Good health and well-being is a lifelong process of becoming aware of and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life. Well-being cannot be accomplished alone or in isolation. It needs to be integrated into the culture of the campus.

—World Health Organization

Dimensions of Wellness

At UNCG, we use the Eight Dimensions of Wellness as a framework for our students in their lifelong process of becoming aware of and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life, in college and beyond.

Click the options below to explore each dimension of wellness.

Social Wellness

Social Wellness

Social Wellness is the ability to successfully interact with people in our world, as well as participating in and feeling connected to the UNCG community.

Ideas for Your Social Wellness

Work to foster and maintain close friendships
Work to make racial equity / social justice and community a reality
Join a club or organization
Engage in campus activities to expand your network and sense of belonging
Take time to unplug from social media and technology
Participate in group discussions and practicing active listening
Volunteer and connect with your community
Work towards becoming a responsible world citizen
Develop a global consciousness by recognizing the interrelatedness of cultural, global, and national issues

Social Wellness Resources

Physical Wellness

Physical Wellness

Physical wellness is the functional and operational soundness of the body and includes nutrition, exercise, and sleep.

Ideas for Your Physical Wellness

Move your body everyday in ways that bring you joy
Nourish your body regularly with nutrient-dense foods
Maintain a regular sleep schedule and get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night
Practice safer sex use condoms and dental dams
Get yourself tested for STIs, including HIV, at least annually, if you are sexually active
Develop and engage in leisure activities
Abstain from or use alcohol in moderation (link to SRP and RecWell
Learn to recognize signs and signals when your body begins to feel ill or out of sorts
Seek medical attention when needed for preventative care, as well as illness and injury
Wash your hands often and practice good hygiene

Physical Wellness Resources

Emotional Wellness

Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness is an increased self-awareness, expression and acceptance of a wide range of thoughts and feelings for ourselves and others.

Ideas for Your Emotional Wellness

Become more aware of your feelings and accept them as valid indicators of what you are experiencing
Develop the ability to experience and express a wide range of emotions including joy, humor, fear, anger, appreciation, sadness, and frustration
Develop skills to handle stress, irritations and crises
Set realistic expectations
Practice mindfulness
Seek and accept help and support from others
Take care of your body—your mental and physical well-being are interconnected

Emotional Wellness Resources

Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual wellness is a commitment to a set of values and principles that guide our actions.

Ideas for Your Spiritual Wellness

Develop congruence and integration between your values/ethics and actions
Become aware of differences in others’ values
Meditate
Search for meaning in your own life
Seek spiritual centered beliefs through religion, arts, culture, and nature
Become aware of the role of faith (complete trust or confidence in someone—including yourself!) or something) as an essential component of life

Spiritual Wellness Resources

Environmental Wellness

Environmental Wellness

Environmental wellness inspires us to live a lifestyle that is respectful of our surroundings. It encourages us to live in harmony with the Earth by taking action to protect it. Environmental wellbeing promotes interaction with nature and your personal environment.

Ideas for Your Environmental Wellness

Lead a lifestyle that is respectful, sustainable, and in harmony with your environment
Become aware of how your external environment affects you
Engage in the future of our local, national, and world ecology and climate
Understand the impact of your actions on the environment
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Leave No Trace
Maintain personal spaces in a way that supports flourishing
Increase your exposure to natural light during the day
Spend time outdoors
Seek opportunities to walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation

Environmental Wellness Resources

Outdoor Adventures
Office of Sustainability
Green Fund
Geography, Environment and Sustainability
POCAM
Campus Gardens

Intellectual Wellness

Intellectual Wellness

Intellectual wellness is about being creative and stimulating mental activities to expand your knowledge and skills and help discover the potential for sharing your gifts with others.

Ideas for Your Intellectual Wellness

Seek new challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning
Learn to fail
Feel confident in intellectual and academic pursuits by improving your skills in studying, listening, time management, stress management, note taking, and public speaking
Explore a new hobby or activity
Study Abroad and travel
Take a class outside your major
Learn another language
Use resources to expand your knowledge and improve your skills
Seek ways to be creative
Stay informed about social, political, and other current issues

Intellectual Wellness Resources

Occupational Wellness

Occupational Wellness

Occupational wellness is about engaging in work to gain personal satisfaction and enrichment, consistent with your values, goals and lifestyle.

Ideas for Your Occupational Wellness

Explore career options that align with your values, interests, and strengths
Understand the relationship between your major/career choice and the other aspects of your life such as your family, friends, and leisure activities
Develop effective job related skills
Understand how many students change their major in college and their career directions a few times along their journey
Make time to meet with a Career Coach
Explore on-campus job opportunities
Seek guidance and advice from your academic advisor

Occupational Wellness Resources

Financial Wellness

Financial Wellness

Financial wellness is our capacity to manage our financial resources to promote our autonomy and security.

Ideas for Your Financial Wellness

Learn how to save, manage and spend money
Plan ahead and set budget goals
Understand your student loans
Apply for scholarships and grants
Use cash instead of credit as much as possible
Start a savings account
Set and make progress toward your short- and long-term financial goals
Explore campus resources to assist you if you are experiencing a financial issue such as food insecurity, homelessness, economic crisis, or financial hardship

Financial Wellness Resources

Holistic Well-Being Slideshow

Well-being is the combination of feeling good and functioning well—the experience of positive emotions such as happiness and contentment, as well as the development of one’s potential, having some control over one’s life, having a sense of purpose, and experiencing positive relationships.

Wellness is not a specific destination; it is a personal journey that evolves over a lifetime. It is our hope that the following information about the eight Dimensions of Wellness will help you get started or continue on your health and well-being journey. Becoming familiar with each of the dimensions will help promote self and community care, as well as help identify areas that you may be neglecting.

These dimensions are interconnected. Neglecting one area will affect the others. Focusing on all eight dimensions will help you bring balance into your life so that you can thrive and flourish on your journey through college and beyond.

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