Wellness Wheel Tips and Strategies

Physical wellness: Taking care of your body through physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and mental well-being. For example:

• Engage in some form of physical activity every day for at least 30 minutes
• Eat a variety of healthy foods
• Get an adequate amount of sleep every night (7–9 hours)

Emotional wellness: Making time to relax, reduce stress, and take care of yourself. Paying attention to both positive and negative feelings and understanding how to handle these emotions. For example:

• Practice mindfulness
• Start a gratitude journal
• Pay attention to self-talk and shift toward positive self-talk
• Track emotions daily to look for patterns and possible triggers

Academic/career wellness: Expanding your knowledge and creating strategies to support continued learning. For example:

• Set up academic goals
• Create a study schedule and plan ahead
• Form a study group
• Connect with a mentor to further your understanding of career ideas
• Review your short- and long-term career goals regularly to make sure you are on track

Social wellness: Taking care of your relationships and society by building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships and fostering a genuine connection with those around you. For example:

• Make an effort to keep in touch with individuals who are supportive
• Practice active listening skills
• Join a club or an organization to meet new people
• Be mindful of commitments you make – know your limitations (don’t spread yourself too thin)

Creative wellness: Valuing and actively participating in arts and cultural experiences as a means to understand and appreciate the surrounding world. For example:

• Play an instrument or make music
• Engage in the visual arts
• Try creative writing
• Engage in creativity through movement (dance)

Spiritual wellness: Taking care of your values and beliefs and creating purpose in your life. For example:

• Volunteer
• Meditate
• Express gratitude
• Practice forgiveness and compassion for yourself and others

Environmental wellness: Taking care of what is around you. Living in harmony with the Earth by taking action to protect it and respecting nature and all species. For example:

• Spend time in nature
• When possible, travel by walking, riding your bike, or taking public transportation
• Recycle and compost
• Use reusable water bottles and shopping bags

Financial wellness: Learning how to successfully manage finances to be financially responsible and independent. For example:

• Create and maintain a budget
• Pay your bills on time
• Pack your lunch to limit how often you eat out
• Meal plan before grocery shopping

Intellectual wellness: Being open to exploring new concepts, gaining new skills, and seeking creative and stimulating activities. For example:

• Try a new activity at school or in the community
• Explore things that you are curious about
• Read and write for pleasure

Wellness Wheel Handout. Adapted from Okanagan College. Wellness peer ambassador handbook. Kelowna, B.C.: Okanagan College.