Creating a Fulfilling and Balanced Life
Humans are complex creatures and in order for us to thrive there are many factors which regularly need to be in place so that we can be our best selves. It’s not enough to just have the great job, we also need to learn how to properly manage our money from that job. We need to learn how to balance our time at work with engaging social activities outside of work. We also need to put into place proper self-care routines for ourselves and structure our physical surroundings to complement our emotional and spiritual state. Creating a fulfilling and balanced life does not come through passivity, it is an active process that requires us to take control of our choices and behaviors to consistently drive our lives forward in the best way possible.
The “Eight Dimensions of Wellness” is simple tool that allows you to gain awareness over those areas of your life that need to be improved or changed. Each of the eight dimensions are interconnected thus, when any one area is neglected over a period of time your overall well-being, health and happiness will be adversely affected. Therefore, your goal within each domain is to strive towards creating a healthy balance by making make small, incremental improvements over time. Taking small steps rather than jumping in and taking a complete “life makeover” approach will allow you to build sustainable change for the long-term. Let’s take a look at each dimension and see how you can start to improve and better your life right now.
EMOTIONAL - The ability to understand your emotions, cope with life’s challenges and maintain a positive outlook in situations.
Share your feelings with a trusted friend
Ask for help when you need it
Establish boundaries in all aspects of your life
De-clutter your brain by being mindful of what information you take in whether via social media, news, magazines, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL - The ability to give attention to your physical surroundings both at home and in the world
De-clutter your home by throwing away or donating what you no longer need and then organizing what is left
Set up your personal spaces for calm and serenity by lighting a candle, creating a cozy reading nook, dimming the lights, or putting on relaxing music
PHYSICAL - The ability to take the proper steps to care for your body and maintain your health
Eat nutritious food
Stay active by including movement, such as light walking, in your routine each day
Get proper sleep and rest
Schedule routine visits with your doctors, dentist or any other medical specialist
INTELLECTUAL - The ability to open your mind to new learning, experiences and ideas
Read for enjoyment or for self-improvement
Challenge yourself by playing brain games
Start a gratitude journal
Find creative outlets (painting, knitting, woodworking, etc.) that stimulate your mind and fuel your curiosity
SOCIAL - The ability to relate to and connect with others
Join a group or organization of like minded individuals
Volunteer your time
Spend quality time with friends and family
Invest time into creating reliable support systems for yourself
SPIRITUAL - The ability to explore your values, morals, and purpose to expand your sense of meaning in the world
Spend time in nature
Practice mindfulness
Disconnect from distractions such as phones and TV
Practice deep breathing techniques
OCCUPATIONAL - The ability to create a balance between work and life
Look for ways to spark joy in your workday
Appreciate the contributions that you make to your workplace
Strive to weave your passions into your work
Focus on your strengths and use them to guide your career forward
Learn to contain your workday, leave work at work and be present when you’re at home
FINANCIAL - The ability to understand your relationship with money in order to develop sound financial habits
Create budgets to keep track of your money
Set up automatic savings and investments
Plan for your future
Create an emergency savings
Be mindful of spending habits to avoid debt
Take some time to think about where in your life there is imbalance. What do you need to improve upon or focus more of your time and energy into? Creating a balanced life is not a quick fix, it’s a slow and ongoing process but it’s absolutely worth the time and effort that you put into yourself. I challenge you to pick one small step today that will set you up for a better tomorrow.
