Well-being has become such a buzzword, with employers promoting employee wellness, social media advocating daily meditation and societal expectations urging us to lead healthier lives. But beneath the surface of this well-being trend lies a complex landscape, leaving many of us perplexed about where to start and what truly matters to us. In this post, we embark on a journey to unravel the layers of well-being, focusing on elements that help us establish boundaries, cultivate healthy habits and foster resilient mindsets applicable at any stage of life.
Let’s begin by briefly learning about the six elements that form the foundation of our well-being ecosystem. By addressing each of these, we can develop a holistic understanding of our overall state of being:
- Physical: Includes physical activity, sleep, nutrition, immune system and gut health.
- Emotional: Encompasses stress management, maintaining a positive outlook and nurturing self-esteem.
- Social: Involves building positive relationships and fostering a supportive network.
- Spiritual: Entails self-discovery, reflection and engagement in spiritual or religious practices.
- Environmental: Incorporates aspects like decluttering, exposure to natural light, fresh air and the cultivation of healthy habits.
- Occupational: Focuses on work-life boundaries, deriving enjoyment from work and making a meaningful impact.
Reflect on how well you’ve been tending to these pillars in your life. Have you neglected your physical well-being, ignoring the sensations within your body? Have your thoughts been in constant turmoil, preventing you from acknowledging and processing your emotions? Have you allowed external influences to sway your mindset and emotional state? Recognize that everything we encounter, from interactions with others to our daily experiences, affects these six elements of well-being. Managing them all can seem overwhelming, but the goal is to create stability among them. When one or two pillars waver, the others can provide support, helping us regain our equilibrium.
Here are some practical tips and resources to enhance your well-being gradually, nurturing the version of yourself you aspire to be each day:
- Sleep Hygiene: Explore small adjustments to your sleep routine to enjoy longer and better-quality sleep.
- Therapy: Consider therapy as a valuable resource for gaining perspective and support without judgment.
- ClassPass: Use this platform to diversify your exercise routine by trying various workout classes in your neighborhood.
- Adult Colouring: Engage in this soothing activity to slow down your mind, encourage reflection and create beautiful artwork.
Your journey towards well-being is unique and every day presents different challenges. Remember that it’s not about being your best every day but about offering the best you can for that specific day, drawing strength from the foundation of these six well-being elements. Finally, it may be overwhelming to consider all the elements of well-being, so start small and start with one. Layer in the others as your appetite grows.
Challenge: Share one of the above resources with someone in your network, encouraging their well-being journey.
Stay tuned for our final post in the Work-Life Harmony series, where we’ll tie all the dimensions together in the last pillar: Work.
Gori Bhullar, Law and Business ’13, is a seasoned Management Consultant with a specialization in understanding Human Behavior in the workplace. She has spearheaded transformative People & Culture initiatives for several organizations. Currently, Gori works in the Financial Services industry in Toronto, Canada, where she leads strategic People & Culture efforts for over 60,000 employees across North America. Her commitment to fostering talent is her hallmark, making her a standout figure in her field. Stay tuned for her insights in this series.
Read other posts from the Re-defining Success series:
