What is wellbeing?

It is highly likely that you have come across the word wellbeing, but what is wellbeing and what does it really mean? 

The Oxford Dictionary Definition

well-being, n.

1. With reference to a person or community: the state of being healthy, happy, or prosperous; physical, psychological, or moral welfare.

Well-being vs Wellbeing

The terms well-being and wellbeing are often used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Generally, in English writing, when discussing psychological or physical health, “wellbeing” is used while referring to economic welfare “well-being” is used.

Therefore, both words essentially refer to a person’s overall state of health and happiness, physical, mental and spiritual. This can encompass many different areas such as relationships, financial security, nutrition, exercise, education and career prospects. It is a holistic approach to understanding a person’s overall sense of happiness.

Why is wellbeing important?

Wellbeing is important because it impacts our overall quality of life. It affects how we think, feel and behave, as well as our physical health.

Types of wellbeing

• Emotional Wellbeing – The state of emotional health related to managing life stressors and having the ability to maintain healthy lifestyle habits.
• Social Wellbeing – Refers to an individual’s ability to form meaningful relationships with others and engage in activities that bring joy and purpose
• Physical Wellbeing – Is about making sure we are taking care of our physical bodies, making sure we are eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and getting enough rest.
• Environmental Wellbeing – Is the ability to interact with the environment in a positive way that brings satisfaction and enjoyment.
• Financial Wellbeing – Is the ability to manage your finances responsibly and feel secure about your financial future.
• Spiritual Wellbeing – Refers to the emotional and psychological state of a person, as well as their connection to something greater than themselves
• Workplace Wellbeing – Refers to the overall health, safety and wellbeing of individuals in the workplace. A happy workforce benefits both the employee and the employer and there are lots of ways to improve the wellbeing of employees.

The importance of social connections

Recent research has shown the importance of social connections in promoting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. Maintaining quality relationships with family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances can improve our overall well-being by providing us with support, companionship, joy and an increased sense of belonging.

Increased social connection has also been linked with improved mood, better stress management, boosted immunity and improved overall health.

It is important to take the time to nurture our relationships and prioritise social connections in order to maintain a healthy sense of wellbeing. Taking part in meaningful activities, such as volunteering, engaging in hobbies or even simply spending quality time with family and friends.

Life can get busy, so it may be easier to reach out on social media and apps such as WhatsApp. It is important however, to remember that there are studies on the amount of screen time and our mental health, so a digital detox can be useful from time to time.

Why is wellbeing important?

Wellbeing is important because it impacts our overall quality of life. It affects how we think, feel and behave, as well as our physical health. Mental wellbeing can also be improved by having positive relationships with family and friends, setting realistic goals for ourselves, being active in the community and engaging.

How is Wellbeing actually measured?

Although some specific outcomes can be measured, often wellbeing is subjective and require self reporting methods. Examples of objective outcomes may be measuring life expectancy, physical health and economic security.

Subjective methods of measuring wellbeing may include surveys such as a ‘Happiness Index’, interviews or focus groups where people are asked to self-report on their levels of happiness, confidence and satisfaction with their lives.

The World Happiness report is a useful source of information that looks at the global impact of wellbeing. The report measures factors such as inequality, life expectancy, GDP per capita and social support to create a ranking of countries by their happiness levels.

Physical wellbeing can be measured in objective terms such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and cholesterol levels, but it is also important to measure subjective wellbeing – how a person feels about their life. There are also some conditions like Fibromyalgia which are not only difficult to diagnose, but there is no test to show improvement and the outcomes are therefore difficult to report.

The Wellbeing Framework

Created by the UK government outlines five key pillars of wellbeing: emotional, social, financial, physical and environmental. All of these aspects are interconnected and when one is out of balance it can impact another. The Wellbeing Framework is a toolkit to be used by health and wellbeing staff, human resources (HR) and organisational development (OD) staff, HR and OD directors, wellbeing guardians, managers and leaders and anyone with an interest in health and wellbeing.

How can we improve our wellbeing?

It doesn’t have to be complicated to make a difference. There are many simple 5 minute activities to improve our wellbeing including standing in the garden and taking in the fresh air, reading a few pages of your favourite book or cuddling your pet. 

Here are some other examples;

• Eating healthy and nourishing food
• Exercising regularly
• Spending time outdoors in nature
• Practicing mindfulness such as yoga, meditation or breathing exercises
• Engaging in meaningful activities such as volunteering and spending quality time with people you care about.

Terms often associated with wellbeing

• Mindfulness – The practice of being present in the moment and non-judgementally aware of your thoughts, feelings and emotions
• Self care – Involves activities that nurture our physical, mental and emotional health. Examples include getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet and engaging in enjoyable activities
• Resilience – Refers to our ability to cope with life. It includes skills such as problem-solving, flexibility and maintaining a positive outlook.
• Mental health – This term is used to describe how a person feels and behaves in response to life’s challenges. It includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing.

When it comes to wellbeing, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It’s important to remember that wellbeing is an ongoing journey and should be reviewed regularly in order to continue making progress. There are many small steps we can take each day to improve our overall wellbeing – whether its spending time outdoors, connecting with loved ones.