Fulfillment may look different to each person, but the path to reaching it is the same — the pursuit of wellness. There are eight pillars, or dimensions, of wellness that encompass total well-being. The more each pillar is developed, the more fulfillment you experience as you grow into the best version of yourself.

This article discusses the eight dimensions of holistic wellness: physical, nutrition, social, emotional, financial, spiritual, intellectual, and environmental, as well as suggestions for how each can be developed further.

8 Dimensions of Wellness

In this post:

1. Physical

2. Nutrition

3. Social

4. Emotional

5. Financial

6. Spiritual

7. Intellectual

8. Environmental

9. Strive Wellness Programs

Physical Wellness

The physical pillar of wellness concentrates on maintaining the health of your body and reducing the risk of illness or disease. Regular body movements like stretching and exercise keep us strong and release mood-boosting endorphins, while a nutritious diet supports healthy internal and external functions. Physical health also allows us to connect with others as we participate in activities like sports or hikes together.

Equally essential is hygiene and prioritizing quality sleep. Everyday activities as simple as brushing your teeth are staples in overall physical health. Forming healthy sleep habits like avoiding screen time before bed can significantly improve your physical wellness.

Organizations can help employees work towards physical wellness goals by offering fitness classes, opening/providing discounts for fitness centers, initiating wellness challenges such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or a competition for who can get a full 7-8 hours of sleep per night in a week.

Nutritional Wellness

Nutrition fuels body and mind. A balanced and nourishing diet varies from person to person, but it’s generally made up of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Eating a nutritional diet:

Physical Benefits

• Supports healthy weight management
• Strengthens the immune system
• Improves energy levels and stamina
• Promotes healthy digestion
• Manages and reduces risk of chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, etc.)
• Supports strong bones, muscles, and organs

Mental & Emotional Benefits

• Enhances focus and cognitive function
• Supports mood regulation and mental well-being
• Reduces stress and fatigue

Long-Term Wellness Benefits

• Improves sleep quality
• Slows aging at a cellular level
• Encourages healthy lifestyle habits
• Strengthens overall resilience to illness

You can develop the nutrition pillar by refraining from foods high in trans fats, saturated fats, added sugar, and cholesterol, and by being mindful about a balanced diet and portion sizes. In the workplace, organizations can be intentional about cafeteria/vending machine items, offer healthy cooking demos, and provide health talks covering topics such as “Same Dish, Healthier Swap” or “Simplifying Meal Prep.”

Check out 5 Brain-Boosting Foods to eat on repeat.

Social Wellness

Social wellness refers to a sense of belonging and security in the world, fostered through connections you make with others. Because we’re social beings by nature, it’s essential to have authentic friendships and relationships to learn how to communicate and resolve conflict in a healthy way. Especially in times of intense stress or hardship, it’s vital to have a support system to nurse you back to feeling socially well.

In a workplace setting, it’s important for leadership (upper and middle management) to create authentic relationships with employees. With leadership’s vocal support, social wellness can be encouraged through employee recognition programs, company retreats, or organized activities outside of work that encourage employees to form connections.

Emotional Wellness

The emotional wellness pillar is your ability to feel in control and capable of working through your emotions. This means developing emotional intelligence, or being able to understand, navigate, and communicate your emotions — especially in times of stress or pressure. The emotional aspect of holistic wellness is critical as it impacts your ability to feel generally positive about life, have habitually healthy thoughts, and avoid a bad conscience.

Employee assistance programs, stress management programs, or personal development classes are examples of how employers can help employees develop emotional wellness.

Financial Wellness

Almost everyone faces financial stress at one point or another. Finances can either be a solid anchor or a detriment to your physical and emotional wellness. Financial wellness is the pillar that encourages you to plan for the future and not spend more than you have. Most of us have to learn financial competencies like saving money or setting and sticking to budgets.

Employees can develop financial wellness by choosing organizations that offer competitive benefits and/or have employee savings programs or financial wellness training.

Spiritual Wellness

While the pillar of spiritual wellness is unique to each person, it refers to forming a connection with your higher power and/or purpose, often through a belief system, prayer, meditation, or other activities that align with your personal values. Spiritual wellness helps you face life’s most difficult moments with resiliency and inner peace.

Organizations can offer mindfulness programs including meditation or yoga to help employees develop spiritual wellness.

Intellectual Wellness

The intellectual pillar is developed when you embrace experiences that stimulate your mind. Learning new skills, acquiring new interests, or collaborating and sharing ideas with others are all opportunities to engage your mind and practice intellectual wellness. Characterized by finding enrichment, personally and professionally, intellectually healthy people are always seeking opportunities for growth.

Retention rates are 34% higher in organizations that provide employee development opportunities. Attending lunch-and-learn sessions, utilizing a workspace that encourages collaboration, or participating in mentorship programs are all ways employees can pursue the intellectual dimension of wellness.

Environmental Wellness

The pillar of environmental wellness characterizes the relationship between you and your surroundings, whether that be home, work, or the community. Maintaining a clean space, having nutritious food on hand, and paying attention to lighting and air quality all create a space that supports wellness.

In an office setting, organizations can utilize wellness design and ergonomic furniture, practice recycling, or organize a volunteer clean-up day to develop employees’ environmental wellness. They can also create an environment conducive to wellness by:

• Installing water features (water sculptures, walls, or fish tanks)
• Using soft lighting
• Having air purification systems
• Offering nutritious food/drink options

Other integral aspects of environmental wellness in the workplace include leadership support, policies and procedures that promote safety (evacuation/preparedness plans, safety protocols) and wellness spaces for employees to unwind and refocus.

Strive Wellness Programs

Strive helps design and implement comprehensive wellness programs with offerings that address all eight dimensions of wellness. Our turnkey wellness services alleviate administrative burdens so the organization’s wellness team or facilitator can focus on big-picture strategy and initiatives. With fully-burdened pricing including programming, an account manager, and a technology platform — Strive takes care of the heavy-lifting and makes wellness easy.

Book a discovery call with one of our wellness experts to explore the possibilities for your organization.