When people hear the word wellness, they usually think about their physical health. What we eat, how much we sleep, and how often we hit the JCC fitness center immediately enters our minds. These things are all important and have a direct impact on our health, but wellness is actually much broader than this.
Research from long-lived communities around the world, including the Blue Zones, reminds us that people who thrive over a lifetime, don’t just focus on their physical wellness. They nurture eight dimensions of well-being. These interrelated dimensions support and fuel one another and lead to longer health span — not just a longer lifespan.
As a long-time member and tenacious promoter for the JCC, this is what I love most about our community. The JCC has never been just a fitness club or a community center. Rather, the JCC is a whole-person wellness ecosystem from early childhood to older adulthood. It is uniquely designed to support all 8 dimensions of wellness; helping us to move, connect, learn and grow.
This Hanukkah, I want to offer a tiny window into each of these eight dimensions.
What are the 8 Dimensions of Wellness?
- Let’s start with the first and most familiar: physical wellness. Physical wellness is our ability to care for our bodies today and protect them for tomorrow. It includes nutrition, movement, sleep, and preventive care. These things may be unglamorous, but they’re foundational habits that help our bodies build, repair, and perform. They include things like stabilizing blood sugar, eating more plants, getting the flu shot, brushing our teeth, and keeping our muscles strong through physical activity. Consistency, not perfection, is what makes the difference when it comes to our physical wellness.
- Beyond physical health is mental wellness. This is our ability to stay mentally engaged, curious, and oriented toward growth. It means having focus, thinking clearly, being able to problem-solve, and make decisions. A strong mental “muscle” helps us rise to challenges, learn new skills, and stay open instead of stuck. Just like we can train our quads or core, we can train our minds to be more focused, resilient, and adaptable.
- Hand-in-hand with mental wellness is emotional wellness. This is our capacity to understand how we feel, regulate our emotions, recognize them in others, and respond rather than react. It’s the inner work that supports relationships, patience, empathy, and self-compassion.
- We then have spiritual wellness. Regardless of your religious practice or belief system, spiritual wellness is about purpose, meaning, and having something bigger than yourself as an anchor or guide. It helps us cultivate hope, grounding, and perspective.
- Next is social wellness which is our ability to build meaningful relationships, support others, and allow ourselves to be supported in return. It is about having a sense of belongingness in our community. Connection is one of the strongest predictors of long-term health and happiness. Loneliness, as recent research shows, is as damaging to the body as smoking. Community truly matters.
- Occupational wellness is another key dimension. Occupational wellness is more than just career success. It is how we find meaning, satisfaction, and growth in the work we do– whether its paid or unpaid. It includes our ability to do that work while maintaining the boundaries that protect our physical and mental health. Most importantly, oocupational wellness is not just about the work we do. It’s about how we conduct our work and the why behind it. How we express our strengths, contribute to others and find purpose in our responsibilities contributes greatly to our well-being. The JCC models occupational wellness beautifully. Workplace wellness shows in how the JCC staff live the seven Sheva guiding principles as the team works to cultivate a healthy and productive community for all.
- Environmental wellness refers to the impact our surroundings have on our well-being and how we view, appreciate and impact the environment around us. Our surroundings, both natural and build, create a significant external pull on our health. Clean air, safe spaces, walkable neighborhoods, green spaces, and sustainable habits all contribute to our well-being and our sense of stability and vitality. A thriving environment supports a thriving community and good health.
- And finally, there is financial wellness. This is our ability to manage money in a way that reduces stress, supports daily life, and aligns with our values and future goals. Maslow would remind us that if our foundation isn’t steady, it’s hard to focus on much else and that is why planning, budgeting, saving, and living within our means is important to our overall health. Financial wellness isn’t about being wealthy; it’s about stability, confidence, and making decisions aligned with our values.
As you reflect on these eight dimensions, notice which ones feel strong for you and which ones could use a little attention. Remember, wellness is never about “fixing yourself.” I’m not sharing the 8 Dimensions of Wellness as some fluffy self-help guide. Rather, it’s about noticing where you are feeling fulfilled, where you may need some extra focus, and taking small, sustainable actions. These small actions are what build up into overall wellness.
During Hanukkah, follow along with the JCC’s daily posts and videos as we explore each dimension and offer one small action you can take that day. These daily actions, when done consistently, are the building blocks of the habits that support long-term well-being throughout the year.
Carolyn Kontos
Carolyn Kontos, MS, ACC, Leadership and Wellness Coach, offers Wellness & Nutrition Coaching at the JCC through her Eat Well Programs. For more information, contact Carolyn at [email protected]
