The year 2019 marked a crucial period in human history. The Covid-19 outbreak was one of the worst pandemics that spanned continents, leading to a major health, financial and social crisis across the world. It brought out how fragile and vulnerable our health systems are, even in well-developed economies. Millions of people died, and even more people suffered serious health issues following an attack. The psychological effects of the pandemic are still being assessed. Conditions such as stress, anxiety, panic attacks and depression continue to linger. 

What the pandemic revealed is that human beings, in spite of all their advances in science and technology, can still be in peril at any time. Our health and social systems are simply not resilient enough to withstand such a major catastrophe. 

However, from the chaos and destruction, there were important lessons learned. We understood that it is important to protect our overall health without waiting for a calamity, that lifestyle changes have to be put in to combat comorbidities, and gain a better understanding of health and wellness concepts and practices. 

Health and Wellness: What They Mean

Let’s get started with a clear understanding of what these terms mean. We have a broad grasp of what health means - it is a state in which we exist, develop and sustain our bodies without threat of disease or injury. In short, many professionals in the field describe health as the absence of illness. When you combine this with the idea of actively choosing practices and lifestyle changes that promote health, we move into the realm of wellness. 

Wellness also implies that we aim to optimize our state of being in relation to our own value systems or culture, keeping our awareness of the world outside, our own goals and aspirations. To this end, we consciously undertake certain physical, mental, spiritual, social, occupational, intellectual and environmental practices and activities. Wellness embraces a holistic approach to health and the principles of Self Care. 

A Beginner’s Guide : Know More 

If we take up each one of what’s known as the Seven Pillars of Wellness, we can learn how to apply these concepts in our daily life. You can know more about wellness from a reliable and high quality website. 

Physical Wellness: A fall-out of the pandemic has been the increased prevalence of WFH (work from home). People have found it either a blessing or a bane. Young working adults with small children have found that there are very few boundaries between work and home. Cramped spaces, unhealthy schedules, poor dietary choices, lack of sleep, and little or no exercise have contributed to the onset of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and more. 

Self Care Tips: Declutter your living space, separate it from working space, create a strict schedule for eating, sleeping, personal hygiene and exercise. Stay hydrated, choose healthy food options and reduce screen-time.

Mental and Spiritual Wellness: The constant threat of illness and disability have made us emotionally and spiritually weaker. Many people have found themselves adrift in a sea of depression, anxiety, loss of confidence and trust in the future. If left unattended, this can lead to serious mental disorders or suicidal thoughts. 

Self Care Tips: Attend to symptoms of stress and depression immediately. Become more self-aware, sign up for yoga or meditation classes, listen to your favorite music, make enough Me Time for yourself no matter how hectic your day is. Stay connected with your body and emotions. Take up a hobby or interest that will release more feel-good Rest and Digest hormones. 

Social Wellness: Human beings are without doubt social animals. We may proclaim that we want our own space, enjoy our own company or other such declarations. The truth is that it’s not easy to isolate yourself socially and psychologically. We need conversation, connection, validation, strong and supportive relationships and acknowledgement, no matter what our age or gender. Without social wellness, we become lonely, depressed, aggressive or apathetic, or could develop serious neurotic or psychotic conditions. 

Self Care Tips: Consciously nurture your social connections. Make an effort to touch base regularly with friends and family. Plan meals and activities that you enjoy with your co-workers or loved ones. Practice kindness and gratitude. If you are a care-giver, recognize signs of burn-out and fix the problem swiftly. Stay vigilant about your kids’ social media interactions, bond with them over exercise and fun activities. 

Occupational Wellness: Developing a healthful attitude towards your work helps you to achieve personal satisfaction, and enrich our work lives. It gives us the opportunity to broaden our horizons, understand and go beyond our present capabilities, and build professional networks that will enhance our careers. Building work life balance and satisfaction are other benefits of occupational wellness. You can add financial wellness in this category. This helps you to save prudently, yet live the best life within your budget. 

Self Care Tips: Take time out to analyze your occupational goals and aspirations. Ensure that they are realistic, yet push the boundaries. Strive towards more open communication and trust building with your team, peers and management. Having sound financial status helps you to feel relaxed and peaceful. Make sure that you share financial information with people who need to know, in the interest of transparency.