Bridging The Gap Between Work and Well-Being
The terms "health" and "wellness" are terms that are often interchanged, but they are, in fact, different.
“Health” is often defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of infirmity”. This broadens the medical definition of health beyond the simple absence of disease. The primary determinants of health include the social, economic, and physical environments, as well as the person’s individual characteristics and behaviors. Accordingly, the maintenance and improvement of one’s health, depends not only on external or environmental factors, but also on the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual. In short, a person’s health depends on their wellness.
Whole Health Wellness takes a whole-person approach to enhancing the wellbeing of your workforce.
According to the National Wellness Institute, wellness is “an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence”, consistent with these three tenets:
- Wellness is considered a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving full potential.
- Wellness is multidimensional and holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and the environment.
- Wellness is positive and affirming.
In short, health is a state of being, whereas wellness is the state of living a healthy lifestyle. Health refers to physical, mental, and social well-being, while wellness aims to enhance well-being.
Investing in programs that encompass a holistic approach to well-being enables you to engage everyone, no matter where they are on their wellness journey.
