainability relies on actively going through the different components on wellness.

And rather than feeling overwhelmed with large feats alone, take on small tasks, re-strategize as needed, surround yourself with positive people, embrace the journey, and enjoy the process of achieving personal fulfillment and wellness

Being Healthy and Happy

People exercise to be healthy. Others choose to drink to one's health. There is always a new diet or health fad every single year in the world of nutrition or exercise. But rarely do we hear of wellness fads or exercising to be well. It's all about health. Is there a difference between health and wellness?

Health, Wellness, and Risk Factors

Health is defined as the overall mental and physical state of a person; the absence of disease.

This isn't entirely the same thing as wellness. Wellness refers to the state of being in optimal mental and physical health.

But wellness is more than that. It's about living a life full of personal responsibility and therefore taking proactive steps for one's entire well-being.

This means that a person living life very well controls risk factors that can harm them. Risk factors are different types of actions or conditions that increase a person's chances for illness or injury.

Let's take a look at just some risk factors. Smoking is a risk factor. It is a risk factor for developing lung cancer among many other terrible problems. Mountain climbing is a risk factor. It is a risk factor for everything from broken bones to a swollen brain.

Alcohol is a risk factor. It is a risk factor for developing liver damage. Unprotected sex is a risk factor as well. We all know that you can get some very nasty sexually transmitted diseases with unprotected sex, including HIV.

Types of Wellness

That being said, just like there are many different types of risk factors, there are actually different dimensions of wellness as well - no pun intended there. Actually, there are several of them. Let's take a look at what they are.

One dimension of wellness is physical. This means we exercise, eat well, practice safe sex, don't do any dangerous activities like jumping off of buildings, and so on. Physical fitness increases physical wellness. By being physically fit and well, you are better able to take care of yourself and others, especially in a time of need. You are also better able to prevent illness and disease.

Another dimension is intellectual: Critical thinking, being curious, and always learning new things. Developing intellectual wellness is critical not only to help a person grow in school and do better at work, but it actually prevents the onset of disease. It's been shown that people who regularly learn new things and challenge their mind can stave off many mental health problems.

A further dimension is emotional: Being confident, having a solid self-esteem, building trust, and being able to understand another's feelings. A person who is emotionally well is aware of their feelings and is able to properly cope with them. Emotional wellness also implies a person can deal well with stressful situations.

Furthermore, there is an interpersonal dimension of wellness: Having good communication skills, the ability to establish good and healthy long-term relationships, and having good relationships with family and friends. Interpersonal relationships are very important in order to maintain a good emotional and physical state of being. We are, of course, 'pack animals,' so to speak, that depend on one another to survive and live well.

There is also a spiritual dimension of wellness: Developing compassion, forgiveness, being caring, having a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Spiritual wellness doesn't automatically imply the need for religion in a person's life. These same things can just as easily be developed and found through things like nature, meditation, volunteer work, and family.

Optimal Health @ Health is Wealth