What is wellness?

Click a wellness center on the left to get started! Learn about wellness for each stage of life with 1000s of articles written by health and wellness experts.

The Six Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness includes physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, and even occupational dimensions. When these dimensions are working in harmony, they contribute to a sense of well-being and satisfaction.

So how do you take care of your whole self? The National Wellness Institute embraces the Six Dimensional Model of Wellness developed by Dr. Bill Hettler.

The information below, based on Hettler's model, can provide you with guidance. For even more details, read Health Is the Whole... Body, Mind, and Soul.

• Physical Wellness | Achieving personal fitness and health goals through nutrition, physical activity, safety, and self-care.

• Emotional Wellness | Maintaining good mental health, a positive attitude, and high self-esteem; responding with resiliency to emotional states and everyday life.

• Social Wellness | Relating well to others, both within and outside the family unit; supporting a healthy community and initiating better communication with others.

• Spiritual Wellness | Getting in touch with your deeper self and the spiritual dimension of your life, developing faith in something larger than yourself, finding meaning and purpose.

• Intellectual Wellness | Having curiosity and a strong desire to learn; solving problems; thinking independently, creatively and critically.

• Occupational/Vocational Wellness | Engaging in or preparing for work in which you will find personal satisfaction and enrichment.