Seven Dimensions of Wellness for a Parent

Physical Wellness

• Physical healthfulness is the first thing people think of when they think of wellness. Someone who is physically well maintains proper nutrition, exercise and sleep habits, and she avoids harmful habits and situations that can damage her health. Parents who are physically healthy are more likely to handle stress better and maintain a positive disposition. Parents must teach their children how to eat healthy, exercise and take good care of their bodies.

Emotional Wellness

• Emotional wellness is your ability to manage both positive and negative thoughts and feelings. Parents who are emotionally healthy maintain a positive attitude, express their feelings appropriately and cope with stress in healthy ways. Modeling emotional wellness teaches children how to maintain a positive attitude and enjoy life despite setbacks and disappointments.

Social Wellness

• Social wellness is the ability to connect to others. It̵7;s necessary for making friends and maintaining relationships with family, friends and colleagues. Building social wellness involves forming good communication skills and creating positive interactions with other people. Social wellness allows parents to properly socialize their children, as well as interact with other parents, teachers and caregivers. Modeling social wellness is crucial for children to learn how to interact with others in a healthy, productive way.

Spiritual Wellness

• Spiritual wellness involves balancing your beliefs and values to create your purpose in life. Parents who are spiritually well follow their own beliefs while respecting the values of others. Spiritual wellness may involve participation in organized religion, prayer, meditation or other spiritual practices. Modeling spiritual wellness can teach children to rely on their beliefs and values when making decisions while accepting other people̵7;s viewpoints.

Intellectual Wellness

• Intellectual wellness involves keeping your mind engaged in the world around you and applying your learned knowledge and experiences to your daily life and interactions with others. Parents who are intellectually well are constantly learning new things, acquiring new skills and improving their creative thinking. Children who are exposed to new experiences and who are encouraged to explore their world are open to new ideas and are able to create opportunities to challenge themselves and gain new skills.

Environmental Wellness

• To be environmentally well, you need clean water and air, healthy food and shelter, as well as a feeling of personal safety and safe working conditions. An environmentally healthy parent recognizes her individual responsibility to the Earth and takes the necessary actions and precautions to protect the environment. This can include protecting the environment from excessive waste, pollution, noise and chemicals. Children learn the positive impacts on the quality of the environment and are encouraged to actively help preserve it.

Occupational Wellness

• A parent who is occupationally well is able to balance work and personal time while finding satisfaction in his chosen career. Occupational wellness includes imparting your skills, knowledge and talents to positively impact your workplace and society as a whole. As a parent, this encourages your children to develop good work habits and pursue a career they find satisfying and sustaining.