The Eight Dimensions of Wellness

The Eight Dimensions of Wellness, as defined by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), are categorized by the following: Emotional, Physical, Spiritual, Social, Intellectual, Occupational, Environmental, and Financial. Maintaining wellness and balance in each dimension of wellness is a vital component to overall student health. SAMHSA provides a Step-By-Step Guide to Wellness that explores different ways to develop your dimensions of wellness.

RMU provides campus and external resources for each of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. We encourage students to frequently utilize this page as an additional resource to locate wellness related resources, support, tips on how to improve dimensions of wellness, news articles, and contact information.

Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness involves your ability to cope with life stress, express emotions, and feel positive about your life. It includes being aware and accepting your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by managing them in a healthy way. Emotional wellness also includes awareness of your strengths while recognizing individual areas for improvement. Being emotionally well allows you to express your feelings without restraint and increase your capability of forming healthy connections with others.

Stay positive
Practice gratitude and self-compassion
Avoid overthinking or ruminating on mistakes or negative thoughts
Incorporate self-care into your busy schedule
Practice being mindful to increase your awareness and positive affects
Reframe and befriend stress
Seek or accept support from others around you

Campus Resources:

Student counseling is offered at no additional cost through BetterHelp teletherapy services. For more information, contact studentaffairs@rm.edu.
Students have access to an on-campus fitness center, for information contact operations@rm.edu.
Listen to the podcast A Primer in Emotional Intelligence by The RMUpload!
Listen to the podcast Emotional Intelligence: How Emotional Expression Can Make or Break Relationships by The RMUpload!
Listen to the podcast Mindfulness at Work, School, and Home by The RMUpload!

Mobile Apps:

Daylio Journal

Physical Wellness

Physical wellness consists of healthy habits towards nutrition, sleep, exercise, appropriate health care, stress reduction, and overall physical health. Physical wellness also includes developing body awareness and personal stewardship towards attending to your own health. This also includes self-awareness regarding the ability to learn to listen to your body while creating physical activity routines that are balanced with daily needs and responsibilities. Maintaining an optimal level of physical health allows you to nurture the other dimensions of wellness.

Here are some ways for you to practice physical wellness:

Engage in physical activity every day for 30 minutes (i.e. walk or ride your bike to class, take the longer route, exercise)
Recognize the signs when your body begins feeling ill or tense and take actions to take care of your body
Annual physicals with your primary care physician
Eat a variety of healthy food
Have adequate sleep between 7-9 hours each night
Learn and practice safe sex

Campus Resources:

FREE student access to an on-campus fitness center. For more information, please email operations@rm.edu.
Listen to the podcast Living a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle by The RMUpload!
Listen to the podcast Fitness & Wellness Recovery by The RMUpload!
Listen to the podcast Modeling a Healthy Lifestyle by The RMUpload!
RMU Student food pantry

Additional Resources:

Mobile Apps:

Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual wellness consists of personal beliefs and values that provide a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Spiritual wellness includes recognizing your needs for discovering meaning and purpose in human existence while also developing an appreciation for life and connection with something larger than yourself in the universe. It is important to know that spiritual wellness does not require you to participate in religious practice, although religion can be one route to increase your spiritual wellness.

Here are some recommendations for you to practice in order to maintain your spiritual wellness:

Practice meditation
Join a faith-based community
Spend time in nature
Increase self-reflection and explore your inner self

Campus Resources:

The Office of Institutional Equity

Additional Resources:

Mobile Apps:

Soulvana

Intellectual Wellness

Intellectual wellness encourages interacting in creative and stimulating activities to expand your knowledge and skills as well as understanding diverse points of view. Intellectual wellness includes discovering your own potential for sharing your talents and perspective with others and taking differing perspectives into consideration. Maintaining an optimal level of intellectual wellness does not only give you the ability to develop your creativity and growth mindset but also strengthens your concentration, memory, and critical thinking skills. Here are some suggestions for you to practice in order to increase your intellectual wellness:

Be curious and open-minded
Listen to and consider the perspectives of others to improve critical thinking skills
Participate in activities that cultivate mental growth
Attend conferences, talks, and programs that increase your knowledge
Try a new hobby or learn a new language or musical instrument
Teach or mentor others
Travel more to increase your knowledge and appreciation for another culture

Campus Resources:

The Office of Research
The Writing Center
Learning Resource Center
Listen to the podcast An Introduction to Assistive Technology by The RMUpload!
Listen to the podcast Dismantling Systemic Racism, Health Disparities, and Social Injustice in Healthcare by The RMUpload!

Additional Resources:

Mobile Apps:

Coursera

Financial Wellness

Financial wellness consists of finding an equilibrium among the psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects of your relationship with finance. It includes understanding financial processes related to savings, income, and debt while utilizing resources to achieve long-term goals towards future financial objectives. Financial wellness also includes learning to live within your means, making informed financial decisions and investments, and setting short and long-term goals. Learning and developing financially smart habits during graduate school can reduce stress and prepare you to achieve your future goals.

Here are some strategies for you to practice in order to strengthen your financial wellness:

Track your expenses, create a financial budget and stick with the plan
Use coupons and take advantage of student discounts. Here are some resources to help:
Make weekly meal plans ahead of time to maintain your budget goals
Utilize the library for free books and DVDs
Adopt the minimalistic mindset in your lifestyle
Reorganizing your belongings and utilizing what you have currently
Attend financial management workshops or seminars

Campus Resources:

Additional Resources:

Mobile Apps:

Environmental Wellness

Environmental wellness promotes physical and emotional safety in all of your surroundings. Environmental wellness includes respect and preservation of nature. This includes the environment in which you live, work, and learn ensuring these areas are pleasant and support your well-being. The dimension of environmental wellness also includes self-awareness towards the impact of personal interactions with the environment and taking action to protect yourself from environmental pollutants while promoting a healthy environment that supports your overall well-being. Environmental wellness does not require your participation in a movement or organization, but it encourages you to adopt practices that promote a safe and healthy environment.

Recycle
Conserve energy
Participate in an environmental organization
Carpool or use public transportation
Plant a personal or community garden
Purchase products with minimal packaging
Organize neighborhood watches

Additional Resources:

Mobile Apps:

iRecycle

Occupational Wellness

Occupational wellness consists of exploring and determining activities that align with your individual purpose and meaning that mirrors personal goals, belief systems, lifestyle, and values. Occupational wellness includes being self-aware of balancing work requirements with personal time, building relationships with colleagues, exploring various career options, and engaging in ongoing training opportunities. Maintaining an optimal level of occupational wellness allows you to develop unique skills and talents that are both personally and professionally rewarding.

Please see suggestions below for ways to increase your occupational wellness:

Balance work and leisure time
Manage workplace stress
Explore volunteer opportunities that interest you
Practice communication and conflict management with colleagues
Continue learning and attend conferences and training in your chosen profession
Mental Health at Work: How to Care for Yourself in These Stressful Jobs

Campus Resources:

Student & Alumni Job Board
Alumni Association
Listen to the podcast Small Changes, Huge Impact: Converting Your Current Healthcare Job by The RMUpload!
Listen to the podcast Burnout in Healthcare: Do we need to change jobs or change careers? by The RMUpload!

Additional Resources:

Mobile Apps: