THE EIGHT DIMENSIONS OF WELL-BEING
McMaster Okanagan believes that all areas of our daily lives influence our health and well-being. People often think of well-being as simply physical or mental health but there is much more to sustaining ones well-being. Well-being is a holistic integration of physical, mental, social, and environmental health.
For that reason, the McMaster Okanagan Committee has adopted the use of The Eight Dimensions of Well-being for the classification of our health and well-being programs, services, and educational opportunities.
The eight dimensions include physical, emotional, spiritual, social, intellectual, financial, environmental and occupational.
These dimensions overlap with each other and while all of these dimensions do need your attention in order to flourish, you do not need to have an equal balance. It is important for each individual to discover what is best for themselves and their own personal health and well-being.
Below are more detailed descriptions of each of the dimensions.
EMOTIONAL
Emotional health and well-being refers to the emotional quality you experience. Maintaining positive emotional health and well-being means acknowledging how you are feeling, why you are feeling that way, and what you can do to respond to those feelings. It is important to be aware of all the positive and negative emotions you feel. By taking care of your emotions, you are inspiring relaxation, stress reduction and resilience.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Environmental health and well-being encourages us to protect and take care of our earth. Living a lifestyle that includes advocating, and improving our impact on the earth allows us to further live in harmony with our surroundings, benefiting our health.
FINANCIAL
Financial health and well-being accounts for feelings of satisfaction with current and future financial situations. This includes grants, scholarships or funds to assist a student, faculty, staff or community member meet certain expenses professionally, academically or personally.
INTELLECTUAL
Intellectual health and well-being means recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills. Active participation in meaningful community, cultural and educational activities encourages you to live a simulating lifestyle.
OCCUPATIONAL
Occupational health and well-being promotes personal satisfaction and enrichment derived from one’s work. Finding balance between a career that is meaningful to you, life, money and people will encourage feelings of wholeness in your life.
PHYSICAL
Physical health includes recognizing the need for physical activity, diet, sleep and nutrition. This is encouraged by promoting physical activity and decreasing sedentary behaviour amongst individuals.
SOCIAL
Social health and well-being includes developing a sense of connection, belonging and a well-developed support system. By balancing and understanding the importance of social interaction and relationships, it promotes peace and stability in our lives.
SPIRITUAL
Spiritual health and well-being includes expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life. It encourages spiritual reflection on values, identity, worldview, meaning-making, and personal development, and the effort to serve and live from these values on campus, within a diversity of cultures and faiths, and in society.