Physical wellness encompasses a variety of healthy behaviors including adequate exercise, proper nutrition and abstaining from harmful habits such as drug use and alcohol abuse. It means learning about and identifying symptoms of disease, getting regular medical checkups, and protecting yourself from injuries and harm. Developing such healthy habits today will not only add years to your life but will enhance the enjoyment and quality of those years.

Tips for optimal physical wellness:

• Exercise daily

• Get adequate rest

• Use seat belts, helmets, and other protective equipment

• Learn to recognize early signs of illness

• Eat a variety of healthy foods

• Control your meal portions

• Stop smoking and protect yourself against second-hand smoke

• Use alcohol in moderation, if at all

Emotional wellness is a dynamic state that fluctuates frequently with your other six dimensions of wellness. Being emotionally well is typically defined as possessing the ability to feel and express human emotions such as happiness, sadness and anger. It means having the ability to love and be loved and achieving a sense of fulfillment in life. Emotional wellness encompasses optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance and the ability to share feelings.

Tips for optimal emotional wellness:

• Tune-in to your thoughts and feelings

• Cultivate an optimistic attitude

• Seek and provide support

• Learn time management skills

• Practice stress management techniques

• Accept and forgive yourself

Interpersonal wellness refers to our ability to interact successfully in our global community and to live up to the expectations and demands of our personal roles. This means learning good communication skills, developing intimacy with others, and creating a support network of friends and family members.

Social wellness includes showing respect for others and yourself. Contributing to your community and to the world builds a sense of belonging.

Tips and suggestions for optimal social wellness include:

• Cultivate healthy relationships

• Get involved

• Contribute to your community

• Share your talents and skills

• Communicate your thoughts, feelings and ideas

Spiritual wellness involves possessing a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that help give direction to one's life. It encompasses a high level of faith, hope and commitment to your individual beliefs that provide a sense of meaning and purpose. It is willingness to seek meaning and purpose in human existence, to question everything and to appreciate the things which cannot be readily explained or understood.

A spiritually well person seeks harmony between what lies within as well as the forces outside.

Tips and suggestions for optimal spiritual wellness:

• Explore your spiritual core

• Spend time alone/meditate regularly

• Be inquisitive and curious

• Be fully present in everything you do

• Listen with your heart and live by your principles

• Allow yourself and those around you the freedom to be who they are

• See opportunities for growth in the challenges life brings you