Every part of your life—from food to fitness to finances—can benefit from effective self-care, but the secret to a balanced life is taking care of all aspects of your well-being. Keep reading to learn how to customize a self-care routine complete with the seven kinds of well-being.
What Are the Seven Kinds of Well-Being? (+ Tips for Adding Them to Your Self-Care Routine)
Researchers have discovered seven different areas of well-being that are vital for self-care and balanced living: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental and financial. These seven kinds of well-being fit together like spokes, creating what psychologists call “The Wheel of Wellness.” If one of these areas is out-of-balance, your personal Wheel of Wellness will wobble! Here are easy, effective tips for incorporating the seven kinds of well-being into your self-care routine so you can live your best life.
1. Physical Well-Being
Consider your sleep schedule, eating habits, exercise regimen and overall feelings of physical well-being. Are your eating and exercise routines well-organized? To optimize your self-care program, start smart with taking care of your body and overall physical health.
How To Add Physical Well-Being To Your Self-Care Routine
Try adding more movement to your daily life. Self-care coach Carly suggests taking the stairs instead of the elevator, taking a 15-minute walk every day and parking a few blocks away from your destination so you can add some extra steps!
Take it up a notch and start a habit tracker in your planner to monitor your eating habits. Set a few fitness and nutrition goals and start actually achieving them with a PetitePlanner Wellness Log!
2. Emotional Well-Being
Are you in control of your emotions, or are your emotions in control of you? If you’re like most, it’s a daily struggle. The good news is effective self-care techniques can help regulate and improve your emotional well-being.
How to Add Emotional Well-Being to Your Self-Care Routine
We all need to share our feelings, both good and bad. Life coach Kirri White urges us to find a “vulnerability buddy,” or a friend or family member who you can turn to whenever you feel strong emotions. Â
Writing down emotions is also proven to help people cope with strong feelings. Try starting a work journal or carry a Petite Journal to jot your thoughts and record your emotions throughout the day. If you need some inspiration, try a Self Care Journal or Gratitude Journal with quotes, reflections and guided prompts to help you.
3. Intellectual Well-Being
Are you learning new things every day and searching for intellectual challenges? A happy life also depends on keeping your mind stimulated and active. This kind of self-care will nurture your sense of curiosity.
How To Add Intellectual Well-Being to Your Self-Care Routine
Self-care writer Wendy Sprous recommends we “exercise our brains” the same way we set fitness goals for our bodies. This includes a wide variety of mental activities like reading a book, solving a crossword, or listening to intellectually-stimulating podcasts.
Try setting some long-term goals to keep your mind active & engaged. You could take a class, take up a new hobby, or learn a language—all these activities will help support your intellectual well-being.
4. Social Well-Being
Do you feel connected to your family & community? These bonds are key to living a healthy life.
This kind of self-care will ensure that you reach out to the people around you and engage with your community in a meaningful way.
How To Add Social Well-Being to Your Self-Care Routine
“We are social beings, so it’s important that we focus on developing and deepening relationships with others,” the self-care blogger Summer reminds her readers. She suggests that you schedule regular coffee dates with close friends and reconnect with high school friends as ways to take care of your social self.
Take social self-care to the next level by tracking all your coffee dates & social engagements in your planner or using a Habit Tracker Notepad to track your social well-being.
5. Spiritual Well-Being
How do you find a sense of peace and purpose in your life? Does your current lifestyle positively reinforce the values you cherish? Healthy spiritual well-being helps you create a balanced and intentional life that you find meaningful and fulfilling.
This kind of self-care will make you feel more calm and confident that you are more than your circumstances.
How To Add Spiritual Well-Being to Your Self-Care Routine
Try adding a simple act of spiritual practice to your life like writing in a daily gratitude journal, taking a few moments each morning to quietly reflect on your intentions for the day, or learn a few simple meditation techniques that you can seamlessly add to your self-care routine every day or once a week, whatever you can commit to and enjoy on a regular basis.
These simple actions can have a profound effect on your life, according to the counselors at Wright University. “A few moments of spiritual connection each day can help improve physical health, decrease stress, and improve overall well-being.”
6. Environmental Well-Being
Do you maintain an organized lifestyle in your home and workspace?  Research has found that caring for others and your environment can produce a “significant” boost in happiness.
By living a more eco-friendly lifestyle and decluttering your home, you can keep your environmental well-being balanced.
How To Add Environmental Well-Being to Your Self-Care Routine
Spend a little time organizing your favorite spaces at home and at work. These external environments are part of your life and deserve the same level of care you give to your inner life. Try a Wall Organization Center to create a fun and functional organization hub for your home, office, classroom or dorm room.
Once you have a tidy space, make it cozy with plants, beloved photographs, favorite prints, or candles! “Every time I light a candle, I’m reminded that I shouldn’t underestimate the power they have to make any environment so cozy,” writes productivity expert Beatrice.
Read Easy Ways to Declutter and destress Every Day for more environmental organization inspiration!
7. Financial Well-Being
How organized are your finances and spending habits? Healthy financial well-being can ease a lot of worry and anxiety and help you maintain balance in other areas of your life.
How To Add Financial Well-Being to Your Self-Care Routine
Start with a budgeting tool like a Budget Book. Use it to log your income, expenses and spending; then, set realistic financial goals backed by action steps so you can enjoy building your financial well-being.
Financial educator Jennifer Navarro-Marroquin tells her clients to focus on an organized financial lifestyle. “It means putting more thought behind every purchase and looking at the big picture instead of making moment-to-moment decisions when it comes to your money.”
Kickstart your financial well-being by reading Budget Planning 101, including six quick budgeting tips for saving money now.
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