During the madness of midterms and summer planning, finding balance between academics and personal life is key to supporting overall wellness.
University Recreation + Wellness at the University of Arkansas lists eight areas of wellness that address various aspects of a person’s life and what wellness looks like on and off campus.
These dimensions of wellness include physical, social, environmental, occupational, spiritual, financial, emotional and intellectual.
Wellness is a personalized, multi-dimensional process that individuals partake in for sustaining a positive and balanced lifestyle.
Physical
The physical dimension focuses on physical health, mobility and functionality.
Dietary habits, an exercise routine, a healthy sleep schedule and regular health check-ups are forms of maintaining physical wellness.
The Health, Physical Education, and Recreation building, also called the HPER, and the fitness center inside the Arkansas Union are resources available to students to sustain an exercise routine. UREC + Wellness offers specialized classes in a diverse selection of exercise activities, including group fitness classes, intramural groups and personal training sessions.
Outdoor activities promote physical health and offer a break from studying. The Razorback Regional Greenway connects different cities in Northwest Arkansas with 40 miles of biking, cycling and walking trails.
Social
Interacting with friends, family and the community strengthens social networking and interpersonal relationships, essentials for success in college.
At the U of A, students can connect with a wide range of student organizations, Greek Life and volunteer opportunities to interact with their campus and fellow peers.
Planning social outings with loved ones or making personal time in one’s schedule are other ways of promoting social wellness.
Environmental
Environmental wellness is concerned with nurturing the world around us.
The university’s Office of Sustainability and Office of Environmental Health & Safety offer information and resources on how to care for and maintain the environment.
Environmental wellness also relates to one’s surroundings. The cleanliness and appearance of spaces where most time is spent, such as a bedroom, can influence overall well-being.
Stepping outdoors or going on a quick walk to spend time in nature are other ways of maintaining environmental wellness.
Occupational
Occupational wellness focuses on the professional and career aspects of life.
The Offices of Career Connections provides information on job opportunities on- and off-campus, upcoming career fairs and resources for career development.
Additionally, the Career Studio is a helpful resource for revising cover letters and resumes and for practicing interview skills.
Spiritual
Spiritual wellness explores personal values and beliefs by examining the way people treat and take care of themselves.
It focuses on the internal, whether through religious practices, planning long- and short-term goals, meditation, journaling or acts of service.
Financial
Money management plays a role in a person’s wellness. Feeling financially insecure can lead to stress, impacting the other dimensions of wellness.
A tip for financial wellness is creating a personal budget to organize money allocation toward financial goals such as savings, debt and bills.
Applying for university scholarships or funding from external organizations can help alleviate financial stress.
Emotional
Emotional wellness addresses how challenges and emotions are managed, including the ability to recognize and identify one’s own feelings.
Talking with support systems, such as friends or family, can help maintain emotional wellness. Resources are also available from Counseling and Psychological Services.
Intellectual
The last dimension of wellness is intellectual, which involves how academics and time management are approached.
Organizational tactics, study tips and problem-solving help enhance how intellectual wellness is nurtured.
Rely on resources, such as Mullins Library and tutoring in the Career Studio, to maintain a balance between academics, work and personal life.
Identifying which tactics work best for individual goals and learning styles can support intellectual wellness.
Each of these wellness dimensions is interconnected, they contribute to overall wellness. When one dimension is neglected, other dimensions can be affected as a result.
Finding ways that support individual wellness needs can help students achieve success throughout their academic and professional career.