When we talk about caring for ourselves, we often focus on physical and emotional health alone. But true wellness encompasses the various facets of life beyond just physical and emotional wellbeing and recognizes that each person has unique needs when it comes to taking care of themselves. That’s where the Wellness Wheel can help.
The Wellness Wheel is a model for whole wellness containing seven areas: emotional, intellectual, physical, social, environmental, financial, and spiritual. All of these areas are interconnected and important to establishing whole wellness and ensuring each person understands and can meet their unique needs.
So what does this mean for self-care? The Wellness Wheel can help you explore more ways to care for yourself in each of these areas and overall. While for some, meditation might be extremely helpful, others might find reading a book or doing a creative activity to be more impactful in their wellness journey. In reality, you will probably find that a combination of a few of these areas works best for you, although one might resonate with you more than others!
If you’re looking to learn more about your own wellness and how to do holistic self-care to meet your needs, here are a few things you can try in each of these areas as you begin to explore the ways to take care of yourself.
EMOTIONAL
- Talk with a therapist
- Join a support group
- Try meditation or mindfulness techniques
- Write out your feelings in a journal
- Manage your stress level
INTELLECTUAL
- Learn a new skill
- Engage in a creative activity like art or music
- Create and work through a reading list of fun books
- Join a group or club that focuses on interests you have
- Thoughtfully engage in learning more about an issue through books, articles, and videos
PHYSICAL
- Move your body regularly, whether through intense exercise, stretching, walking, etc.
- Focus on nutrition and balanced eating
- Keep up with routine doctors’ and dental appointments
- Focus on your sleep health
- Join a pick-up sport or active group
SOCIAL
- Join a social group or club
- If you have mobility issues or social anxiety, try starting with an online group
- Arrange regular get togethers with friends
- Engage in social activities that can help you get out and around people like city events, religious gatherings, or cultural celebrations
- Volunteer with a local organization–you’ll meet other people and get to do something meaningful – jfcspgh.org/volunteer
- Looking for opportunities to volunteer? Check out AgeWell Pittsburgh’s Rides & Visits program to help local seniors combat isolation and maintain independence! ahaldeman@jfcspgh.org
- Help refugee and immigrant youth adjust to life in the US and learn necessary skills for school! jgivens@jfcspgh.org
- Help the JFCS pantry meet the needs of families in Squirrel Hill and throughout the city by stocking food, packing bags, and shopping with clients! ksweeney@jfcspgh.org
ENVIRONMENTAL
- Declutter and organize your home and/or workspace
- Rearrange or redecorate your bedroom or office
- Start a garden (this is a great physical activity too!)
- Join a committee or group to keep your neighborhood clean
- Volunteer with a local organization that invests in the community (see above for ideas with JFCS!)
FINANCIAL
- Make a budget (or reevaluate one you already have)
- Create financial goals for yourself to work towards
- Donate to a local charity or organization to help towards a cause you care about
- Take steps to learn about how to be a better consumer (ethical and environmental shopping)
- Meet with a financial counselor or expert to gain confidence and reduce stress in managing your finances (Pittsburgh Financial Empowerment Center offers these services for free!)
SPIRITUAL
- Attend a local religious congregation’s service
- If you’re already part of a congregation, you can find ways to engage with that community on a more personal level–volunteer for a committee, join a small group, go to events during the week
- Keep a spiritual or prayer journal
- Meet with your local religious leader to ask questions or find books and learn more
- Find books, articles, and videos that can help you learn more about your own faith
These are just some of the many ways we can work to care for our whole selves through challenging times. We encourage you to try multiple strategies and find what works best for you and helps you feel more grounded. And, of course, if you need help, please reach out to speak to a therapist today – counseling@jfcspgh.org or 412-422-7200