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Our Framework

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What is wellness?​

Wellness is the holistic integration of the well-being of mind, body, and spirit, requiring constant and consistent maintenance. 

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Mind involves emotional and cognitive well-being, characterised by the presence of positive emotions rather than just the absence of negative emotions, as well as evaluation of life and experiences (e.g. job satisfaction). The body component goes beyond fitness, absence of disease, and nutrition to include quality of life and the physical environment. Spirit refers to the energy, intentions, and motivation in an individual’s approach to daily life.

 
Health vs Wellness​

Health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the "state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." The two focal points of health are 1) realisation of full potential on an individual level (physically, psychologically, socially, spiritually, economically, etc.) and 2) fulfillment of role expectations in various environments and settings (family, community, place of worship, workplace, etc.).

 

On the other hand, wellness is “the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health,” per the Global Wellness Institute. In short, health is a state, while wellness is a conscious, ever-changing process that requires active goal-setting and decision-making.

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Maintaining wellness helps us attain health.

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Want to know your wellness scores?  
Check out TypeTWIS - our wellness quiz - here!
 

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Our 10 Dimensions of WEllness

Explore the framework through reflection cards here.

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Categorising wellness into various dimensions not only helps us view wellness holistically but also helps us understand that wellness can be attained in diverse ways.

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At Total Wellness Initiative Singapore, we identify 10 Dimensions of Wellness as a guiding framework to ensure a fulfilling life. Our framework combines the needs of our modern community with current research on health and wellness to help people lower barriers to better care for themselves and others through self-awareness and proactive effort.

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Physical Wellness

  • Ability to maintain physical quality of life and good body condition so that daily activities can be completed without undue physical stress or fatigue.

  • Examples include exercising regularly, eating healthily, bodily awareness, quality sleep, etc.

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Psychological Wellness

  • Ability to maintain positive mental health, including coping with life stressors and possessing a sense of self-agency.

  • Examples include regular meditation/muscle relaxation exercises, practising gratitude, etc.

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Social Wellness

  • Ability to maintain meaningful, supportive relationships and have healthy interactions with others through good boundaries and showing respect for others.

  • Examples include spending quality time with loved ones, engaging in volunteer work, etc.

 

Occupational Wellness

  • Ability to achieve work-life balance, address workplace stress, and build collegial relationships.

  • Examples include healthy communication with colleagues, conflict resolution at work, finding ways to make the job more fulfilling/meaningful, balancing work and leisure, etc.

 

Digital Wellness

  • Ability to intentionally maintain healthy relationships with technology, including staying up-to-date with new technologies and balancing usage.

  • Examples of digital wellness include setting time limits on social media usage, using "Do Not Disturb" mode, etc.

 

Intellectual Wellness

  • Ability to recognize abilities, expand on and share knowledge and skills, and foster a sense of curiosity and interest in learning.

  • Examples include pursuing personal/professional development, learning new skills, expanding on personal hobbies, etc.

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Spiritual Wellness

  • Ability to expand on personal sense of purpose and meaning in life and understand the values, beliefs, and morals that guide one’s own actions.

  • Examples include developing an understanding of own values, praying, reflection on self/mortality/meaning of life, etc.

 

Environmental Wellness​​

  • Ability to create or put oneself in an environment that enables and supports healthy actions and lifestyles. This can be directly on a micro level (decluttering) or indirectly, on a macro level (adopting environmentally healthy practices).

  • Examples include spending time in nature, purchasing from sustainable businesses, ensuring spaces are neat/pleasing to the eye, etc.

 

Financial Wellness​

  • Ability to manage one’s finances well, make prudent financial decisions, and feel secure in financial future.

  • Examples include living within one’s means, reducing debt, saving for retirement, etc.

 

Creative Wellness​

  • Ability to appreciate and participate in art and cultural experiences and create moments of joy and innovation through self-expression and imagination.

  • Examples include journaling, doodling, dancing, creative problem solving, etc.

 

 

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References

  • American Psychological Association. (n.d.). subjective well-being (SWB). In APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/subjective-well-being 

  • Bart, R., Ishak, W. W., Ganjian, S., Jaffer, K. Y., Abdelmesseh, M., Hanna, S., Gohar, Y., Azar, G., Vanle, B., Dang, J., & Danovitch, I. (2018). The Assessment and Measurement of Wellness in the Clinical Medical Setting: A Systematic Review. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 15(9-10), 14–23. 

  • Büchi, Moritz. (2024). Digital well-being theory and research. New Media & Society. 26. 172-189. 10.1177/14614448211056851.  

  • Global Wellness Institute. (2016). What is Wellness? https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/.

  • Myers J, Sweeney T, Witmer J. The wheel of wellness counseling for wellness: a holistic model for treatment planning. J Couns Dev. 2000;78(3):251–266. 

  • National Wellness Institute. (1976). The six dimensions of wellness. https://nationalwellness.org/resources/six-dimensions-of-wellness/.

  • Stoewen, D. L. (2017). Dimensions of wellness: Change your habits, change your life. The Canadian veterinary journal, 58(8), 861.

  • Tan, C. Y., Chuah, C. Q., Lee, S. T., & Tan, C. S. (2021). Being Creative Makes You Happier: The Positive Effect of Creativity on Subjective Well-Being. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(14), 7244. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147244.

  • UC Davis Student Health and Counselling Services(n.d.). Eight Dimensions of Wellness. https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/health-and-wellness/eight-dimensions-wellness.

  • UNESCO (n.d.). Physical health. 

  • Witmer JM, Sweeney TJ, Myers JE. Greensboro, NC: Authors; 1988. The Wheel of Wellness; p. 10. 

  • World Health Organization. (1946). Constitution. https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution

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