WELLNESS APPROACH
A Wellness Approach to Health
A Wellness Approach to Health
Making the right choices for an individual’s health and well-being can be challenging. Tuning in to and fostering our wellbeing is more important than ever, especially with the challenges we have all faced this year.
There is one model that can greatly help called ‘The Dimensions of Wellness wheel’. It provides a view of the areas to be aware of and practical ways to help you develop healthy habits.
A successful approach to wellness encompasses 8 dimensions which can be broken down into the following: occupational, physical, social, financial, emotional, environmental, spiritual, and intellectual wellness.
8 Dimensions of Wellness Breakdown
Wellbeing is made up of many parts and these ‘dimensions’ are interconnected, with one dimension building on another.
Each of the 8 dimensions of wellness aims to improve your overall mental health and wellbeing, offering a structured and ‘wellness approach’ to health.
Occupational Wellness
Occupational wellness means the achievement of a healthy work-life balance, managing workplace stress and building and maintaining relationships with your co-workers.
- Top Tip – Look at volunteer opportunities locally. Even just a few hours of volunteer work can improve your mood and provide a sense of fulfillment.
Physical Wellness
A state of physical wellness includes lifestyle behaviour choices to ensure health, avoid preventable diseases and live in a balanced state of body, mind and spirit.
- Top Tip – Diarise breaks and prioritise exercise. Spring and summer are a great time to start swimming, walking each day, doing some gardening or practising yoga outside.
Financial Wellness
As a registered third-party Plan Manager, Abilities Enabled’s friendly and experienced Plan Management Team can work closely with you to manage your funds. We have detailed knowledge and understanding of the NDIS processes and systems. As your Plan Manager, we are here to help take the stress out of handling the financial management of your plan.
You can choose to:
- Appoint a registered third-party Plan Manager
- Self-manage your plan, or
- Have the NDIA manage your budget
How Can We Help?
In consultation with you or your Support Coordinator, your dedicated Abilities Enabled Plan Manager will make sure:
- To keep track of your funds and that your NDIS budget is managed appropriately
- The invoiced rates from providers match the quote
- That you have received all of the services invoiced by the provider
- The provider invoice is paid on time
- Your receipts are uploaded to the NDIS portal on time so that you meet your financial reporting obligations
Emotional Wellness
Building resilience helps you to work through everyday life challenges and overcome setbacks. You can recover more effectively from illness or a change in circumstance.
- Top Tip – Start journaling. Aim for around 20 minutes a day if you can but it’s more about the process. It can help you discover more about yourself and relieve anxiety.
Environmental Wellness
Environmental wellness promotes interaction with nature and your personal environment. Being more aware of and improving our environment can improve our sleep and anxiety levels.
- Top Tip – If you’re working from home, make sure your workspace is not your bedroom and is clear and uncluttered. Add a plant or two if you can!
Spiritual Wellness
Spiritual awareness is the ability to integrate meaning and purpose in your life through connectedness with self, others, music, nature or a power greater than yourself.
- Top Tip – Listening to music can be such a simple mood booster! You can also try deep breathing, meditation and mindfulness to bring calmness into your day.
Intellectual Wellness
It is important to gain and maintain intellectual wellness because it expands your knowledge and skills in order to live a stimulating and successful life.
- Top Tip – Chat to your friends on a topic you feel strongly about and debate perspectives.
If you need to seek support for your mental health, we’re here to help. Contact your support worker or call us on 02 4761 0316.
Social Wellness
Social wellness means having good relationships, social stability and peace. Having emotional intelligence, morals, empathy, being adaptable and being altruistic are all important factors here.